If You Doubt That Vitamin D3 Helps To Prevent Viruses . . .

Information about on-going research projects relevant to Collagenous Colitis, Lymphocytic Colitis, Microscopic Colitis, and related issues, can be found here. This file is updated as new information becomes available.

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tex
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Post by tex »

Rosie,

We were the same way, growing up. These days, everyone seems to be afraid of the sun, after a couple of decades of seeing sales pitches on the merits of sunscreen, and the evils of sunlight. :sigh:

You're most welcome.

Tex
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It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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Post by tex »

Kimberley,

The article that I cited above, for Dee, was based on research targeted at 10 to 17 year olds. I'm sure that you're more interested in recommendations for younger kids. I wish that Polly were available, since that would be part of her area of expertise. I have a suggestion, though. You might e-mail Dr. Cannell, (Google the Vitamin D Council, for his e-mail address), and ask if he can either make a dosage recommendation, or recommend a pediatrician in your area. He's a very dedicated professional, and seems to be very responsive to the needs of his readers. I e-mailed him a question about my vitamin D level, when I had the "TIA" event, back in July, and he responded with a very helpful answer, in just a few hours.

I simply asked my GP to do the D3 test for me, and he didn't argue, though he had never suggested it in the past.

As to what the best route might be, for finding a doctor who will best serve your needs, that's something for which I'm not qualified to venture a guess. It depends on the skills of the individuals available in your area, and your luck in selecting them. In general, as you are probably aware, our accumulated experience, among the members of this board, has been that finding a cutting-edge GI doc, is a rather low odds proposition, since so many of them don't seem to keep up with the latest research concerning MC, and a GI doc with a good working knowledge of mast cell involvement will be even more difficult to find, within a practical distance, (if not virtually impossible). My guess would be that a good allergist might be more inclined to be helpful, if you have a problem with mast cells, or esinophils. In the long run, you may need both a GI doc, and an allergy specialist, (plus a GP, of course, and your GP should be willing to order tests for D3, etc.). A highly-skilled naturopath, might be the best choice, if you're looking for one medical professional to do it all, but I have to admit that I've never gone that route. Maybe someone else will have some more helpful advice.

Tex
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It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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Post by Gloria »

I'm not sure if this link has been posted, but a doctor sent it to my friend:

"Benefits of Vitamin D Supplementation"
http://www.jpands.org/vol14no2/kauffman.pdf

Gloria
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Post by Rosie »

OK, Tex, a couple of questions about Vit D suplimentation, as my DH and I just started taking 4000 U/day. What we did yesterday was to take 2000 U in the morning with breakfast and then another 2000 U after dinner around 7 pm.

I noticed that an hour or so after taking the pills, my urine was a fluorescent yellow. :newshocked: Have others noticed this? I'm assuming it's nothing to be alarmed about, but I was just curious.

I had an unusually difficult time getting to sleep last night, as I felt kind of "reved up" like I'd had caffeine. Then this morning my DH said that he had slept very poorly last night too. He had gotten to sleep OK, but kept waking up during the night and had trouble getting back to sleep. I wonder if others have noticed this. Today I'm taking my Vit D in the morning and early afternoon and see if that makes a difference. Are there any guidelines as to how to take the Vit D......all at once or spread throughout the day?

Rosie
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tex
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Post by tex »

From the article that Gloria cited:
Living at higher latitudes increases the risk of type 1 diabetes, MS,
and Crohn disease.
For many years now, Canadian medical researchers have been trying to figure out why their country has the highest incidence of Crohn's disease, of any of the developed countries. Obviously, they've been doing what everyone else has been doing - ignoring the effects of vitamin D. :roll:

Except for a narrow band, just north of the U. S., virtually all of Canada is north of the 50th parallel. North of the 50th parallel, vitamin D from sunlight is not very easy to come by, most of the year.

Tex
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It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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Post by tex »

Rosie,

Hmmmmmm. I've often taken 10,000 IU per day, when I've been exposed to a virus, and a few times I've taken 20,000 IU or more for a few days, but I have never noticed the effects you described. I usually take my full dose in the mornings, unless I'm going to take more than about 10,000 IU, in which case I take the other half with my noon meal. As far as I am aware, though, it can all be safely taken in one dose, in the morning, even if one is taking 50,000 IU or more. Several members have taken 50,000 IU doses, under doctors orders, in order to get their levels up from a sub-par test result, and I don't remember them mentioning any adverse effects from it.

The B vitamins are notorious for causing yellow urine, especially B-2, (ribofolavin), which will cause urine to turn a florescent yellow color, but I've never heard of vitamin D doing that. Maybe there's some other ingredient in the supplement you're taking, that causes that effect.

I've been having sleep problems for roughly 10 years, (beginning with the onset of my gluten-related symptoms), but I haven't noticed any difference when I start or stop taking vitamin D. :shrug: Taking it in the mornings might preempt the sleep issues.

Tex
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It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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Post by Rosie »

Tex, Your comment about B vitamins makes me realize that coincident with taking more Vit D, I changed to a new multivitamin that doesn't have soy or yeast, so that might be the culprit. I'll test it out. And I think that DH and I will just go to taking all the Vit D in the morning and see if it avoids the possible sleep issues.

Rosie
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Post by Rosie »

Tex, I checked my vitamin bottles and discovered that my old multivitamin, Centrum Silver, doesn't contain Vit B2 (riboflavin) but my new hypoalergenic one does (Perfect Family by SuperNutrition). So that answers that question.

As for Vit D3 and insomnia, yesterday both me and DH took all our pills at breakfast, and had no problems sleeping (beyond the usual) :???:

Rosie
Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time………Thomas Edison
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Post by tex »

Great! It's always a relief to know why things happen, especially things that happen unexpectedly.

Thanks for the update,
Tex
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It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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Post by kimpatt »

ahh...finally I found your posts. It took me awhile to see the link for 'page 2'!!
I emailed Dr. Cannell and will let you know his comments. As for now, my husband and I will take 5000 IU per his protocol, and my 3 year old will take 2000 IU. I assume our 4 month old will get his D3 from my breastmilk, but that's one of the questions I asked Dr. Cannell.

We'll plan on having our levels checked in 2 months like he suggested. That will give me enough time to find a practitioner as well. I think I just may start with the naturopath/osteopathic DO in town, as she has been given good reviews. http://www.tolifehealth.com/Page.html
I can always try her out and then head in a more conventional direction.

As for my GI update, my body seems to have stabilized a bit. BMs are well-formed; no D or C. Still some gas, but its not a great bother. My fingertips are no longer peeling/fissuring, & the extreme dryness is resolving. I eliminated the cow's milk & I guess this was the big problem, based on my current symptoms...?? I also took Singulair & Claritin for about 5 days, too, though, so I wonder if these helped?

I have been drinking raw goat milk again for 2.5 days (in addition to hemp). I'm still eating small amounts of cheese (1 oz. every other day). I'm also still eating very small amounts of soy, every few days.
Our local co-op has great GF/CF baked goods, but still uses soy margarine :( Hopefully, they'll consider my request to switch to palm shortening.

Will update you as to what Dr. C says.
Kimberley
MC diagnosed 2004
Suspected Eosinophilic Gastroenteritis...??
Meds/Supplements: Probiotics, Prenatal Vitamins, Vitamin D3.
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