Q: OPTIMUM DOSAGE OF VITAMIN D FOR ARTHRITIS
Hi Mary,
It's already been said, but optimizing your vitamin D level is something which can be done with the help of your doctor. A starting place is having your blood levels checked so that you know where you stand.
My vitamin D level came out as 7.8 last year (my labs "normal" range is 30-100) and my doctor would prefer my level to be 50 or higher. So she recommended a prescription version of vitamin D. I took that for a year and got my levels up to 44.
Then I began taking OTC vitamin D at 1000UL, then 200UL, now 5000UL. My vitamin D levels came in at 33 last week so we're starting the prescription back up while I continue 5000UL daily.
There is no optimal level which every patient should take. It is very personal and you need to start with a blood test.
I got my levels up to 44
I don't know what would be considered the optiumum dosage. I'd say it's something you would need to have your Dr address. My rheumatologist told me I needed to be taking 1,000 units of Vitamin D per day. I'm not sure what she bases it on, maybe lab results and levels.
The USDA just increased their recommendation from 400 to 1000. I have been reading a lot of research on this and it is my understanding that your body supposedly can only process 600 at a time. Also all the research seems to say that you can take as much as 2000 a day safely and that they believe it may help prevent breast cancer. Depending on where you live and how much sun you get you need to be careful as you can get 1000 from a half hour in the sun in summer. I live in the northeast so I take two Viactives morning and night. Viactive includes Calcium+D+K which is the combination you need for it to work. Viactive is a chewable fudge-like candy that comes in carmel, chocolate, and strawberry flavors and tastes pretty good. You can also buy it in pill form, but the pills are huge and hard to swallow. Also it helps to take it with a meal. Doublecheck the label because they may increase the content based on the recent research. Deana
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I just saw my doctor yesterday and she informed me of my Vitamin D level was at 4 (four). I have a prescription for vitamin D at 50,000u and I have to take 1 pill per week for three weeks to try to bring my level up.