weird stuff.. anyways, I haven't had any bloodwork done in a couple years so I went down to my doctor (who somehow got hot with age, she used to be chubby and weird looking) and in my regular checkup I complained of low energy levels, fatigue and lack of concentration. So I did my bloodwork, and her original hypothesis is that I have low testosterone. Two weeks later, go back for the checkup, we're going through the blood work *btw somehow I gained 6lbs in two weeks wtf!! * and turns out I have a VERY HIGH testosterone levels, BUT I have a vitamin D deficiency. I'm the kind of person that likes to discuss things *I'm not to lazy for research because I have researched it* but I prefer to get 1st hand opinions on this stuff. So my mind clicks like WTF, that low testosterone symptoms are the same as having a vitamin D deficiency? holy hell vitamin D before today for me was just some sh1t I saw on juice boxes and milk. So the issue is that my body doesnt adsorb vitamin D, I get it, 3 dollars a week solves my problem. I've never been 'diagnosed' with any health issues *thank the planet earth* but anyone here have this as well? The doc said its very common with people that live in very cold climates (like I do..) What I want to find out is that has anyone here on G3d or maybe you know anyone with this diagnosis? And after you started taking vitamin D, were the changes DRASTIC? or barely noticeable? I don't mean to down play vitamins but I really didn't know that it could seriously effect your life like this. I mean I drink so much milk, and eat a lot of protein and fiber and STILL have a vitamin D deficiency, kinda phased me a little. Thanks for the advice in advance
@ the OP unrelated to your post, but- East Amherst? I used to live in Getzville. Cool. I do take Vitamin D in the winter- I do think it has a little of an effect on me, with just being attentive overall.
You get most of your vitamin D from sunlight ordinarily, very little comes from diet. In many countries, sunlight isnt strong enough in the colder parts of the year to give much benefit, best to check where you live to examine the risk. If you dont get enough sun shining on bare skin, you can become deficient. If you have darker skin, it is even easier to become deficient. Vit D does many critical things. Some of it is converted into a hormone that regulates calcium uptake, so is crucial for keeping your bone density high enough to prevent breakage. You can also get early arthritis if deficient. Too little and you can die early, too much and you can die early. Dont miss or delay any appointments to have your levels checked if you are supplementing with a high dose. Theres a lot to it, check out the wiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_D I supplement my diet with 25ug per day to be safe. A pretty concise article with important things to know, last updated in the Summer http://www.everydayhealth.com/arthritis/arthritis-and-vitamin-d-whats-the-connection.aspx
My dad has low vitamin D, doctor prescribed injections rather than just pills. I started noticing he was forgetting things a year or so ago, and he was taking way to long to finish a project he was working on. So I thought well he's 70 years old he's probably getting dementia/alzheimers, but after he visited the doctors it turned out to just be a severe Vitamin D deficiency.
It's true too much Vitamin D can be bad for you too, but the same applies to many other nutrients you require too. Vitamin D is one of the safer ones not to overdose with, since the point at which it begins to become toxic about the normal supplementation is much higher than other nutrients (selenium and Vitamin A for example). The best type of Vitamin D to take is Vitamin D3. Ideal supplementation is in the form of 1000 IU (25mg of Cholecalciferol) capsules, and you can take one or two a day. Vitamin D must be taken with foods that have some fats in them, otherwise it isn't absorbed. Taking it with a banana and fruit juice will mean it won't be absorbed! In terms of dietary supplements there is a lot of bullsh!t out there, and a lot of misinformation even from so-called experts. Probably one of the biggest cons when it comes to supplementation is B vitamins. Taking large doses of B vitamins doesn't do you any good, and the only thing they are really good for is turning your pee a more yellow colour. What you want to be taking is a good cross-spectrum multi-vitamin, mineral, and micro-nutrient tablet, and you can supplement other tablets with these as required (such as the Vitamin D capsules). A really good extra supplement to take is Magnesium, since low-levels don't actually show in blood work. A lot of people don't get enough calcium in their diet, ideally you should be getting at least 1200mg (most people fall short). Magnesium should be taken in at least a 1:2 ratio to calcium, meaning 600mg a day. For bone health, Vitamin D is required for these to be beneficial. A lot about diet and nutrition is synergy, some things in the diet help other things, and some things actually inhibit other things. There has been so much misinformation over the years, and 'facts' that are in fact, wrong, that even professionals often have it wrong.
Might as well go Tarzan in a tropical rainforest. In all seriousness, though, those living in places where there are four seasons, especially winter, are more prone to vitamin D deficiency due to lack of sunlight exposure, like some have stated here. Those who often works indoors in offices (like, what, most salarymen?) are even more prone to it, unless the office itself lets enough sunlight in or your cubicle happens to be next to the windows. Besides, getting some sunlight does convert cholesterol into vitamin D3, so it's best to go outside in the day on weekends instead of just sitting in front of the computer. =b
researchers are recently finding out how important vitamin D is, for preventing so many diseases -- also having your vit D levels in the optimum range (not just within the normal range) these days, its good you found out about it, spread the word (I take 12,000 IU vitamin D3 daily)
