OT: Vitamin D

[GB]

Given that the readership here is most "of a certain age", can I ask whether many readers take a vitamin D supplement?

[williamwright]

Only a couple each week during winter.

Bill

[polygonum_on_google]

Quite often - but not every day.

Could be sensible to test before supplementing. This is one possible lab:

(Although people go on about knocking back vitamin D, some people simply cannot use any vitamin D supplements. They feel awful if they take any.)

There is quite a lot of discussion about the need for vitamin K2 (in one or other of its forms) when taking vitamin D. Seems to help ensure it helps bones rather than calcifying other tissue.

[RJH]

'Heard on the radio' - 20-30 minutes daily in the sun on 10% of body (so face and hands) over the summer months is enough for most people. Any extra is not needed and thrown out by some organ cleverness.

To the OP - I do take a supplement (100% I think - whatever they sell at Aldi) because my annual blood test has shown a vitamin D deficiency for some years, despite taking the pills and being a fairly outsidey sort of person. Doctor doesn't want to discuss the cause - 'give it another year'.

[newshound]

In the winter (although I should get plenty in my diet). I don't get that much sun though.

[Harry Bloomfield, Esq.]

GB presented the following explanation :

I was prescribed it for a while, after I suffered a serious internal bleed/loss of blood.

[Richard]

It's not the D3.

[Andrew]

I do, but only when we are on GMT. Vit D3.

Downside is that it makes you hair grow just as fast in winter as it does in summer (according to the lady who cuts my hair).

[Andrew]

Don't take them with a bottle of scotch ?.

[David]

I started taking D3 over winter and haven't stopped although I get quite a lot of sun.

One of the many things you can take because it might do you good.

Cheers

Dave R

[Nick Odell]

I take a cod liver oil capsule every day. That gives me a hefty dose of vitamin D. I take it to help my joints. I do not know if it actually does any good to the joints but I am reluctant to stop in case my joints became even worse.

Nick

[Brian Gaff (Sofa)]

I don't myself. My doctor reckons that exposure to daylight is enough, so unless you live underground or in a submarine, normal production should be OK. Having said that I understand it does little harm if you do wish to take them and may affect the depression in the winter, especially if you live in the northern latitudes. Brian

[Brian Gaff (Sofa)]

Well I dare not comment, as although she can be a bit abrasive to listen to, her advice is meant well I think. Brian

[Scott]

Sounds like an upside to me :-)

[Andrew]

How do Icelanders manage ??

[AnthonyL]

I take it as a supplement not as a replacement! I generally have a fairly healthy diet as well to ~10ug/day. Supermarkets seem to derive pleasure in selling "high strength" but the ones I bought from the local low cost Superdrug are 12.5ug which seems a lot more sensible.

I break the 25ug tablets into thirds.

[AnthonyL]

I stopped the cod liver oil because of the risk of build up of Vitamin A (research Vit A toxicity).

I have taken a high strength Turmeric tablet daily for the past 3yrs or so. My knees are a weak point and I can only say they are no worse than they were.

Also I fairly regularly, well twice a week, have prunes which are supposed to be good for bone health. See the NASA site as they are used for astronauts to counter bone loss in space, but I expect their dosages are higher than mine.

So that's it:

Vit D Turmeric Prunes

Is that enough to start a YouTube channel and get on my way to my first million?

[Scott]

Reminds me of the old joke:

George Harrison says you can eat prunes without removing the stones. The title of his new album: All things must pass.

[alan_m]

Traditionally, whale or seal blubber.

[tabbypurr]

It makes a lot more sense to take a wide ranging vitamin & mineral supplement rather than just one.

NT