Sampy123
01-14-2004, 12:50 PM
Just saw a clip on the channel 5 FOX news, health segment, about the significance of vitamin D deficiency and it's correlation to MS. Just thought I'd pass it along.
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AngelicBrat
01-14-2004, 02:31 PM
Hey ya!
I heard about that too. Apparently taking in Vit D can stop the progression of autoimmune diseases? I guess like everything, we must check with our doctor before trying anything new.. especially when it comes to supplements. Very interesting though!
~Luv, Angelic
I heard about that too. Apparently taking in Vit D can stop the progression of autoimmune diseases? I guess like everything, we must check with our doctor before trying anything new.. especially when it comes to supplements. Very interesting though!
~Luv, Angelic
Mom_of_two
01-14-2004, 07:53 PM
I've heard the possible MS and vitamin D link before, but who knows. When I think back, I took vitamins for almost my entire life, as well as going out in the sun a lot (I live in So. CA), so I definately got my share of vitamin D. I think they're grasping at straws and trying their best to come up with a theory as to why people get MS. It's still such a huge mystery. I hope one day soon we'll know why and then maybe that will lead to a cure. :)
SapphireSky
01-15-2004, 07:08 PM
I just read an article on the internet about this.
A study was done that tracked women for nearly 20 years. They found that taking vitamin supplements of 1,000 IUs caused changes in blood chemistry that indicated positive effects for MS patients......it reduced their sypmtoms.
The interesting part of the study to me was that the people in the study who got the highest intake of vitamin D from supplements (multivitamins) had the lowest risk of developing MS, while those whose vitamin D came from only food had no such descreased risk.
I have taken a multivitamin almost my entire life, and yet here I am.
I think that studies like this are beneficial, however, because I don't think a cure is going to be found unless people are willing to try to find it. If that means doing studies on things like this, then I am all for it!!!!!
A study was done that tracked women for nearly 20 years. They found that taking vitamin supplements of 1,000 IUs caused changes in blood chemistry that indicated positive effects for MS patients......it reduced their sypmtoms.
The interesting part of the study to me was that the people in the study who got the highest intake of vitamin D from supplements (multivitamins) had the lowest risk of developing MS, while those whose vitamin D came from only food had no such descreased risk.
I have taken a multivitamin almost my entire life, and yet here I am.
I think that studies like this are beneficial, however, because I don't think a cure is going to be found unless people are willing to try to find it. If that means doing studies on things like this, then I am all for it!!!!!
Sampy123
01-15-2004, 08:42 PM
I found it interesting that the article you quoted cited a reduction in MS symptoms with vitamin D supplements and not from food. They just ruled out MS for me, although I have all the symptoms. Turns out, I have antiphospholipid antibody syndrome and systemic lupus. I wonder if the vitamin D would help me?
orion
01-16-2004, 01:40 AM
Lupus is often associated with bone loss and some people have investigated the levels of vitamin D in people with Lupus. Vitamin D levels are often low enough to show evidence of deficiency. So I would conclude that vitamin D might work for you. Here is a recent medical journal article:
J Rheumatol. 2001 Nov; 28(11): 2535-9. "Vitamin D levels in women with systemic lupus erythematosus and fibromyalgia." Huisman AM et al, Department of Medicine, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.
They conclude that half of their patients have vitamin D levels so low that the parathyroid is stimulated. They also speculate that there is a failure to convert vitamin D created in your skin to the proper D3 form. If that is so, then taking 1000 IU of vitamin D3 daily might help you a lot.
I have also seen several medical journal articles about using DHEA to help Lupus, specifically:
Expert Opin Investig Drugs. 2003 Jun; 12(6): 1017-25.
"Dehydroepiandrosterone, a sex steroid metabolite in development for systemic lupus erythematosus." Merrill JT. Clinical Pharmacology Research Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, 825 Northeast 13th St., Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA.
I don't know the dose they use, but 50mg/day is a good start.
J Rheumatol. 2001 Nov; 28(11): 2535-9. "Vitamin D levels in women with systemic lupus erythematosus and fibromyalgia." Huisman AM et al, Department of Medicine, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.
They conclude that half of their patients have vitamin D levels so low that the parathyroid is stimulated. They also speculate that there is a failure to convert vitamin D created in your skin to the proper D3 form. If that is so, then taking 1000 IU of vitamin D3 daily might help you a lot.
I have also seen several medical journal articles about using DHEA to help Lupus, specifically:
Expert Opin Investig Drugs. 2003 Jun; 12(6): 1017-25.
"Dehydroepiandrosterone, a sex steroid metabolite in development for systemic lupus erythematosus." Merrill JT. Clinical Pharmacology Research Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, 825 Northeast 13th St., Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA.
I don't know the dose they use, but 50mg/day is a good start.
Sampy123
01-16-2004, 08:50 AM
Wow, I find that interesting, thanks for posting. Do they sell D3 supplements or just plain vitamin D? Also, dehydroepiandrosterone...is this over the counter and would you know if it conflicts with Coumadin?
orion
01-16-2004, 11:52 AM
If you live in the USA then you can buy both vitamin D and DHEA in most drug stores. Make sure you get DHEA that says "verified by HPLC" to be sure it actually has DHEA in it. If you live most other places, DHEA is a banned drug.
Most vitamin D supplements come in the form of D3, but you should read the label just to be sure.
I should also mention that at least one paper worried that taking vitamin D when you have Lupus might make the symptoms worse because they speculate part of your problem is being unable to use vitamin D properly. So just watch your symptoms closely. Perhaps start at 1/4 of a 1000 IU pill and work up over a few weeks to 1000 IU.
I don't know of any Coumadin interactions with either vitamin D or DHEA. However, I have found DHEA can decrease your blood sugar levels and it can also decrease the stickiness of your blood. Since I think Coumadin is a blood thinner, then DHEA might change the way your blood flows.
If you are taking Coumadin because your heart isn't working properly, you should also know that DHEA has been associated in one instance with heart irregularities. If it is your heart, and you are a guy, then I would also suggest you have your testosterone levels checked, because low testosterone is bad for your heart and your blood.
Most vitamin D supplements come in the form of D3, but you should read the label just to be sure.
I should also mention that at least one paper worried that taking vitamin D when you have Lupus might make the symptoms worse because they speculate part of your problem is being unable to use vitamin D properly. So just watch your symptoms closely. Perhaps start at 1/4 of a 1000 IU pill and work up over a few weeks to 1000 IU.
I don't know of any Coumadin interactions with either vitamin D or DHEA. However, I have found DHEA can decrease your blood sugar levels and it can also decrease the stickiness of your blood. Since I think Coumadin is a blood thinner, then DHEA might change the way your blood flows.
If you are taking Coumadin because your heart isn't working properly, you should also know that DHEA has been associated in one instance with heart irregularities. If it is your heart, and you are a guy, then I would also suggest you have your testosterone levels checked, because low testosterone is bad for your heart and your blood.
orion
01-16-2004, 12:03 PM
I have taken a multivitamin almost my entire life, and yet here I am.
Most multivitamins don't contain enough vitamin D to do much good. The RDA is only 200 IU and that is often cancelled by taking calcium at the same time (ie: drinking milk) because calcium lowers vitamin D levels in the blood. If you take calcium supplements then you need additional vitamin D.
In a recent study there was a 40% reduction in MS when people took vitamin D. It's possible that the other people can't process or absorb vitamin D properly and so even given supplements didn't help them. And it's probable that MS is a multi-faced disease that involves more than one body system.
As far as the sun goes, if you wear sunscreen then you elliminate your body's ability to make vitamin D. And during the winter months, the sun is often too low in places like Boston to make vitamin D at all.
Most multivitamins don't contain enough vitamin D to do much good. The RDA is only 200 IU and that is often cancelled by taking calcium at the same time (ie: drinking milk) because calcium lowers vitamin D levels in the blood. If you take calcium supplements then you need additional vitamin D.
In a recent study there was a 40% reduction in MS when people took vitamin D. It's possible that the other people can't process or absorb vitamin D properly and so even given supplements didn't help them. And it's probable that MS is a multi-faced disease that involves more than one body system.
As far as the sun goes, if you wear sunscreen then you elliminate your body's ability to make vitamin D. And during the winter months, the sun is often too low in places like Boston to make vitamin D at all.
Sampy123
01-16-2004, 08:14 PM
Orion,
Thanks for such a detailed reply. I will doublecheck with my dr. just to make sure I can take this stuff. Thanks again.
Thanks for such a detailed reply. I will doublecheck with my dr. just to make sure I can take this stuff. Thanks again.
deportes
05-30-2007, 10:56 PM
Sampy123... Did you started taking D3 vitamin, any changes?