Supplementing for low vitamin D

[MJL]

Hi Jordan.

I recently tested low Vitamin D. Not too surprised, since I had a malignant melanoma removed 2016 and generally avoid the sun.

Result was Serum 25 (OH) 32 nmol/L (= 12.8 bg/mL according to an online calculator) which is obviously under the <30ng/mL threshold I found you mentioned in another thread.

In the same thread you mentioned you would base the dose and the type of Vitamin D you would recommend on how low it was. Given my reading, would you have any suggestions? My GP said to take 3 IU a day in winter and 2 IU a day in summer, but maybe none on days I get some sun. Didn't mention anything about different types.

You also mentioned the low vitamin D might be secondary to something else. The GP didn't mention anything about this and I didn't know to ask. Should I be looking deeper?

[Jordan Feigenbaum]

I assume your GP meant 3000iu and 2000iu of D3 for the different seasons, yes? That seems reasonable and current guidelines recommend retesting at 6-8 weeks to assure adequate treatment and then dropping the dose to ~800iu of D3.

-Jordan

[MJL]

Thanks Jordan. Yeah that must be what she meant, she was a bit scattered (she was horrified I deadlifted!) and spoke about iu and # of pills per day interchangeably (perhaps to simplify directions I guess).

Summer here soon so I'll start on 2000iu per day. Any particular type of Vitamin D you'd recommend? Money isn't really an issue (within reason)

[Jordan Feigenbaum]

Anything that's cGMP certified is good by me. Look for it on the label!

-Jordan

[BobbyD]

Jordan, you seem to mention cGMP certification much more than USP certification which is often easier for me to find a product with that labeling. Are there substantive quality differences in the certifications that drive your recommendation for the cGMP label specifically?

[Jordan Feigenbaum]

CGMP is regulated/enforced by the FDA, whereas USP is a separate entity. I thought the cGMP verification was more stringent (though this is subjective) and most of the 3rd parties providing "safe for sport" designation require cGMP.