Dr. Friedman and other doctors frequently prescribe a high dose (50,000 iu) of vitamin D weekly for 8 weeks, but this is D2 and in many people the levels drop down to normal after nor taking it for a few months. This needs to be given by a prescription. Vitamins and preparations like Oscal D contain D3, however the amount in these preparations are small.
For example, each multivitamin contains 400 international units of vitamin D3 so a total of 800 international units of vitamin D will probably prevent Vitamin D deficiency and may correct very mild cases of low vitamin D levels, but is not enough to correct most cases of vitamin D deficiency. For more severe levels, the patient can take 50,000 international units of vitamin D orally once or twice a week.
Dr. Friedman finally found a product that has high doses of D3 that could be used to rapidly restore vitamin D levels in patients that are deficient and keep the levels up. This product 50,000 iu d3 is sold in bottles of 12 by bio-tech-pharm.com and is catalogue D-3-50. The website is
https://secure.bio-techpharm.
com/detail.aspx?product_id=19&cat_id=2&subcat_id=0. You may also order the 100
pill bottle at
https://secure.bio-techpharm.
com/detail.aspx?product_id=20&cat_id=2&subcat_id=0 and have enough for
maintenance or share it with your friends.
For a 25-OH vit D levels between 20 and 25, Dr. Friedman recommends taking one pill a week for 8 weeks, then checking a 25-OH vitamin D. If levels are in the normal range, then you can take one pill a month for the next 6-12 months for maintenance. After 6 months, you should be adequately treated. For patients with 25-OH vit D level between 25 and 30, one pill a week for 6 weeks is recommended. For patients with 25-OH vit D level less than 20, it is recommended to see your Endocrinologist to determine proper treatment. If levels are in the normal range, then you can take one pill a month for the next 6-12 months for maintenance.
Please take the pills weekly and not daily.
The main side effect of vitamin D therapy is overtreatment leading to hypercalcemia.
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Add a Comment7 Comments
i never knew vitamin d deficiency could cause thyroid problems. what is the best way to treat this? Exposure to sunlight?
August 13, 2010 - 11:05amThis Comment
Well, to make the long story short, my friend had thyroid problems. Later they found out he has some nodules in her thyroid too. After that he was diagnosed with Vitamin D Deficiency. She had never heard of such thing. It's always about checking her cholesteral and all that, but never anyone told her to check her vitamin d level.
June 15, 2010 - 7:13pmSO the lesson here is to have your levels checked by your doctor!
There is a mistake in your article.
Dr., You've mixed up your Vit. D types. In the article you say, " cholecalciferol (vitamin D2) and ergocalciferol (vitamin D3)." You have it reversed. Actually, Vit. D3 is cholecalciferol and Vit. D2 is ergocalciferol.
If you need extra proof, just check out the National Osteoporosis Foundation's website at http://www.nof.org/prevention/vitaminD.htm
June 25, 2009 - 7:33amI am a gastric bypass patient of 5 years. My vitamin D -25 hydroxy levels was a 5. My question is if I can not absorb the 50,0000 IU am i just taking pils? I am in alot of pain and aches with my joints and hand and leg pain and have family history of arthritis, and cushing syndrom and ankloysis.
April 18, 2009 - 3:34pmWhat do i do or what r my options? I have an appt with Endo in a month....thanks Ann
Mothers that are breast feeding and are worried about the lose of D-3. Just get the baby out in the sun when possible.............Pete
March 29, 2009 - 9:01amI understand the concern that vitamin D deficiency in infants may increase with breast feeding may be misconstrued as advice against breast feeding babies. What I think the point here is that if a mother is breast feeding, she should also give her child a vitamin D supplement in addition to breast milk rather than forgo breast feeding the baby.
It amazes me that the importance of vitamin D has been so ignored. I have just been floored by the articles that have been coming out the last two years relating low vitamin D to everything from diabetes to MS to obesity to stroke to heart disease to back pain to cancer. Now thyroid disease too. How much money could we save on medical treatment and improve our quality of life just by taking a cheap vitamin D supplement? I started.
March 29, 2009 - 7:53amDear Dr Friedman,
Thank you for your article however there is one point which I disagree with.
Your inference that vitamin D could relate to increased breast feeding is I think and bad inference to make to mothers. There are so many benefits from breast feeding and so many negatives attached to formula that you just have to look at the third world (yes even if we have better water although that could be debated). What you will find is a bigger correlation between vitamin D deficiency and the use of sun block (particularly on children) and the common vitamin D deficiency past on from parent to child. Pre conception health of both parents is key.
March 28, 2009 - 8:01am