Pat gave you some great information on Vitamin D. In searching the web to answer your other question -- whether there should be other vitamin levels we should be tested for -- I found that there's simply nothing consistent that says "everyone should be tested for x, x and x."
Part of the reason is the lack of research that proves, beyond a shadow of a doubt, the positive effects of certain vitamins, minerals and/or amino acids. And part of the reason is that this is a complicated, multi-layered thing that would be individual to every person.
I did find a very interesting site, though, called vitamintesting.com, where a man named Craig Arnoff tells his history of chronic fatigue and how he believed that his prescription medicines helped him to become deficient in certain vitamins and minerals that, in turn, affected his condition. His attempts to have himself tested and his ultimate success in finding out what was wrong with him was what inspired him to start his website.
He is not selling anything. At some point he hopes to sell advertising to help support the site, but right now he is just doing it to share his experience and perhaps help others going through some of the same things.
Here's the link:
http://vitamintesting.com/
On the site, he offers a steo-by-step self-research process that includes the following:
STEP 1: Compile a list of all medications and supplements you take. Also list your health conditions, including symptoms and diseases/conditions that have been diagnosed. You’ll need this for your research (in Step 2) and when you visit your healthcare professional.
STEP 2: Visit a Healthnotes website (the link is below). Healthnotes is the premier and highly-credible health and lifestyle information system that incorporates research from scientific studies in over 550 publications.
Healthnotes feed (not related to the products on the Vitacost site):
http://www.vitacost.com/Healthnotes/Index/All-Index.aspx
STEP 3: Using this Healthnotes website, research the following using the “Search Healthnotes“ field on the right (and leaving the “Healthnotes Index” field blank). Make sure you get their comprehensive information page on each drug, vitamin and health condition. This page is usually one of the top 3 search results and lists things like: introduction/about, medicines and therapies, vitamins/herbs, amounts to take and interactions. You’ll want print out information you find useful as well as specific vitamin-drug interactions, deficiencies or excesses mentioned. This will be information you’ll want to bring with you when you visit your healthcare provider.
A – Prescription drugs: Search each drug you take. Note and print out interactions with vitamins you’re on, deficiencies produced by the drug and recommended supplements.
B – Supplements: Search each supplement you take. Note and print out interactions with prescription drugs you take.
C – Health Conditions: Enter each health condition you have (e.g. arthritis, acne). Note and print out any deficiencies common in people with similar conditions. Also note supplements that are recommended for that health condition.
STEP 4: Compile a list of potential vitamin deficiencies, excesses and drug-vitamin interactions. Using your research and printouts, create a short summary of potential vitamin/mineral deficiencies, excesses and drug interactions. This information will help you ask your healthcare provider the best possible questions, give them the justification they need to order the best possible tests and ensure you get the tests you feel are appropriate.
Arnoff ultimately found an M.D. who also had training in holistic medicine. That doctor listened to all his concerns, tested his vitamin and mineral levels, and worked with Arnoff to correct imbalances. The story is fascinating and made me want to investigate my own vitamin and mineral levels as well.
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Kraebel,
Very interesting update from you! Thank you!
Pat gave you some great information on Vitamin D. In searching the web to answer your other question -- whether there should be other vitamin levels we should be tested for -- I found that there's simply nothing consistent that says "everyone should be tested for x, x and x."
Part of the reason is the lack of research that proves, beyond a shadow of a doubt, the positive effects of certain vitamins, minerals and/or amino acids. And part of the reason is that this is a complicated, multi-layered thing that would be individual to every person.
I did find a very interesting site, though, called vitamintesting.com, where a man named Craig Arnoff tells his history of chronic fatigue and how he believed that his prescription medicines helped him to become deficient in certain vitamins and minerals that, in turn, affected his condition. His attempts to have himself tested and his ultimate success in finding out what was wrong with him was what inspired him to start his website.
He is not selling anything. At some point he hopes to sell advertising to help support the site, but right now he is just doing it to share his experience and perhaps help others going through some of the same things.
Here's the link:
http://vitamintesting.com/
On the site, he offers a steo-by-step self-research process that includes the following:
STEP 1: Compile a list of all medications and supplements you take. Also list your health conditions, including symptoms and diseases/conditions that have been diagnosed. You’ll need this for your research (in Step 2) and when you visit your healthcare professional.
STEP 2: Visit a Healthnotes website (the link is below). Healthnotes is the premier and highly-credible health and lifestyle information system that incorporates research from scientific studies in over 550 publications.
Healthnotes feed (not related to the products on the Vitacost site):
http://www.vitacost.com/Healthnotes/Index/All-Index.aspx
Alternate Healthnotes website:
http://www.healthy-choice.co.uk/
STEP 3: Using this Healthnotes website, research the following using the “Search Healthnotes“ field on the right (and leaving the “Healthnotes Index” field blank). Make sure you get their comprehensive information page on each drug, vitamin and health condition. This page is usually one of the top 3 search results and lists things like: introduction/about, medicines and therapies, vitamins/herbs, amounts to take and interactions. You’ll want print out information you find useful as well as specific vitamin-drug interactions, deficiencies or excesses mentioned. This will be information you’ll want to bring with you when you visit your healthcare provider.
A – Prescription drugs: Search each drug you take. Note and print out interactions with vitamins you’re on, deficiencies produced by the drug and recommended supplements.
B – Supplements: Search each supplement you take. Note and print out interactions with prescription drugs you take.
C – Health Conditions: Enter each health condition you have (e.g. arthritis, acne). Note and print out any deficiencies common in people with similar conditions. Also note supplements that are recommended for that health condition.
STEP 4: Compile a list of potential vitamin deficiencies, excesses and drug-vitamin interactions. Using your research and printouts, create a short summary of potential vitamin/mineral deficiencies, excesses and drug interactions. This information will help you ask your healthcare provider the best possible questions, give them the justification they need to order the best possible tests and ensure you get the tests you feel are appropriate.
Arnoff ultimately found an M.D. who also had training in holistic medicine. That doctor listened to all his concerns, tested his vitamin and mineral levels, and worked with Arnoff to correct imbalances. The story is fascinating and made me want to investigate my own vitamin and mineral levels as well.
December 30, 2009 - 9:09amThis Comment
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