Post Punk Kitchen Forum

My level was so low it couldn't be detected on the lab's machine. They even sent a sample to a sister lab to make sure the machine wasn't broken but nope, no vitamin D was detected in my blood. The official printout says "<4" because anything under that can't be detected. Both labs ran the blood twice to make sure.

My doc told me to take 5,000 iu daily for 10 weeks then get the lab repeated. Being snowed in limited what pills I could grab locally so I have a D3 for now. When I can get to the HFS I'll pick up a vegan one.

Wow, veggiesue. Good luck getting those levels up!

Wow, that's scary veggiesue. I'm glad you're addressing it.

Wow thanks for the great link. I just was told my status was low too. I was pretty surprised seeing that I live in such a sunny climate and spend descent of time in the sun w/o sunscreen.

It is important to check levels every once in awhile to figure out your personal absorption rates - at the end of winter is a good time. My vegan nutritionist recommends that everyone once severely deficient should probably plan on taking 5000 iu daily indefinitely.

I was also deficient at levels so low they didn't register. I was able to bring my levels up to then-acceptable levels by taking seven 1000 iu of D2 daily (plus a little extra in my calcium supplements) for a couple months, rather than one 50,000 iu pill a week. I spread it out, taking 2-3 with each meal. I've heard some doctors say taking it in smaller doses is probably better anyway.

Once my levels were up, I tried to maintain it by taking 2,000 iu daily, but it wasn't enough for me and I dropped down to 19. I now take 5000 iu daily, and the last time I was checked (end of winter last year) it was 45, so it is probably higher in summer. But I have been hearing that is now considered low (60+ is better), so I'm going to be tested again.

My results also came back <4, and the doctor suggested that I take pre-natal vitamins, which I thought was a little strange. Then when I asked about possibly getting a bone scan, she said that it was pointless because I would have to supplement regardless of the outcome. Unfortunately, I was too flustered and upset to do much insisting, and so nothing happened.

I ignored her pre-natal vitamin advice and bought myself some high-dosage vitamin D instead. I should re-test soon, but I don't think that's covered by my school health insurance (the first test was at a public clinic, and I'm not in the area anymore). Boo!

Good luck to everyone getting their levels up. It seems to be everywhere - I made my mom get her levels tested after I got my results, and she was also deficient.

This thread inspired me to go out and buy some Vitamin D supplements. Thanks, PPK!

I've been vitamin D deficient as well, and that was after only being vegan a couple weeks. Lots of omnivores are deficient. Everyone should be supplementing, regardless of diet.