Vitamin D2 vs. D3?

[devolute]

I found out today that I am severely vitamin D deficient. The range for 'severely deficient' is <10 ng/mL and I'm at 6.7 (normal is 32-80). Living in Oregon, it is impossible for me to at this time of year to get a sufficient amount from the sun

Comments

[i_amsherlocked]

There are some supposedly vegan D3 supplements:

http://www.gardenoflife.com/ProductsforLife/THEVITAMINCODEsupsup/TargetedNutrientFormulas/RAWD3/tabid/1896/Default.aspx

http://www.upayanaturals.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=PRL-110

I take 10,000 I.U. a day of the Raw D3

[devolute]

according to the comments here, garden of life is not actually vegan (they use lanolin), though it may still be better than conventional d3. your second link is just 'loading' forever for me unfortunately :(

[devolute]

from the site:

"At the same time the yeast is growing in its tank, isolated Unites States Pharmacopeia (USP) grade vitamin D3 is put into a much smaller preparation tank. Widely used, the commercially available D3 we purchase has been synthesized from animal cholesterol, primarily lanolin. The starting material is subjected to a lengthy conversion and UV exposure process briefly described belowIX."

and on the same page it's talking about how it's a 'vegan-friendly' process. uhhh... but it sounds like it's less lanolin that regular d3.

[i_amsherlocked]

Yeah, that's why the 'supposedly' is there, lol. I read about it too. But I had pretty severe deficiencies and I'm breastfeeding, so I can't take chances. It works well.

RE overdosing

[i_amsherlocked]

Oh and months ago a friend linked me to a Cochrane database study that mentioned that under optimal conditions our bodies would manufacture about 150,000 IU daily from sun exposure, but pretty much no one gets optimal exposure anymore. I wish I could find the actual link for you, but no luck so far.

[devilbunnie]

I started at around 5 ng/mL and am now up to the low 30s by taking only D-2 supplements. I took the 50,000 iu for a little while, but now take 2,000 iu a day. My doctor prescribed the D2 and never said anything to me about D3 supposedly being absorbed better, but I have since read conflicting things about it. I should probably start taking more but I'm comfortable with the progress and will make it a point to also get more sun once it warms up here.

There's more info here if you're interested: http://veganhealth.org/articles/bones#d2d3

[devolute]

Thanks! How long did it take for you to get into the low 30s?

[devilbunnie]

It's hard to say because I resisted taking the 50,000 iu caps for a while (they are gelatin caps) and I also didn't get my blood tested again for maybe half a year or so later because I kept forgetting... I'm just happy there's been an improvement and I'm now at least in the normal range :)

[devolute]

At least you got improvement, thanks for the info! I'm gonna take 50,000 IU/week worth of my 2,000 IU pills I think, see how that goes.

[ohyourgod]

I wonder if there is somewhere sunny that has people as cool as Oregonians. If so, we should move there!

[devolute]

it's sunny today, i just went for a bike ride! except i went too early so i probably didn't get much vitamin d but oh well, i was worried it was gonna get cloudy/rainy since that's what the forecast said. it's already cloudy :(

and yes we should! santa fe?

[ohyourgod]

It was sunny for maybe two hours. And hardly sunny by my Florida standards.

[devolute]

it was sunny enough that i got hot wearing shorts and a tank top on my bike ride! C'MON!

[withinmywill]

I can't help you with your question, but I do know that shiitake mushrooms are a great (perhaps the best) food-based source of vitamin D. Granted, you may need a little more than what you can eat, but it can't hurt!