Vegan Vitamin D3?

Yep I went to the doctor because for the last few months I've been completely exhausted. So I got just a general blood test and found out it's low vitamin D and that my iron was a little low too so I've had to go back to taking ferro grad C, but unfortunately the vitamin D deficiency was only half of the problem.
I wish I didn't need to take the supplement but being so exhausted all the time has made it really hard to focus on uni!

Im sure u can find enuff time in your day to absorb the sun, I wouldnt take pills for vitamim d, you should be able to get enough from the sun? And if you work all day, why not eat your lunch and have your breaks out in the sun?

I think that's a little simplistic I'm afraid If you have normal levels then the sun would be adequate, but when the vit D levels in your body are to the point where they're almost non-existent compared to what they should be, you need D3 supplements. My vision has been starting to get impaired (blurry and I sometimes see sparkles), constantly fatigued, blood sugar related problems, etc, so I'm past the point of being able to refrain from supplements. I usually eat lunch (when I get a chance to have it) in the sun as well but obviously didn't help. I'm hoping the tablets are coated in vegetable gum but I have a feeling it's probably gelatin (to add to the problem I already had with having lanolin). Sigh

Vegan vitamin D3.
Confirmed!

http://www.vitashine-d3.com/

Have to order it from UK though.

Don't use soap if you want to rely on the sun as it can prevent your skin producing it. Best to just use a hard brush/bristle and water.
15 minutes a day between 11AM-1PM during Spring/Summer and the first half of Autumn (after that the UVB rays aren't significant enough to produce D) will provide plenty.

D2 is fine. It has about a 70%-80% conversion rate to D3 (the active form) however it doesn't last as long in your system after conversion (weeks versus months).

If you desperately need to supplement take 2400 IU of vitamin D2: http://www.theveganstore.com.au/products/Deva-Vegan-Vitamin-D2-%252d-2400IU-%2890-tabs%29.html

OR buy the vitamin D3 from the UK (I'm trying to encourage people from Aus to stock it).

FURTHER I'd encourage all with low vitamin D to supplement Calcium/Magnesium as they're probably not absorbing it with the low vitamin D. Also try to take a vegan DHA/EPA supplement as it encourage vitamin D absorption in the gut.

Here's a standard vegan DHA: http://www.theveganstore.com.au/products/Deva-Vegan-Omega%252d3-DHA-Softgels-%2890-tabs%29.html

I'm training to be a nutritionist/naturopath BTW if you're wondering how I know this stuff.

A couple of earlier studies showed the D2 didn't cause the levels in the Blood to be  maintained as long, however they used 50000 IU. That's a massive dose.  A recient study shows that 1000IU of D2 taken daily, instead of 50000 once a week (50 x as much), was just as effective as D3. Show your Dr this study:

file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Dell/My%20Documents/Health%20&%20Medicine/Nutrition/Vitamins/Vitamin%20D2%20Is%20as%20Effective%20as%20Vitamin%20D3%20in%20Maintaining%20Circulating%20Concentrations%20of%2025-Hydroxyvitamin%20D.htm  

D2, ergocalciferol is plant derived and does the same thing as D3, Calecalciferol. Both have to coverted in the liver, to produce 25, dihyoxycalciferol and that is coverted in the kidneys to produce the active form, 1,25, dihyoxycalciferol.  If there is any problems with the liver or kidneys it will not happen properly.

If D2 does not maintain D levels in the blood, why. Is it because the body is using more, or can it get rid of any excess more better?  I think these are questions to be answered.


Ian Ridgeway ND www.alnaturalhealth.com

As mentioned in other posts. Don't forget the obious, get out the sun, take sunbaths, UVB light baths. If you can get to the sea, get wet with sea water and then go into the sun. If you cannot get to the sea much go and bring some home, put in a spray bottle and spray yourself and sunbath, or mix some Celtic Sea salt in water and spray that. Sunlight and minerals can do wonders.

Don't be stupid and get burned, but get into the sun with no sunscreen or glasses. Don't go out in the middle of the day and build up to 1 hour a day if possible.

In you case I  certainly would use a good daily dose of Vit D as well till level come up above critical levels.

we can't view a study on your computer without hacking.. lol you need more vitamin Ds

If you save a .htm link to your PC it is like a file, to get the link for the online website, not the .htm shourcut address... Open the .htm link, then from the webrowser copy the HTML address www. so on.

C:// is your local drive (i.e. your hard drive in your pc).
http:// is a server drive, a hard drive which servers many people access, your personal computer could act as a server... but you don't want it to generally.

Opps, sorry! I was in a bit of hurry and didn't notice the linke was local. Here is the link http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2266966/?report=printable