1. < Osteoporosis & Bone Health

What is desired level of Vitamin D for those with osteoporosis?

Posted by ripley @ripley, Apr 26 3:42pm

I'm trying to find out what the desired blood levels of Vitamin D should be if you have osteoporosis, My levels have always been on the low side of the range 30-100. Six months ago it was 27.8 so my Dr increased my Vitamin D supplement to 3,000 IU/day. Now my levels are 40.9. I read they should be above 50. Can anyone provide more information?

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windyshores | @windyshores | Dec 8 1:05pm
In reply to @lizzie12 "I was told the same, 2000 D and 1200 Calcium." + (show)
@lizzie12

I was told the same, 2000 D and 1200 Calcium.

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@lizzie12 I vary my D3 with the season and with the med I am on. For Tymlos I took 3,000 units. Now I am back to 2,000 or even alternating 1,000 and 2,000 depending on sun. I think it is important to get tested fairly often not only to keep levels high enough but to avoid getting too high!

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neshomaker123 | @neshomaker123 | Dec 9 10:00am
In reply to @hopefullibrarian "There are loads of varying numbers out there on recommended vitamin D levels. Some take into..." + (show)
@hopefullibrarian

There are loads of varying numbers out there on recommended vitamin D levels. Some take into account gender, age, and medical benefits. Others just provide general ranges. Those ranges not only vary withing the U.S., but are also between countries. It's all so confusing.

I did my best to find info on BMD specific levels, and found two sources that may be helpful.
The first is an article in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition from 2020 titled Vitamin D deficiency 2.0: an update on the current status worldwide.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41430-020-0558-y
It specifically reference levels needed for good bone health.

The second is a 2019 randomized clinical trial in JAMA titled Effect of High-Dose Vitamin D Supplementation on Volumetric Bone Density and Bone Strength.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2748796
After having extremely low levels when I was diagnosed with osteoporosis, my personal goal was to achieve and maintain a level of 70-100 ng/mL. For me that required high does of D3 supplementation in tablet form.
Here are the results of my labs from 2022 to now.

After taking 5000 IU per day of a vitamin D tincture for more than 5 years
November 2022 - 19.5 ng/mL

Switched to 5000 IU in tablet form in January 2023
May 2023 - 29.8 ng/ml

Continuing at 5000 IU in tablet form
November 2023 - 45.4 ng/ml

Increased dosage to 10000 IU in tablet form in December 2023
April 2024 - 74.6 ng/mL

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Be careful. Those high doses can be toxic! That is what happened to my sister. Get blood levels checked regularly.

REPLY
windyshores | @windyshores | Dec 9 1:24pm
In reply to @neshomaker123 "Be careful. Those high doses can be toxic! That is what happened to my sister. Get..." + (show)
@neshomaker123

Be careful. Those high doses can be toxic! That is what happened to my sister. Get blood levels checked regularly.

Jump to this post

I am keeping my levels in the mid-50's. I have been told 80 is too high. Testing can help!

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