Vitamin D megadoses via IV

In Oakland Little A was prescribed to take IV vitamin D megadoses.  Has anyone taken vitamin D this way?

Not the IV but i have taken IM doses along with Calcium injections. This is done here when there is sudden drop in calcium levels due to continuous fever. Doses of Vit-D and Calcium in this way bring the reading quickly in normals

Were his vitamin D levels very low  .

Zaini.

No Sharmin, its the first time to know that vitamins can be taken through IV (directly in the blood stream). I only thought that vitamin injections are taken in the muscles (buttocks)

Anyway i think that this way he will very quickly get rid of his defiency, good luck

manal

Thank you for your responses Tariq, Zaini and Manal,

Last spring Oakland had our doctor run a number of tests - the tests determined that he was vitamin D deficient.  Our doctor said that it was a small deficiency and that increasing his dairy intake and sun exposure would take care of it.  In the fall I started Osteocare.

During our Oakland visit the doc asked what we have been doing about his vitamin D deficiency.  I showed her the vitamins and she said that it was not enough - and that he needs to have mega doses via IV.   They take vitamin D deficiency much more seriously in Oakland than the docs here.  I think that vitamin D deficiency may play some role in AIHA (the auto antibodies).

I think that is info, along with the facts that he has been on prednisone for 2 years, he has been on exjade and we have not monitored his phosphorus levels, having thalassemia , being on high chelation - has me worried about the DEXA.  I am hopeful that his activity level is good and this is an indicator that his bones must be strong.  Also, the activity level must be strengthening his bones.    Still no results for the DEXA...

Thanks again,

Sharmin

Sharmin,

Do you know how much Vitamin D they recommend as daily dose? For thals?

Zaini.

Zaini,

We didn't ask how much vitD is recommended daily for thals - the doctor was focused on little A's current needs because of his deficiency and she felt that the dose he is on now is not good enough for him.  I wonder if this dose would be enough for someone who is not deficient.  When I follow up with them, I will ask what the maintenance dose would be for thals. 

Sharmin

Thanks Sharmin,

Its hard to find Vitamin D only tabs here,injections are available though.

Zaini.

Our doctor had a chat with us yesterday about low vitamin D and it's link to immunity - perhaps as important as vitamin C.  Low vitamin D is linked to low immunity and to autoimmune disorders such as MS and perhaps autoimmune reactions like what little A is experiencing.  Not to mention the role vitamin D plays in building bone. 

We were also told that vitamin C plays an important role in building bones. 

We were told the same thing in Oakland. 

Sharmin

The role of vitamin D has long been underestimated and only partially understood. We need to remember this fact. Our lives depend on the sun. Without it, there is no life. The sun provides vitamin D to our bodies and we are learning that vitamin D is involved in most of not all bodily functions. By its very nature of being a vitamin that is passively acquired by humans just by being outdoors, which is a natural state of man, vitamin D is essentially the most important of all nutrients. It is the one that is taken for granted by nature that we will have access to by exposure to the sun. With modern lifestyles, we foil the very purpose of the relationship between the sun and life, and must make constant efforts to replace this all-important vitamin that most of us are not getting in adequate amounts. When we think about it, it seems a no-brainer that the nutrient provided by the sun itself would be the most important but it has taken science a very long time to move towards this realization. Rather than continue to wait for each new revelation about vitamin D one by one, we need to be proactive and make sure that we are getting a sufficient supply, either by regular exposure to the sun or by taking good supplements of D.

My own experience has shown me that vitamin D deficiency is rapidly corrected and that dramatic effects can be seen in a very short time. In my case, doubling my dosage relieved muscle pain and tired legs within two weeks. Forgetting to take my normal dose quickly brings back the sore muscles. My next long trip will involve experimenting with vitamin D to see if it helps with the jet lag that makes travel such an ordeal for me.

Little A had the 25-hydroxy vitamin D test this morning.  Results are pending.  I have read that the normal range is 16.0 to 74.0 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) (Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories.) 

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003569.htm

Alternative Names    Return to top

25-OH vitamin D test; Calcidiol 25-hydroxycholecalciferol test
Definition    Return to top

The 25-hydroxy vitamin D test is the most accurate measure of the amount of vitamin D in the body.

In the kidney, 25-hydroxy vitamin D changes into an active form (called 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D). The active form helps control blood levels of calcium and phosphate.

This article discusses the blood test used to measure the amount of 25-hydroxy vitamin D.

How to Prepare for the Test    Return to top

Do not eat for 4 hours before the test.

A deficiency means you do not have enough vitamin D in your body.

An excess means you have too much vitamin D in your body.

Normal Results    Return to top

The normal range is 16.0 to 74.0 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL). Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories.

What Abnormal Results Mean    Return to top

Lower-than-normal levels suggest a vitamin D deficiency. This condition can result from:

Lack of exposure to sunlight
Lack of adequate vitamin D in the diet
Liver and kidney diseases
Malabsorption
Certain medicines, including phenytoin, phenobarbital, and rifampin
A vitamin D deficiency may lead to:

Low blood calcium levels (hypocalcemia)
Thin or weak bones (rickets, osteoporosis and osteomalacia)
High levels of parathyroid hormone (secondary hyperparathyroidism)
Higher-than-normal levels suggest excess vitamin D, a condition called hypervitaminosis D. It is usually caused by vitamin D in the form of doctor-prescribed dietary supplements. This can lead to high calcium levels (hypercalcemia).

Considerations    Return to top

Low vitamin D levels are more common in African American children, particularly in the winter, as well as in infants who are exclusively breastfed. Low vitamin D levels have also been associated with an increased risk of developing cancer.

Andy, in light of current research and recommendations should vitamin D levels be higher than recommended here?  Also, do thals need to maintain higher vitamin D levels than non thals?

Thanks Andy,

Sharmin

The daily minimum requirements of many vitamins were based on what amount was needed to prevent illnesses like rickets and scurvy. In no way do these minimum requirements take into account the amounts of vitamins needed for optimal health. It seems that every day a new study is released trumpeting the role of vitamin D in numerous bodily functions. I have no doubt that not only is the requirement for vitamin D in need of adjusting but that also, most people who do not get regular sunlight year round, are deficient in vitamin D. In addition, doses as high as 60,000 IU have been shown to be safe. My own experience with vitamin D in recent years has convinced me that dramatic improvements in health can be accomplished with vitamin D supplementation. I do feel that the recommended daily dosages are too low for vitamin D.

Thanks Andy,

This will help me when they give me the results

Sharmin

Andy,

Little A's vitamin D is still quite  - his level is 60.6 and the normal range is (80 - 200).  I hope that they will do something soon.

Sharmin

Sharmin,

He hasn't recieved Vitamin D via IV right? so that will correct his levels hopefully.

Zaini.