Re: cannot get vit D on nhs

[Guest guest]

I would ask your doctor WHY he is not allowed to prescribe

vitamin D and show you the evidence. Vitamin D is vital for good health and

more and more, doctors are leanring just how many problems are caused through a

low level of vitamin D. Read what Dr Friedman has to say about this subject.

http://www.goodhormonehealth.com/symptoms/VitaminD3.pdf

Vitamin D deficiency and thyroid

diseases

Vitamin D is an important vitamin that not only regulates calcium,

but also has many other beneficial actions. Not many endocrinologists realize

this, but several articles published over 20 years ago showed that patients

with hypothyroidism have low levels of vitamin D. This may lead to some of the

bone problems related to hypothyroidism. It was thought that one of two

mechanisms may explain the low levels of vitamin D in patients with hypothyroidism,

1) the low levels of vitamin D may be due to poor absorption of

vitamin D

from the intestine or ..

2) ..the body may not activate vitamin D properly.

Other articles have demonstrated that patients with Graves disease

also have low levels of Vitamin D.

Importantly, both vitamin D and thyroid hormone bind to similar

receptors called steroid hormone receptors. A different gene in the Vitamin D

receptor was shown to predispose people to autoimmune thyroid disease including

Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s

thyroiditis. For these reasons, it is important for patients with

thyroid problems to understand how the vitamin D system works.

Sources of Vitamin D

Vitamin D is really two different compounds, ergocalciferol

(vitamin D2), found mainly in plants and cholecalciferol (vitamin D3), found

mainly in animals. Both of these hormones are collectively referred to as

vitamin D, and they can either be obtained in two ways. One

is by exposure of the skin to the ultraviolet (UV) rays of

sunlight or also from dietary intake. Vitamin D is found naturally in fish

(such as salmon and sardines) and fish oils, eggs and cod liver oil. However

most Vitamin D is obtained from foods fortified with Vitamin D, especially milk

and orange juice. Interestingly, as breast feeding has become more popular, the

incidence of Vitamin D deficiency has increased as less fortified milk is consumed.

Vitamin D deficiency may also occur in patients with malabsorption

from their intestine, such as in the autoimmune disease called Celiac Disease,

which occurs frequently in patients with thyroid problems. Multivitamins also

contain Vitamin D, as does some

calcium supplements like Oscal-D and Citracal plus D..

Different Forms of Vitamin D and

How To Diagnose Vitamin D

Vitamin D itself is inactive and needs to get converted to the

liver to 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25-OH vitamin D) and then in the kidney to 1,

25-hydroxy vitamin D. It is only the 1, 25- OH vitamin D which is biologically

active. This form of vitamin D acts to allow for absorption of calcium from the

intestinal tract. Therefore, patients with low vitamin D levels will have low

calcium and in severe cases get rickets (in children) or osteomalacia (in adults)

which is when the bone bows out and is poorly formed. In mild cases of vitamin

D

deficiency, osteoporosis occurs.

The conversion from the 25-OH vitamin D to the 1, 25-OH vitamin D

that occurs in the kidney is catalyzed by parathyroid hormone, also called PTH.

Therefore, patients with low vitamin D levels will have relatively high PTH

levels along with low calcium levels. This is

similar to patients with primary hypothyroidism having elevated

TSH levels while having normal thyroid hormone levels. Additionally, the 25-OH

vitamin D form which is the storage form and is much more abundant that the 1,

25-OH vitamin D form which, although is active, is less abundant. Therefore, in

states of vitamin D deficiency, low levels of 25-OH vitamin D are found, but

the 1, 25-OH vitamin D levels are either normal or actually slightly high. They

are slightly high because the excess PTH that is stimulated by the low 25-OH vitamin

D levels stimulates the conversion up to 25-OH vitamin D to the 1, 25-OH

vitamin D. Thus, patients that are vitamin D deficient usually have a low 25-OH

vitamin D level, a high PTH level, a low normal calcium, and a normal or an

elevated 1, 25-OH vitamin D

level.

Dr. Friedman usually recommends measuring PTH, calcium, and 25-OH

vitamin D to determine if a patient does have vitamin D deficiency. The 25-OH

vitamin D assay has a normal range of approximately 20-60 ng/dL. However, this

range may be too low for many

patients. Additionally, the assay may not be that good at

measuring the low levels of vitamin D. In general, Dr. Friedman would recommend

treatment of patients that have a 25- OH vitamin D of less than 30 ng/dL, but

these patients should have a PTH in the high

normal range. Optimal levels of 25-OH Vitamin D for patients with

thyroid diseases are probably 35-60 ng/dL.

Treatment of Vitamin D Deficiency

There are several ways to correct for the depletion of vitamin D,

and these would involve either increasing sunlight exposure or increasing

dietary intake. In general, Dr. Friedman feels there is an ongoing battle

between endocrinologists and dermatologists about sunlight exposure, and mild

sunlight exposure probably does not have that much of an increased risk of skin

cancer yet would be helpful to prevent vitamin D deficiency. Because of our

busy schedule, many of us do not go outside during the day much and our

sunlight exposure is minimal. When we do go outside, we are usually covered up

with clothes. Blacks and other dark skinned patients absorb less Vitamin D and

need more sunlight exposure. Dr. Friedman recommends a patient to be exposed to

the sun for 15-30 minutes a day, especially in the morning, to correct for

vitamin D deficiency. However, in northern latitudes, little light of the

proper wavelength goes through the atmosphere in the winter, so this exposure

needs to occur in the spring and summer at which time stores of vitamin D are

built up. The body has mechanisms so that too much vitamin D can not be

synthesized by prolonged sun exposure.

An alternative is to go to a tanning salon for approximately three

times. When it comes to replacing Vitamin D, again we have to understand the

difference between D2 (ergocalciferol) and D3 (cholecalciferol). Even though

both forms of vitamin D are fat soluble, studies have shown that if you take

D2, your levels rise, but then fall back to almost baseline in a few weeks. In

contrast, after D3, the levels stay high for awhile. Dr. Friedman and other

doctors frequently prescribe a high dose (50,000 iu) of vitamin D weekly for 8 weeks,

but this is D2 and in many people the levels drop down to normal after nor

taking itfor a few months. This needs to be given by a prescription. Vitamins

and preparations like Oscal D contain D3, however the amount in these

preparations are small. For example, each multivitamin contains 400

international units of vitamin D3 so a total of 800 international units of

vitamin D will probably prevent Vitamin D deficiency and may correct mild cases

of low vitamin D levels. For more severe levels, the patient can take 50,000

international units of vitamin D orally once or twice a week.

Dr. Friedman finally found a product that has high doses of D3

that could be used to rapidly restore vitamin D levels in patients that are

deficient and keep the levels up. This product 50,000 iu d3 is sold in bottles

of 12 by bio-tech-pharm.com and is catalogue # 36212A. The website is http://www.bio-tech-pharm.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=77. For a 25-OH

vit D level less than 20, Dr. Friedman recommends taking one pill a week for 8-12

weeks, then checking a 25-OH vitamin D and serum calcium level. If levels are

in the normal range, then you can take one pill a month for the next 6 months

for maintenance.

After 6 months, you should be adequately treated. For patients

with 25-OH vit D level between 20 and 25, one pill a week for 6-8 weeks is

recommended and for patients with 25- OH vit D level between 25 and 30, one

pill a week for 4-6 weeks is recommended. In both cases, you should check a

25-OH vitamin D and serum calcium level. If levels are in the normal range,

then you can take one pill a month for the next 6 months for maintenance.

Please take the pills weekly and not daily. The main side effect

of vitamin D therapy is overtreatment leading to hypercalcemia. Patients with

kidney problems cannot convert vitamin D to the active 1, 25-OH vitamin D levels

and need to take calcitriol which is 1, 25-OH vitamin D. Additionally, patients

with hypoparathyroidism are usually placed on the calcitriol as well.

Conclusion

Vitamin D appears to have many effects besides being related to

calcium and bone health. Some patients with low vitamin D levels have fatigue

and bone pain, which is easily reversible with proper replacement of vitamin D.

Vitamin D may protect against heart disease and some types of cancer. Vitamin D

may also have some role in regulating the immune system and also reducing blood

sugar levels in patients with diabetes. Proper vitamin D levels are needed to

prevent osteoporosis. In conclusion, proper vitamin D levels are essential for

one’s health, especially if you have thyroid problems. Unless a patient

is exposed to sunlight or foods containing vitamin D, screening for Vitamin D

deficiency is recommended for all thyroid patients.

This article is not intended to offer medical advice and is

offered for information purposes only. Do not act or rely upon information from

this article without seeking professional medical advice.

From: thyroid treatment

[mailto:thyroid treatment ] On Behalf Of Carol

Sent: 28 May 2010 18:05

thyroid treatment

Subject: cannot get vit D on nhs

Saw dr, today told they are not allowed to

prescribe Vit D. Am begining to wonder what they can prescribe...not a lot by

the look of things :-(

Carol

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06:25:00

[Guest guest]

Carol - read also this information http://www.tpa-uk.org.uk/vitamind_newsletter_may08.pdf

Saw dr, today told they are not allowed to prescribe Vit D.

Am begining to wonder what they can prescribe...not a lot by the look of things

:-(

Carol

No virus

found in this incoming message.

Checked by AVG - www.avg.com

Version: 8.5.437 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2901 - Release Date: 05/28/10

06:25:00

[Guest guest]

Hi Carol,

They are allowed to prescribe vit D!! When my Crohns disease is active

I get Vit D injections to help with absorbtion problems.

Love Tess

>

> Saw dr, today told they are not allowed to prescribe Vit D. Am begining to

wonder what they can prescribe...not a lot by the look of things :-(

> Carol

>

[Guest guest]

Sheila

he said its not on the computer so i cannot prescribe it.

I saw a locum although my appointment was with another dr and it got cancelled

this morning it was take it or leave it appointment.

Made another as i need a referal for the cholesteral that is above my eyes i

hate it i used to wear make up but cannot anymore as it looks so bad with these

bumps showing through. He even told me that they will not do them as its

cosmetic, rubbish its horrid for me i am very aware of it and do not know what

to do. :-(

So have had to make another appointment.

Carol

>

> Carol - read also this information

> http://www.tpa-uk.org.uk/vitamind_newsletter_may08.pdf

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> Saw dr, today told they are not allowed to prescribe Vit D. Am begining to

> wonder what they can prescribe...not a lot by the look of things :-(

> Carol

>

>

>

> No virus found in this incoming message.

> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com

> Version: 8.5.437 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2901 - Release Date: 05/28/10

> 06:25:00

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you tess

I shall tell my gp i know a person who has vit d on nhs then

Carol

> >

> > Saw dr, today told they are not allowed to prescribe Vit D. Am begining to

wonder what they can prescribe...not a lot by the look of things :-(

> > Carol

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Carol, I just saw your post, I am prescribed Vit D3 via my GP. I have

osteopenia and have a soluable Cal/Vit D3 tab. called Adcal It is 1500 mgs

Calcium and 800mgs Vit D3. I take 2 tabs daily dissolved in water.

Hope it helps

Regards

Jane

>

> Saw dr, today told they are not allowed to prescribe Vit D. Am begining to

wonder what they can prescribe...not a lot by the look of things :-(

> Carol

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Jane

Many thanks have another appointment will tell him that he should be prescribing

it for me

Carol

> >

> > Saw dr, today told they are not allowed to prescribe Vit D. Am begining to

wonder what they can prescribe...not a lot by the look of things :-(

> > Carol

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi again Jane

Just re-read what you said i am not deficient in calcium

Carol

> >

> > Saw dr, today told they are not allowed to prescribe Vit D. Am begining to

wonder what they can prescribe...not a lot by the look of things :-(

> > Carol

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I think your GP is not telling the truth as I have been offered Vit D on the

NHS.

Print out this article for your GP - it's from a recent GP trade magazine....

http://www.healthcarerepublic.com/news/1001638/Video-people-UK-benefit-vitamin-D\

-supplements/

[Guest guest]

I am prescribed Vit d by my GP. My endo did at least acknowledge the blood test

result as on the low side and wrote to my GP to prescribe it for me.

First I tried Calcichew-D3 Forte chewable tablets but they upset my stomach so

now I have Cacit D3 500mg/440iu.

Hope it helps you to get your GP to prescribe.

Judy

[Ed]

[Guest guest]

Actually the level of Vit D in Calcichew D3 or Adcal D3

is minimal at 5 mcg

which seems to equal 200IU

The doctor using Vit D to cure Arthritis etc is using 4,000 IU

Fish Oils and Cod Liver Oil included Vit D

but I am on a seach for the ones that have a high IU content of Vit D

Pat

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Pat

You can get high dose Vit D3 from link below

Product Catelogue:

https://secure.bio-tech-pharm.com/catalog.aspx?cat_id=2

from 1,000 iu up to 50,000iu

look thru all three pages as some have added vits like K2, Vit A,

Magnesium,Zinc

These products are very inexpensive, ie Vit D3 @ 1000iu 100 capsules for $7.oo

US

www.bio-tech-pharm.com

jennyF

>

> Actually the level of Vit D in Calcichew D3 or Adcal D3

>

> is minimal at 5 mcg

> which seems to equal 200IU

>

> The doctor using Vit D to cure Arthritis etc is using 4,000 IU

>

> Fish Oils and Cod Liver Oil included Vit D

>

> but I am on a seach for the ones that have a high IU content of Vit D

>

> Pat

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you so much for this link. I've been looking for a high dose VD3

supplement....

JOT

> You can get high dose Vit D3 from link below

>

> Product Catelogue:

>

> https://secure.bio-tech-pharm.com/catalog.aspx?cat_id=2

>

>

> from 1,000 iu up to 50,000iu