Don't be stupid - take MORE vitamin D3 if you want to feel better!

I've mentioned that I tend to try anything I think will work - and I do it often enough that sometimes it's hard to tell what worked and what didn't.  Top that off with the fact that MS is cyclical and every bad day could mean what I'm doing isn't working, or... it means nothing.  This is the world we live in, so get used to it and, while it may ruin your day, there's no sense in letting ruin your week, month, year, or life.  This is what we've been given, so make the best of it and work to improve your situation.

I attribute much of my improvement as of late to an increase in vitamin D3.  I've taken it semi-regularly almost since diagnosis (2 years and 5 months), but began taking it much more consistently and in a much higher dose starting in May of this year.  That was when I saw UW-Madison researcher Dr. Colleen Hayes give a talk at an MS Society function.  Dr. Hayes' research notes that numbers of MS cases are directly correlated to distance from the equator (i.e. further from the equator = higher rate of MS).  What could that mean... what... could... that... mean?  You use sunlight to produce vitamin D from cholesterol in your skin.  Further from the equator = less sunlight = less vitamin D... coincidence?  I THINK NOT!

Now, I've been pretty consistent about taking a multi-vitamin but the D3 dose is a pathetic 400 international units (IU).  I asked my doctor (my normal physician, not my neurologist) if she saw any harm in taking a higher dose.  I suggested 2000 IU/day and she saw no problem with that, so I started at that level.  I was not overly consistent with it and had mixed results - I'm sure it varies from person to person and there are some other variables that may influence absorption, etc.  Anyway, I sort of kept it up, after all, I had been been hearing good things and it's not terribly expensive, so why not?

In May, however, I saw Dr. Hayes (I have a link to her research on the right) give a talk and she handed out a summary sheet with data and statistics that convinced me to up the dose.  I've been taking 4000 IU daily since then.  I really think it's made a huge difference.  I mentioned that it's hard to know what is really working since I am constantly tinkering with diet, etc., but that's the most consistent change I've made.  Again, cheap - so why not?

There is inconsistent data about how much is too much, etc.  I would encourage you to look into it yourself, but keep in mind that you'll find things all over the board.  I can tell you that it's pretty difficult to find a lot of documentation of adverse events related to vitamin d3 overdose.  NIH has said that it's safe to take 2000 IU a day, so I would encourage you to start there if you haven't already.  Also, I think (notice the "I" in "I think" - that means it's MY OPINION) that NIH tends to err on the safe side and that this is still a low number.  Also keep in mind the form of vit D that you're reading/hearing about if you do hear of problems.  For example, I think there is data out there regarding vitamin D2 toxicity.  You want D3!  I've heard a number of people talk about the bad things "they've heard."  They new someone who's grandma died from vitamin D or whatever.  Seriously?  Look at credible places to find data like pubmed or even webmd or something like that.  Don't rely on what someone said they heard!  Ask your doctor - It's a good idea to check with them, anyway, before you decide to change something.

The message here is that D3 is not likely to cause problems.  People that live in sunny climates presumably are producing huge amounts of D3, and they're not dropping dead from toxicity.  I think you can probably see a theme in my posts: Try something new - what have you got to lose?  Your choices are 1) don't try anything new because your scared/lack confidence/don't feel like it - and guarantee that you won't make a noticeable change and will continue to deteriorate at the same rate - or faster, or 2) Try something some people have had some luck with and see what happens.  You might see a change; you might not; you might THINK it's helping, in which case, you feel better anyway.  Is that so bad?  Suck it up and try it.  There is mounting evidence that MS is linked to vitamin D deficiency and that vitamin D3 supplementation improves disability scores in MS patients (see link below - this was the first hit when I googled it- there are plenty more).  Give it a shot!  Of course, if you're ok with the alternative, keep sitting on your hands!

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/703670