MEDICAL MATTERS

[Cathy]

Next time I have to buy the Vitamin D3 , I plan to buy it with added Magnesium.
Hopefully it will help with my Restless Leg Syndrome.

[Tizer]

I've been looking into dosage. All a bit confusing. My tablets are 12.5 mg which I find equals 500 International units.

Tripps, beware of confusion between the units - 12.5 mg (milligrams) is 1000 times more than 12.5 µg (micrograms), the latter unit being what your label states. The NHS states Do not take more than 100 micrograms (4000 IU) of vitamin D a day as it could be harmful.

[Tripps]

Tiz - thanks for that. Yes the tablets I have are 12.5 µg (micrograms). That was my error, but 12.5 µg was what the label says, and what I intended to state. It seems to be equivalent to 500 IU. So Cathy takes 2000IU daily, and Wendy takes 4000IU daily. That's the same as 4 and 8 of my tablets respectively.

Remember - Dr Campbell's expert interviewee takes 40,000 I.U. per week - which is about 50% more than the current recommnded max of 4000 I.U. per day.

This Government guidance (now withdrawn) says something different Vity D dose Gov advice (withdrawn)

This was the advice from a 'Living with Covid' guidance publication. They said 400IU was a max dose - then they say 4000 IU is safe for most people. Why withdrawn I wonder? Perhaps they watched Doctor Campbell.

Taking vitamin D safely

Please make sure you read and comply with the instructions set out on the product label.

Each ‘1-A-Day’ vitamin D supplement contains 10 micrograms (µg) of vitamin D. This is equivalent to 400 international units (IU) of vitamin D. This is the daily amount recommended for the general population by government for general health and in particular to protect bone and muscle health.

If your GP has recommended that you take a different amount of vitamin D, you should follow your GP’s advice.

Do not exceed the recommended dose (1 supplement per day containing 10 micrograms (µg) equivalent to 400 international units). This is a safe level of intake, designed to meet your nutritional needs. Taking more is not currently recommended.

For most people taking up to 100 micrograms (µg) equivalent to 4,000 international units) per day is considered safe. In a few people, taking too many vitamin D supplements over a long period of time can cause too much calcium to build up in the body (hypercalcaemia). This can weaken the bones and damage the kidneys and the heart. NHS.UK has more information about vitamin D, including advice on intakes.

While some medications may interact with high doses of vitamin D, there are no issues associated with the 10 microgram vitamin D supplement. They are intended to supplement the diet and should not be substituted for a varied diet



Perhaps there is a male/female difference due to osteoporosis?

What to do - so much information?

[Stanley]

I wouldn't dream of telling you or anyone else what to do David! All I can do is tell you what I do, suck it and see and take note of how I feel. I have no doubt I am taking more than they recommend of most vitamins but I feel better than I have for years.....
(And as I mentioned before, for some reason my bum knee has stopped hurting, that's still the case!)

[Tizer]

Here's the Vitamin D web page from the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) for comparison NIH vitamin D. Take advantage of this opportunity to read it before Robert F. Kennedy Junior takes over the US Health Services and closes it down!

Cathy, almonds, cashews and bananas are good for magnesium levels - and chocolate (70-80% cocoa)!

[Cathy]

I’ll bear that in mind Tize, I quite like banana sandwiches.
It’s very frustrating that Restless Leg Syndrome is so unpredictable.

[Tripps]

Here's the Vitamin D web page

Can't see a link - but I think I have read enough to make an informed decision. Interestingly Tim Spector of ZOE says it isn't actually a 'vitamin' as the body can manufacture its own.

I can't help thinking that the economics of it all colour most of the articles I have read. It's out of patent and can be manufactured by any company - but for very little profit. During Covid it was seen as an instrument of 'anti vax, so at the time, the vax lobby would naturally spin against it.

I won't say what I will do - wouldn't want to be an 'influencer', but thanks to all to all who have informed my decision.

[Tizer]

Can't see a link - but I think I have read enough to make an informed decision. Interestingly Tim Spector of ZOE says it isn't actually a 'vitamin' as the body can manufacture its own.

Sorry about that, I've added it into the post now. It has a table of recommended amounts for different age groups.

Interestingly Tim Spector of ZOE says it isn't actually a 'vitamin' as the body can manufacture its own.

The word vitamin got used in a careless way in the past for several `bioactive' compounds'. True vitamins are essential components of enzymes. Although the body can make its own molecule of vitamin D from a relative of cholesterol we need enough sunlight to do it and there's often not enough at higher latitudes. Which is why I refer to it as `insurance'.

[Tripps]

Thanks - Looks a good site, and information is well presented.

Just have to cope with 'nmol per litre' now - to add to the confusion.

Disappointed though, to search for "mRNA" and get no meaningful results.

As you say - let "Nullius in verba: On the word of no one" be your watchword.

[Stanley]

It's a more informative site than the home grown ones I have read. For instance it recommends increased dosage if you are over 71......
Just one fact about Bananas to add for Cathy. Remember that bananas are bad if you have diabetes. We had this discussion a while since and settled on Prunes I think!
"wouldn't want to be an 'influencer'"
As if anyone on this site takes advice!

[Tizer]

Just have to cope with 'nmol per litre' now - to add to the confusion.

I'm with you on that! Those units belong in scientific research papers, not advisory notes on the Web or on product labels.

Stanley, from the Diabetes UK web site: Be mindful of your serving sizes too – a large banana counts for one and half portions of fruit and contains about 30g carbs. But, most people need to cut down on foods with added sugars and refined carbs rather than whole fruit – a large banana is still better for your long-term health than a standard slice of cake, which contains about 25g carbohydrate. This is partly because the banana has no free sugar. Diabetes UK

[Stanley]

I found that out a long time ago Peter. All baked goods belong to the devil. I have seen the light lately about apples and salad butties. They are both verboten now and I feel better for it.
I agree with you about obscure scientific units. Life is hard enough without clever clogs trying to impress us.....

[Tizer]

My post about bananas was in response to your advice to Cathy...

Just one fact about Bananas to add for Cathy. Remember that bananas are bad if you have diabetes.

[Cathy]

I don’t eat much fruit of any kind, but I have always had a sweet tooth and have sugar in other ways.
I think I would feel deprived without sugar. It would be hard for me to have to be strict on my sugar intake.

[Tizer]

We're back to physician associates again...
`Streeting orders review to end 'toxic' NHS staff row' BBC

[Wendyf]

Colin is getting brilliant service from the diabetes clinician at Pendle Medical Partnership who is a Medical Associate and a type 1 diabetic herself. She is overseeing his transition onto insulin, giving him 30 minutes of face to face time every week. He is beyond pleased that someone in the NHS is actually taking an interest in him personally.

[Big Kev]

That's good to hear

[Wendyf]

He still hasn't got a prescription for blood thinners though despite it being nearly 7 weeks since the blood clots were discovered. Somewhere between Pendle Medical Partnership and the Upper Gastrointestinal Unit in Bradford he has been forgotten.

[Big Kev]

That's not good, I got mine at the time of diagnosis.

[Wendyf]

That's not good, I got mine at the time of diagnosis.

No, but it's possible that the blood supply to his pancreas and spleen has been blocked by clots since the operation nearly 4 years ago, so it probably isn't considered an immediate danger though the pancreas has obviously given up the ghost. The doctor at Earby/Colne dealing with this only works on a Thursday and Friday so weeks seem to go by with nothing being done. The diabetes clinician at Colne and the specialist nurses in Bradford are all trying to chase it up for Col.

[Stanley]

Any medical problems I have are as nothing compared to Colin's and my heart goes out to him Wendy.

[Tizer]

Somewhere between Pendle Medical Partnership and the Upper Gastrointestinal Unit in Bradford he has been forgotten.

That sort of thing is becoming too common now and the NHS needs its communications completely overhauled. It's sad to hear that Colin is being affected by the problem.

And now the Physician Associate issue has moved up a notch. Just like with the motorway lane changes, we could see the problems at the outset. Why didn't the politicians and the relevant leaders see them...
`A toxic staffing row is splitting the NHS' LINK

[Stanley]

I hope we start to see some improvement soon but somehow I doubt it. It is so sad to see what we have done to the greatest and most beneficial social reform of the 20th Century.

[Big Kev]

My eyeballs got the thumbs up for another year

[Tizer]

I got my first delivery of prescriptions by Pharmacy2U this morning. I ordered on the NHS Access site after re-setting my choice of pharmacy on Thursday but I guess that if I'd ordered direct on the pharmacy site on Friday the delivery would still have been this morning.