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Comment by yyyk | Hacker News Reader

In our modern lifestyle, there's a good argument for a vitamin D supplement, but it's also important not to take too much - the suggested dose in the article is IMHO the max I'd take (I am very far from being a medical authority - this is just based on my readings of such articles).

An overlarge supplement of vitamin D will create kidney stones[1] and may be harmful to bones[0] - a rather unexpected result.

[0] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31454046/

[1] https://twitter.com/ashleygwinter/status/1388131214003826688

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Why not periodically check blood levels and adjust the dosage, instead of low-balling. Low D levels are quite detrimental to health and longevity.

Not everyone has the money to pay for $200 blood test every couple of months.

You can get blood tests for $50 (and indeed <$40 with sales/discounts) around much of the world, e.g. from OmegaQuant. Once every 6 months instead of once every 2 months is fine for most when doing initial calibration.

This isn't something a regular person can easily decide using test results. Because vitamin D accretes over time, it's possible to overshoot.

A possible scenario: you get a test, take the supplement, take another test, see no difference, take a bigger dose, and the test after that shows the effect of the first dose. Then you decide to keep the bigger dose even though it's unnecessary.

The moderate dosages are safe according to most studies. However, I agree with what dragonwriter below wrote: people who think they need the bigger dosages better consult a doctor before making a decision.

Kidney stone risk is mitigated by K2 consumption.

VitD and k2 should always be paired.

Eat your natto while sunbathing. (Seriously, I prefer natto to k2 supplements - you get high dose of K2 through natto and you get nattokinase which lowers BP https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18971533/ )

Here's a great video about K2, well sources in the description:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaTsXMgS6RU

Here's another well sources video, in the description, regarding K2 and VitD:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJwNUcIFEEM

The best thing is if you think you need more than a moderate dose, work with your doctor to monitor whether you are actually deficient or not. I take a very high daily dose, but I was deficient until I did.

It's funny you say that. I just went through that process and I was immensely annoyed at our healthcare system.

I've been suspecting low vitamin D for my quite some time. Felt very lethargic, and on the weekend without setting an alarm I just straight up slept 15+ hours. (and a few other issues, which I am not sure whether they are related to that, time will tell)

I've been complaining about that for some time, even mentioned the possibility of a deficit to my doctor, but he never agreed to look into that direction.

I finally went around my doctor and got a blood drawn and sent to a lab for a vitamin D test, and the results were what I expected: 4ng/ml (which is extremely low).

I went to my doctor with those results, they just told me to "go out more".

I called two other offices, both of which didnt take me as a patient and one even just told me to look at the internet.

I was infuriated by all those three offices. After some research I now ordered supplements myself and made a treatment plan and I am planning to get another blood test in 2 months to check in on my levels and adjust accordingly.

This seems more like an issue where the Dr was giving you correct advice but you weren't hearing what you wanted to hear?

Why would you infuriated by a Dr telling you to go outside more to increase Vitamin? That's exactly what they should be suggesting in the first instance.

Well, first of all it is early march and the sun is at an too low angle.

Secondly I working from home for over 2 years now, and during most months of the year it is already dark outside when I am done with work.

Thirdly, I already have symptoms which correlate to a deficit, so the doctor not even wanting to look into it baffled me. And well, I never managed to talk to a doctor with my actual test results, but from looking at papers/official resources, 4ng/ml seems to be extremely low as a vitamin d level.

Well in the end I obviously don't know if those symptoms are the result of my vitamin d deficit, but time will tell.

> I've been complaining about that for some time, even mentioned the possibility of a deficit to my doctor, but he never agreed to look into that direction.

Working your network to find a better primary care physician in your insurer’s network (blind change tends to have poor results) may be worthwhile, but, yeah, this is a way too common problem.

You don't need a doctor's permission to get your blood results. Many of the lab sites will do it. You have interpret on your own though.

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