I just got my vitamin D test results back today. I'm alarmed that I test 125 ng/ml. Does anyone know what the correlation between herbs and this test might be? In filling out the questionaire that came with the test it asked me to list any herbs I was taking. I use the Schulze Super Food so I listed the ingredients in that but I forgot that I should have listed the herbs in the colon cleanse that I was using too. I started the nine step protocol for osteoporosis on May 22 and sent the vitamin D test in after 4 weeks. What do I do now??? Of course I'll quit supplementing with the D and I guess I should avoid the sun............Is there any chance that the herbs threw off the test and maybe my levels aren't really that high? (I'm grasping at straws because I'm worried). I'd sure appreciate any input you guys have. I'd like to get my level down to the 50-70 ng/ml range. Thanks!

First, I am curious who did the test? Was it done by a local lab or was it done by Quest?

Optimal D level would be about 80, depending on many factors, however 125 is not critically high, if indeed the numbers are correct.

I would not suggest that you avoid the sun.

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The test was done by ZRT Laboratory. The box that containted the blood spot card says Vitamin D Council. Why not avoid the sun? Wouldn't I just be adding yet more vit D to my already overloaded body? Do you think too much is just as bad as too little??

No telling what herbs may do to create a false reading as they are often very different than the common foods. Next time you test stop all those kind of things for about three days before the anticipated test but continue with the supplements you are testing for that you anticipate to be your daily dose...perhaps you can figure it out then...but not likely.

I have tested as high as 130 for vitamin D. Do not worry about it. It was actually at 130 that a good portion of my psoriasis disappeared. You will drop down quickly when you reduce supplementation. To date no adverse effects have been seen with levels up to 200 and I have not heard that there are adverse effects above that. They may just not know. If you are only at 125 don't sweat it. If it were me I would continue at 5,000 IU a day and you will gradually taper down in two to three weeks while your body reaps the benefits of cellular repair for a while.

I personally am aiming for a level around 80 to 90....and I also would not avoid the sun. Just avoid burning.

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That made me feel a little less anxious. I did 50,000 IU 2 X a day for one week, the second week I took 50,000 once a day and the third week I took it one time a week(50,000) and that is what I had continued doing. I always thought it was rather hard to raise your vit D levels----but like you say hard telling what the herbs' effects were. I think the next time I test it will be through grassrootshealth----$40, compared to the vitamin d council, $70. I think they use the same lab---ZRT....!

I found out that it can be hard to raise your levels if you use 1,000 or 2,000 IU. I just couldn't do it. My doctor usually prescribes 5,000 these days, and 10,000 if they are in a hurry. She was quite surprised when I told her what I had done but she did admit that researchers are not finding any difficulty with levels at 130.

What gave me courage to do it was learning about the injections they routinely give in India once a year to patients in nursing homes.

I have just completed a burst at high dosage to try to eliminate the remaining psoriasis but it is not working this time and I just dont understand why. Back to the drawing board. When I am not doing really high dosage I take 50,000 IU once every two weeks and 5,000 on all other days. If I think I may be getting sick I take 50,000 3 x day for 2 to 3 days. I think I have done that twice. I never did get sick.

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"The nurse should be cheerful, orderly, punctual, patient, full of faith, - receptive to Truth and Love" Mary Baker Eddy
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You can't overdose on D from the sun. At some point, the body will stop making/converting it.

__________________
Let Food Be Your Medicine And Medicine Be Your Food.(Hippocrates)