VITAMINS effectiveness, interaction & questions

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George999

Freckle,  If you can do Southwest to San Francisco, Dr Lue would be your absolute best option.  There is excellent public transit from the airport right to his office and back via BART rail and MUNI rail, no buses needed!  From Salt Lake City you could almost do it in one day round trip or you could stay over a day or two and enjoy San Francisco.  A number of us here will attest to Dr Lue's credentials when it comes to Peyronies.  He is a world class expert.

As for the vitamin part, that gets very complex and personal.  My recommendation would be to find a good naturopath, preferably one who practices with an MD or DO.  They are really the experts at personalizing a vitamin routine.  Otherwise, with Vitamin K, I would say to go by the label's recommendations.  With Vitamin D, make sure you get tested.  Vitamin D is a hormone, not a real vitamin.  What you are taking is close to meaningless, what counts are your blood levels, thats what you want to get right.  - George

freckle

Thanks George, I contacted you offline, but would like your opinion along with Brooksbro's on the use of the l-arginine, viagra, and pentox.  My condition is that I have curvature, but no pain and no ED other than Peyronies Disease.  Is it your opinion, like Brooksbro that the routine engorgement would help with the Peyronies Disease?  

freckle

From a previous post, how do you feel about trazadone?

George999

Quote from: freckle on June 23, 2010, 04:00:44 PM
Thanks George, I contacted you offline, but would like your opinion along with Brooksbro's on the use of the l-arginine, viagra, and pentox.  My condition is that I have curvature, but no pain and no ED other than Peyronies Disease.  Is it your opinion, like Brooksbro that the routine engorgement would help with the Peyronies Disease?  

These three have pretty much been shown to be useful, most especially Pentoxifylline.  Its a matter of trying stuff and seeing what works for you, but Pentox has been generally significantly more effective for more guys than any other oral treatment approach.  I haven't used Trazadone so I can't really comment about it, perhaps someone here who has used it can chirp in on that.  - George

freckle

George I want to take your advice and go to a naturopath.  Can they tell blood levels of Vit D, testosterone, etc.?  Until then, what dosage of Vit E., Vit. D, and Vit. K would you recommend?  (I'm obviously not too acquainted with naturopathic medicine.)

freckle

Hello again, I should have asked where you get your vitamins.  How about Puritan Pride?  They are having a sale.

George999

When it comes to naturopaths, a lot depends on the particular state and its regulations, since each state is different.  You might check out http://www.functionalmedicine.org/ and/or http://www.naturopathic.org/ and see if there are any providers in your area.  Another resource in this regard is http://www.lef.org/.  They can facilitate blood testing for many issues, but you really need an MD or naturopath to interpret the results.  They also are a good source for supplements as is Puritan's Pride and http://www.iherb.com.

freckle

Thanks a lot, George.  What vitamins and amounts to you recommend?  I would actually like to get started on some before I hook up with the naturopath.  

Trev

George,

Does Dr Lue phone consultations or is it in person only? I am still unable to find a urologist nearby that will prescribe Pentox.

Thanks.

George999

Quote from: Trev on June 29, 2010, 09:45:29 PM
George,

Does Dr Lue phone consultations or is it in person only? I am still unable to find a urologist nearby that will prescribe Pentox.

Thanks.

Trev,  As far as I know, you have to visit him in person at least once.  You also need a referral attesting to the fact that you have been diagnosed with Peyronie's.  From there on, if Dr Lue grants you a prescription for Pentox, which he almost always does, your local uro should be able to follow up and Dr Lue will continue to prescribe the Pentox in consultation with your local uro.  As far as I know this is how it works.  But if you are in a place where it is affordable to visit Dr Lue.  He is a good choice.  If  you are on the east coast or in the mid-West, Dr Levine in Chicago might be a better choice.  Very few doctors prescribe meds based on telephone consults.  It is looked down upon in the profession and many doctors consider it a form of malpractice.  - George

freckle

Quote from: Trev on June 08, 2010, 11:11:26 PM
I have read many of the post regarding vitamin supplements and wanted recommendations on a good vitamin starter program with proposed daily dosages. On my current list are:

L-ARGININE 1000 mg
L-CARNITINE 500 mg
ALOE VERA 470 mg
Vitamin E 1000 IU

Any suggestions or alternative combinations are welcome.

I will shortly have the acetly L-carnitine, L-arginine, Vit E., Vit D., Vit K.  (I will be getting a blood test to see serum levels of Vit. D and testosterone specifically, ANYTHING ELSE RECOMMENDED?.  
My question on this post, since most of the supplements increase blood flow and dialation, has anyone had the effects, or heard of the effects, of rosacea as a side effect of some of these supplements or meds?  Rosacea is the  red to purple capillaries in the nose and cheeks.  I already have some on the side of my nose, and seen a lot of guys in their 50s and 60s get big noses from the rosacea.  

angelinadiaz

hey thank you so much for such kind of information..I think aloe Vera 470mg is good.

peyroninsidepglans

Well I am always reasearching my but off for any sort of hope (check up my post on regeneration - oprah)

I been Actually getting good results beleive it or not from an Australian product called (Vegemite)
After finding some studies that B vitamins help with cystic fibrosis and removal of fibrosis in some way.
I new that Vegemite is one of the highest source of B vitamins in the world, (So I been starting to eat piles of it - going threw a few bottles of vegimite a week ) Every morning pilling heaps on it on toast.

I have been doing this for a few months now
And I seem to be getting good results,
I done some research regarding B vitamins being important in some form of removal of fiborisis
I new that one of the highest source of b vitamins is Vegemite.

So I been having piles of the stuff and seem to be having good results.

Just thought I'd post my findings as I seem to have had a semi erection in the mornings lately :)
I am still on my horney goat weed tablets which I have been taking for a while.

The new improvements I beleive are from vegemite - pile it on people tell me if its giving you guys the same results

cheers
Mark

peyroninsidepglans

Para-aminobenzoate, a substance akin to vitamin B-complex vitamins, has also been studied as a treatment for Peyronie's, but results were inconclusive.

Vegemite is one of the worlds richest sources of b vitamins. :) So I been eatin the stuff heaps and been getting results :) along with my horney goat weed daily pill.


Read more: Natural Cures for Peyronie's Disease | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/about_5122406_natural-cures-peyronies-disease.html#ixzz12l77B01f
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Read more: Natural Cures for Peyronie's Disease | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/about_5122406_natural-cures-peyronies-disease.html#ixzz12l31bMW7

I am wondering weather we are concintrating to much on other vitamins and not on vitamin B enough?

Anyway tell me if any of you guys get results, as I am so I thought I'd drop in and post as I beeng getting semi erections in the mornin it is a great xmas present for me this has been happenin lately :)

KAC

Hi folks,

I went to see a naturopath/md this week who prescribed a lot of Vitamin E --2000 IU's to start, increasing to 3000 IU's after a week (or maybe a month--don't have it in front of me).  I noticed Freckle quoting Trev below taking 1000.

I was really happy with this doctor's visit, even though he's had minimal experience treating Peyronie's.  I've been seeing various specialist and I like my uro, but it was great to have a doc asking about the big picture and listening. He ordered a lot of blood work.

The main reservation I had was this Vitamin E prescription.  I haven't noticed anyone here taking that much.  He mentioned Dupuytren's so I wondered if 2000 I.U.'s is a typical prescription for that?  I questioned him and told him most people on this forum seem to think Vitamin E doesn't help.  He shrugged off the concern about heart problems.  I do have fairly low blood pressure, so maybe it doesn't matter.

Any thoughts?

This is my first post.  I keep intending to post my story... one of these days.  I also don't know if anyone will see this on a fairly  old thread. Please advise me if I'm doing this wrong.

Thanks.  

George999

Vitamin E is of virtually no use in treating Peyronie's.  I took around 3,000IU for an extended period with no perceivable benefit.  There are only two things that work well for Peyronie's.  One is the prescription drug Pentoxifylline.  The other is Ubiquinol.  The big risk with Vitamin E is that it can dangerously cause a risk for bleeding unless you are taking Vitamin K concurrently.  Vitamin K tends to minimize that risk.  The blood tests are a good thing and can very likely turn up things that will be helpful, but Vitamin E for Peyronie's is the wrong track.  It is not going to be significantly helpful over the long term.  What I would suggest that you do is to pull off the information about Pentoxifylline from the resource section of this website and share it with your doctor.  Naturopath types are generally more open to information and might very well be open to prescribing Pentoxifylline for you if he has a chance to see the research info.  Pentoxifylline is very benign as drugs go and not very expensive and it is the number one best oral treatment for Peyronie's.  The sooner you get on it the better off you will be.  - George

KAC

Thanks George,

I'm already taking both Pentox and Ubiquinol 3x a day.  I was just surprised by the Vitamin E prescription.  He said that it was a bunch of different Vitamin E's--actually pretty expensive.  He didn't say anything about Vitamin K.  I'm just feeling my way along in terms of when to challenge a prescription.  Seems a bit presumptuous especially when I'm swallowing a handful of pills every day without really knowing if any of them are doing any good.  My uro was slow to get on board with Pentox--he just didn't know about it, although he studied under Dr. Lue and trusts him.  

Any thoughts on SAM-e?  I've been taking that too for mood disorder, though part of the attraction was the fine print mention of anti-fibrotic properties.

Anyway, thanks for responding.

George999

SAM-e is certainly interesting.  I have taken it before myself.  Like a lot of things, it is perhaps a bit helpful for Peyronie's, but nothing like Pentox and Ubiquinol.  But for other issues, I'm sure it IS useful.  - George

PS - I'm glad you are on Pentox and Ubiquinol!  Vitamin E has somewhat of a cult following among docs when it comes to Peyronie's.  Its sort of the old standby remedy from the days when they had nothing else around.  So it seems like it is the first thing they go for when it comes to treating Peyronie's.  Younger and better informed docs usually will prescribe Potaba.  The bleeding edge docs are on board with Pentox.  Ubiquinol is still somewhat of a dark secret, but word will get out eventually.

ComeBacKid

I always felt like doctors who are STILL giving out vitamin E and sending men off with peyronies are kind of behind the times and just giving out something to keep sufferers happy so they feel like they are doing something/and or taking something for the condition.  To not by now at least be up to date on some of this information in my opinion is kind of pathetic.  I know not all doctors sit around and obsess about peyronies like we do on this forum, but they should be up to date with basic new treatments or know and have heard of treatments like pentox, verapamil injections, xiaflex etc...

Comebackid

BrooksBro

A few months ago, I lost all interest in sex (my wife asks if I have just given up), even before my doctor and I agreed to stop topical testosterone.  Was this from depression or something else?  Different on-line depression screening exams showed different results (were they self-serving?).  I've been taking SAM-e (now 3x per day) and Maca (50 mg 3x daily) for several weeks, and I can't tell that they are doing anything to boost my mood.  

SAM-e should be spelled $AM-e, as in Micro$oft; 'cause it ain't cheap.

I hope to learn if a high prolactin level (hyperprolactinaemia) could be part of my troubles.


Quote from: KAC on January 10, 2011, 12:07:48 AM

Any thoughts on SAM-e?  I've been taking that too for mood disorder, though part of the attraction was the fine print mention of anti-fibrotic properties.



GS

Brooks,

It's been my experience that my sex drive can come and go and sometimes for no particular reason.  The problem is that when it's gone, I get upset about it and that makes it worse.  I don't think it's any secret that a lot of it is in our heads.

Also, and this is just my opinion, I think stopping HRT every once in a while and then starting again can kick start one's sex drive.  Maybe take a couple of weeks off and then give it another shot along with some Viagra.

Good luck.

GS  

George999

Brooks,  Have you EVER had your vitamin D levels checked?  If not, it might be a good idea to get it done.  - George

BrooksBro

Not had it checked, yet.  Taking 8,000 IU/day gel caps in divided doses.

Quote from: George999 on January 10, 2011, 11:45:56 AM
Brooks,  Have you EVER had your vitamin D levels checked?  If not, it might be a good idea to get it done.  - George

George999

Its not really safe to take over 5,000IU without checking it.  - George

nightwolf

Wow im surprised by this section. Is it really possible to treat Peyronies Disease with vitamins alone?!
Current Treatment: Penis stretcher treatment w/ vitamin E oil

R Igor

Quote from: BrooksBro on January 10, 2011, 06:31:00 AM
A few months ago, I lost all interest in sex (my wife asks if I have just given up), even before my doctor and I agreed to stop topical testosterone.  Was this from depression or something else?  Different on-line depression screening exams showed different results (were they self-serving?).  I've been taking SAM-e (now 3x per day) and Maca (50 mg 3x daily) for several weeks, and I can't tell that they are doing anything to boost my mood.  

SAM-e should be spelled $AM-e, as in Micro$oft; 'cause it ain't cheap.

I hope to learn if a high prolactin level (hyperprolactinaemia) could be part of my troubles.

Brooks,

While I use SAM-E for mood regulation-does not really lift me up but keeps me level, I find it really diminishes my physical sensitivity and libido.  After a couple of days of not using it (you may need more time off of it because of how long you have taken it-maybe not) my sensitivity and libido returns to how it was before.

crashbandit

Hey everyone,

Today I got a prerequisite for Vitamin D testing. I've been taking 5,000 UI's pretty much everyday for a couple months now with fat enriched foods. A couple things come to mind about getting the test done:

1. Should I stop taking the Vitamin D gel caps for a week or something before getting the test done?

2. Is there anything I should know before having the test done?

Thanks
Cheers

George999

Assuming that you are wanting to know where your levels are at with the 5,000IU per day, you should keep taking the 5,000IU per day right through your tests.  If you were to stop for a week, it really wouldn't make a whole lot of difference, because the body store vitamin D and your levels would drift down very gradually if you stop.  But stopping isn't necessary, because if you don't stop, you get a very accurate picture of where your levels are at with the 5,000IU per day.  Once you get your numbers back, you will know whether you need to tweak your intake up or down to get yourself at an optimal level of 50-70ng/ml.  Thats pretty much it as far as prep.  Nothing else that I know of affects the vitamin D test.  You want to avoid mass spec type testing if possible, it has a reputation for inaccurate results.  DiaSorin testing equipment is reputed to provide the most accurate results.  LabCorp uses the DiaSorin test.  An increasing number of other labs do as well.  Quest Labs uses mass spec and has a reputation for faulty results, beware.  - George

crashbandit

Thanks so much George,

I value your imput alot and I know it comes from experience and wisdom.

The vitamin D test is being tested by the Alberta health services, here in Canada. I wonder what method they use? What is the name for the good method of testing? I hope it's not the mass spec method, or else I might have to pay for a better one through the internet.
Cheers

George999

Blood tests are pretty tightly regulated and because doing them requires very expensive equipment, blood testing labs are not willing to put their licenses in jeopardy by doing business across borders.  So I doubt if you will have much luck getting reliable blood testing done online.

As far as I know there are ONLY two major test routes.  The original and the best are both produced by DiaSorin.  The original is DiaSorin RIA developed in 1985 and used by the pioneering Vitamin D researchers.  The best is DiaSorin Liaison, a recently introduced product.  The problem became that DiaSorin products use a patented method and are expensive.  This led many labs to use a shortcut method, mass spectrometry.  Mass spectrometry *can* be accurate, but accuracy depends completely on the skill of the lab technicians doing the analysis.  The DiaSorin method avoids this by the fact that it is a closed box.  You put the blood sample in and the machine reads out the results.  Thus even a minimally trained employee will get accurate results running a DiaSorin test.  This is why you want a DiaSorin test if you can achieve it.

Another issue you will face is that Health Canada is trying to limit Vitamin D testing right now as they don't think it is important enough to spend money on.  And this is an issue for Canadian patients wanting to get their vitamin D levels optimal.  I don't know what the local situation in Alberta is.  You can always try and if they brush you off, look for alternatives.

One alternative, if it comes to that would be a more prevention oriented doctor.  I will PM you with some suggestions.  - George

slowandsteady

Peyronies Disease features abnormal fibroblast (from wikipedia, a fibroblast is a type of cell that synthesizes the extracellular matrix and collagen) growth (for example, see PMID 11002396). Here's one reason vitamin K might have treatment applications for Peyronies Disease. In this study (PMID 17681015) about rheumatoid arthritis:

QuoteVitamin K(2) (menaquinone-4, MK-4) has been reported to induce apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma, leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome cell lines. The effects of MK-4 on the development of arthritis have never been addressed thus far. In the present study, we investigated the effect of MK-4 upon the proliferation of rheumatoid synovial cells and the development of arthritis in collagen-induced arthritis. We analyzed the effect of MK-4 on the proliferation of fibroblast-like synoviocytes using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. The pro-apoptotic effect of MK-4 upon fibroblast-like synoviocytes was investigated with annexin V staining and DNA fragmentation and caspase 3/7 assays. Moreover, we analyzed the effect of MK-4 on the development of collagen-induced arthritis in female dark agouti rats. Our results indicated that MK-4 inhibited the proliferation of fibroblast-like synoviocytes and the development of collagen-induced arthritis in a dose-dependent manner. We conclude that MK-4 may represent a new agent for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in the setting of combination therapy with other disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs.


crashbandit

I have a full bottle of this stuff too. I bought it to counter balance the magnesium, which depletes Vit K. How much Vit K would one have to take? I don't see how this could help someone with Peyronies Disease since the incorrect proliferated phase of wound healing has already been established. Maybe it would be effective after something like Xiaflex has rid of the tissue and the rebuilding of new tissue begins.

Cheers

slowandsteady

I really don't know how much would be best to take, since it's just speculation at this point. Where had you heard about vitamin k depleting magnesium?

I've had some calcification of my heel due to plantar fasciitis, and vitamin k has been a great relief for that (I've been taking about 400 mcg of the k2-mk7 and some mk4 on occasion too).  

George999

Certainly Vitamin E can deplete Vitamin K, I haven't heard that to be true of Magnesium.  In any case, I really don't think dose itself is critical as I don't think there is any such thing as a Vitamin K overdose.  The Japanese consume a lot of natto which is rich in Vitamin K and have no problems with that.  - George

jetedwardz

ive been takin bout 600 - 1000 iu of vit e for awhile now and is that a bad thing; i think i ve read that it will drain other vitamins like k. also do i want to be supplementing vit d? will d help with the scar tissue. i already take the other good supplements but feel my vit e may b a negative and does vit e make a diff in erection speed.

George999

Any nutrient that one takes in large amounts will tend to deplete other nutrients in the body.  Only Pentoxifylline, CoQ10 and ALC have been shown to cause a decrease in scar tissue in research studies.  Nothing else.  - George

goodluck

Goerge,

Isn't there research supporting ALC too?

GoodLuck

George999

Quote from: goodluck on September 10, 2011, 10:19:49 PM
Goerge,

Isn't there research supporting ALC too?

GoodLuck

Yes, actually you are correct on that.  I didn't believe it produced resolution of scar tissue, but now that I looked it up, I see that it did.  I will go back and take care of that.  Thanks!  - George

jetedwardz

thanks im doing bout 400 mg of ubiniquinol and 2 gms of acetyl carnitine a day now along with a multi

George999

Pantothenic Acid and Pantethine might be interesting sups to experiment with.  "Massive" doses of Pantothenic Acid have been shown to be safe and beneficial in treating Lupus, a classic ideopathic, inflammatory, auto-immune type disease.  B5 has also been found helpful in treating diabetic neuropathy.  Typical doses being in the 10-15g range.  The way it works is that it jump starts the body's production of Co-enzyme A.  Co-enzyme A plays several very important roles in human metabolism.

First of all, it facilitates the ability of mitochondria to burn fat as an alternative or supplement to glucose.  In fact, when for whatever reason one starts burning fat in quantity, a B5 deficiency can develop as a result.  So if, for whatever reason, cellular mitochondria are in distress for lack of glucose, they can burn fat as an alternative IF there is a sufficient supply of Co-enzyme A.  There will be a sufficient supply of Co-A IF there is a sufficient supply of B5.  What is ALSO necessary to transport Co-A into the cell is Acetyl Carnitine.  Does that ring a bell?  So B5 *might* be a part of the ALC equation.  For more on all of this you can grok the above substances on Wikipedia and learn more.

Secondly, Co-A is essential to the body's production of endogenous steroids.  Steroids are essential to the healthy functioning of the immune system.  They tend to dampen immune response and product tissue from inappropriate immune attack.  So, if you are low on B5, that can cause you to be deficient in Co-A leading to steroid deficiency, and in fact, eventually even perhaps causing lowered testosterone levels.

So especially if you are taking ALC, you might want to consider giving B5 a shot for a few months and seeing what effect it has.  - George

goodluck

This is very interesting.  I know the adrenal glands use alot of B5 and it is recomened for those with adrenal insuficientcy. Typically in the 1 to 1.5 g/day range.  I do know, like ALC, it can cause insomnia in some people if taken too late in the day.  Just a warning to those who may wish to experiment with this.

Thanks George.

George999

A recent study revealed interesting things about Vitamin D supplementation.  Anyone who feels that increased Testosterone levels might have a beneficial effect on Peyronie's would be interested in the results of this study.

Quote from: PubMed

Horm Metab Res. 2011 Mar;43(3):223-5. Epub 2010 Dec 10.
Effect of vitamin D supplementation on testosterone levels in men.
Pilz S, Frisch S, Koertke H, Kuhn J, Dreier J, Obermayer-Pietsch B, Wehr E, Zittermann A.
Source

Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical University of Graz, Austria.
Abstract

The male reproductive tract has been identified as a target tissue for vitamin D, and previous data suggest an association of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] with testosterone levels in men. We therefore aimed to evaluate whether vitamin D supplementation influences testosterone levels in men. Healthy overweight men undergoing a weight reduction program who participated in a randomized controlled trial were analyzed for testosterone levels. The entire study included 200 nondiabetic subjects, of whom 165 participants (54 men) completed the trial. Participants received either 83 μg (3,332 IU) vitamin D daily for 1 year (n = 31) or placebo (n =2 3). Initial 25(OH)D concentrations were in the deficiency range (< 50 nmol/l) and testosterone values were at the lower end of the reference range (9.09-55.28 nmol/l for males aged 20-49 years) in both groups. Mean circulating 25(OH)D concentrations increased significantly by 53.5 nmol/l in the vitamin D group, but remained almost constant in the placebo group. Compared to baseline values, a significant increase in total testosterone levels (from 10.7 ± 3.9 nmol/l to 13.4 ± 4.7 nmol/l; p < 0.001), bioactive testosterone (from 5.21 ± 1.87 nmol/l to 6.25 ± 2.01 nmol/l; p = 0.001), and free testosterone levels (from 0.222 ± 0.080 nmol/l to 0.267 ± 0.087 nmol/l; p = 0.001) were observed in the vitamin D supplemented group. By contrast, there was no significant change in any testosterone measure in the placebo group. Our results suggest that vitamin D supplementation might increase testosterone levels. Further randomized controlled trials are warranted to confirm this hypothesis.

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

PMID:
   21154195


   [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Gap

I am on a vitamin D supplement 5000iu/day and I can honestly say that it makes you feel better and stronger. Great vitamin.  
"I can feel it in my hip"

fubar

Viatmin D is good? You will not be dissapointed!

Fubar

LauRenT

I'm taking some Vitamine K2 ( MK-7 90 mcg/day ) with Vit D3. Any informations about MK-7?

George999


goodluck

Vitamin D was misclassified when discovered and is actually a hormone.  You should get you levels measured every year and adjust your dose accordingly.  Theortically you don't need as much in the summer as you will get more sun exposure.

Most labs have a range of 30-80.  Most ND's and progressive MD's will tell you to keep your level over 50.
It is deffinately good for your immune system.  Since I have supplemented with it I get much fewer colds.  When I do they are not so severe.

Can you take too much???  I don't know, but I have read that too much can casue calcium to be deposited in soft tissue.
This is something Peyronies people should be sensitive to.

I take vit D but I also take K2 to help prevent calcium from being pulled from the bones and deposited in soft tissue.

Good Luck.


George999

There are potential cardio issues from too much Vitamin D.  Long term 100ng/ml is the upper safe limit.  Up to 200ng/ml *likely* won't hurt you short term.  But anyone taking more than 1000IU needs to get their levels checked every 6 months or so.  Reason?  1) Your fat can suck up vitamin D to a certain extant and when your body has a full store your levels can go up suddenly to dangerous levels.  2) I your inflammation levels go down (good thing), your vitamin D levels *will* go up as a result (NOT a good thing if they get too high as a result).  My wife was taking 6000IU for a couple of years which gave her a very stable 50ng/ml ... perfect.  Then suddenly her blood levels shot up to 160ng/ml.  She is now taking 1000IU and that is working well for her.  Things will probably be pretty stable for her from now on.  But I would assert that everyone should really have vitamin D levels checked at least annually.  It should be a routine lab test.  - George

GS

George,

After reading your post, I went to the internet for additional info; and as is usually the case, you are right.  I have been taking 2000IU in the summer and 4000IU in the winter.  I think I will cut both in half.

As to DHEA, I have BPH and understand DHEA is not good for an enlarged prostate.  Do you agree?

GS

George999

Quote from: GS on January 18, 2012, 03:47:50 PM
As to DHEA, I have BPH and understand DHEA is not good for an enlarged prostate.  Do you agree?

Actually, I don't really know about that one.  The big huge caveat with DHEA is your PSA levels.  If they are on the high side, don't do DHEA.  If they go up significantly while you are taking DHEA, be very careful because IF you have a hidden prostate cancer going on, DHEA *can* and likely *will* activate it, which is not what you want to happen.  I really would emphasize that with both vitamin D and DHEA it is important to do it under the care of a physician who can make sure that appropriate lab tests are done to optimize results and minimize the risks.  - George