How many IU's of Vitamin D for a smaller person?

by Nicole
(Sewell, NJ)

I am writing to you in complete despair as no one else will help me. I've been to 2 doctors and the ER 3 times this week. I am 32 yrs old. I have a list of symptoms but the main ones are EXTREME shortness of breath, heart palpitations, dizziness, internal shakiness and my eyes close up at night. My BP is high and my heart rate was 115 in the hospital. My vitamin D level is 6 which I'm sure is causing alot, if not, all of the symptoms. One doctor prescribed me 800 IUs of Vitamin D, which is a joke and the other prescribed me 50,000 a week. The problem is that I am scared to take that large of a dose because of possible sensitivity and because I am only 4'8 so I'm like the size of a child. I have been taking 5000 IUs a day and was wondering if that is OK for my size. I have not had my parathyroid checked but my doctor won't order that test if I ask and I'm scared to wait to find another doctor that might do it. Also, is it possible for me to have a magnesium deficiency? The serum test is not accurate as you know but it came back "normal". I'm sorry for all the questions but I am really scared as I feel like I'm dying here and I have 2 kids to take care of.

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Scared to take a larger dose...
by: Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune Queen!

Hi Nicole,

Please stop worrying about a larger dose. You should worry MUCH more about your non existent levels and correcting that.

Please read my page on Vitamin D Overdose, particularly the part where East Germany routinely gave newborn babies 600,000 IU's all at once at birth and every 3 months until they were 18 months old. I think that 5000 IU's would be fine if you were trying to maintain your levels, but not for bringing it up from a level of 6 ng/ml. It'll be way too slow.

And YES, I think that you are extremely magnesium deficient and probably also severely Gluten Sensitive as well.

As far as getting your parathyroid checked, did you get a CALCIUM level. If you calcium is normal, then you don't need a parathyroid level. But if he's not done a calcium level, then you should try to get one. It certainly sounds like parathyroid disease is a possibility and it's not a good idea to take high dosages of Vitamin D if you have a high calcium level.

And since your doctor only prescribed you 800 IU's per day, unfortunately his negligence keeps him from any liability if you are to get hurt from taking the high dosage of vitamin D.

So, sorry to not have a good answer there, but just trying to give you the whole picture and keep you safe.

Kerri Knox RN Immune Health Queen

Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune System Queen
Functional Medicine Practitioner
Immune System

Thanks!
by: Nicole

Thanks for the response. My calcium was 9.2 so it was fine. So is 7000 IU's better? Also, I am going to purchase your magnesium supplement but in the interim, do you suggest another brand I can buy now? I really appreciate all of your help. Thanks again!

Magnesium Brand
by: Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune Queen!

Hi Nicole,

I don't have any suggestions for brands of magnesium. Just follow the instructions on the Magnesium Dosage page and take ANYTHING but magnesium oxide.

So, 7000 IU's is 'standard' for Vitamin D Deficiency Treatment as outlined on that page, but for a level of 6 ng/ml, I would call it 'conservative'. If you look at the chart on that page, you'll see that the article, "The use of vitamin d in clinical practice" recommends taking up to 10,000 IU's per day.

And there are MANY doctors who do 'stoss therapy' and simply give 600,000 IU's all at once- even to children. I'm being vague because I can't give you a dosage recommendation, I can only tell you what the research says.

And by the way, you don't need to have a parathyroid level drawn when you have a normal calcium level. If you had a parathyroid problem, you WOULD have a high calcium, so a normal calcium level by itself is a good indicator of a healthy parathyroid. So, ease your mind on that.

Kerri Knox RN Immune Health Queen

Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune System Queen
Functional Medicine Practitioner
Immune System

How many IU's of D for a 15 yr old male that weighs 200 lbs.
by: Anonymous

My son was diagnosed with Vitamin D deficiency. He is fair and auburn hair and is covered with a lot of sunscreen. It mad sense to me, but was quite surprising because he is an athlete and in the sun a lot.

Mostly his face and forearms, the rest is covered with clothing and football gear most of the time. He has been prescribed 20,000 units per day for 2 months and then 10,000units
the third month and then a recheck. We were told he was extremely deficient. I don't have the number but intend to call back on Monday to get it. Should I have his CALCIUM checked for possible elevation and concern with parathyroid. We have a lot of thyroid issues in my family. He is so young so I wasn't sure if his age was a factor. It seems most people that I have read about with PTH are much older than him.

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