vitamin D - cause constipation?

I am a 79-y/o white female. I never took calcium with vitamin D in the past because of constipation. I have had hypercalcemia in the past anyway, on blood tests. I was diag. with vit. D deficiency and was prescribed 2,000 units of Vit. D a day but levels were still a bit low. Dr. then raised me to 3,000 IU daily and now my levels are normal.


However, since the higher levels have been reached I have noticed the rather abrupt onset of constipation which is like what I used to get years ago when I took the calcium. No other dietary changes or Rx changes except the increase in vitamin D. Same water intake, same activities, same medication, same diet. I must take a stool softener and Doc-U-Lace daily now. I don't see what else it could be except this high dose (for me) of vitamin D. My doctor will deny the increased dose has anything to do with the constipation. Your comments, please.

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Magnesium and Vitamin D
by: Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune Queen!

Please read my page on Vitamin D and Constipation.

And that will likely answer several questions for you and the fact that the likely culprit is that vitamin d 'uses up' magnesium and so can give you LOTS of magnesium deficiency symptoms - a fact that your doctor simply doesn't know, but could remedy a lot of heartache and problems in a lot of people if he DID know it.

You can read more about the Magnesium and Vitamin D connection at that page.

And do please read my page on Normal Vitamin D Levels as what your doctor and the lab sheet says are normal are likely to be way too low.


Kerri Knox RN Immune Health Queen

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

 


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Osteoporosis and need for Calcium & Vit D
by: Joan JORO

I am 77 years old with severe Osteoporosis. I need Calcium; Vit D helps the Calcium to work better (I am told). I've experienced bouts of constipation that causes me much discomfort and upsets my whole lifestyle. I never knew Vit D could be the possible culprit; thought more along the lines of IBS (iritable bowel syndrom).

The only real change I felt had been added to my routine of medications and/or eating habits, etc. was that of the increase of Vit D and, perhaps, my discontinuing taking Magnesium (which I just decided to take at one point). I really am hoping, perhaps, the Vit D IS the cause so I can reduce that intake and have some relief from such severe constipation and the symptoms related to it. My life has been disrupted a great deal due to this problem.
Why would you STOP magnesium and vitamin d?
by: Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune Queen!

Hi Joan,

Why would you STOP taking vitamin d to relieve your constipation when you ALSO related this problem to when you STOPPED taking magnesium? You NEED vitamin d and you NEED magnesium, so why not START taking magnesium again and continue the vitamin d, since we all need vitamin d? In fact, you do NOT need more calcium when you have osteoporosis, that is a COMPLETE myth, you need more vitamin d and magnesium!!

It's not the vitamin d that is the problem, you are COMPLETELY misunderstanding what I'm saying about that, it's the LACK of magnesium that is the problem. Stopping two vitamins that combat osteoporosis when you HAVE osteoporosis is not the solution.

Plus, there are MANY other reasons for constipation, the MOST COMMON reason for constipation is Gluten Sensitivity and eating processed foods- which ALSO leads to osteoporosis. So, I think that you are making a HUGE mistake stopping your vitamin d since your osteoporosis shows that you have probably had vitamin d deficiency for years and even decades.

A smarter solution would be to:

1) Add LOTS of magnesium
2) Stay on the vitamin d
3) Stop eating processed foods
4) Stop eating gluten
5) Eat more FAT- which lubricates the gatrointestinal tract AND activates both vitamin d and magnesium to help them work better.


That's a FAR better solution than stopping vitamin d which you are likely SEVERELY deficient in despite your (likely inadequate) amount of supplementation.



Kerri Knox RN

Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune System Queen
Functional Medicine Practitioner
Immune System
Side Effects
I love magnesium!
by: Megxas

I had been taking calcium, magnesium & zinc in one pill for a LONG time & I had no problem going to the bathroom. THEN I stopped & when they came out with vitamin D3 I started taking that...after the 1st day taking that I couldn't "go to the bthroom" any more...It lasted 11 days & I quit taking D3 after only 3 days but still could not go to the bathroom so I thought about it & remembered that while taking calcium, magnesium & zinc II had no problem...I was taking zinc anyway & using calcium chews so I bought magnesium & started taking 3 pills a day & after the first pill, I started going to the bathroom again & am thoroughally pleased!
relief from constipation
by: Joy

hi I have to take vitamin d in large amounts because of malabsorption from a gastric procedure.

I take a d3 supplement BioTech Pharmacal Vitamin D

I have actually gotten relief from constipation and not had to take so much calcium because the d acts as a magnet in absorbing calcium and both my calcium and high parathyroid levels which were high (due to D deficiency) have normalized.

Body aches and pains from my body robbing calcium from my bones have also gone away now that I'm getting more than just adequate d (and I am not at a toxic level of d either)

Also the form of calcium I take is a calcium citrate NOT carbonate (which I have found to be extremely constipating )
I take a powder form yet capsules work great as well.

There is a magnesium drink called Natural Calm that I take for rare times of constipation rather than OTC laxatives

I am sharing because I have also been miserable until others shared these insights with me. When I changed the type of formulations, my body absorbed them better without the horrible constipation

I'm told unless you are in toxic d levels (which is quite rare) vitamin d overdose is really not a worry I need to concern myself with.

I thank God for the dry D3 formula and calcium citrate and am grateful for the relief in body pains
is cure
by: Anonymous

Im just tickled pink I have found that 25,000 iu daily 1 firm up my usually runny bowels.i have been n so frustrated for so long n watching my health deteriorate.as my meals went straight through without digesting as I lost my teeth and my health after vaccine injury.

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