Why can't I absorb Vitamin D, despite taking supplements?

Published: August 29, 2013
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I have been coping with low Vitamin D levels for several years now and despite trying many different types of supplements (including drops, chewables, high dose, prescription, etc.) my vitamin D levels continue to decline (last check was at 11). The other problem is that I get very sick with increased fatigue, headaches, nausea and flu-like symptoms when taking any vitamin D supplement, all of which decreases when not taking the supplement. Is there anything you have found that could be causing me to be unable to absorb the Vitamin D and could make it toxic for me? Thank you!

Answer

This is why I do not recommend vitamin D levels. The vitamin D exists in many different forms and the levels only check one or a few of them. Because of this, if there is a problem that keeps pushing, for example, the 25 hydroxyvitamin D usually checked into the 1, 25 hydroxyvitamin D form then you can actually become overloaded on vitamin D despite the blood tests being low. So in my patients in this setting I would stop the vitamin D supplementation in most cases keeping the person on a multivitamin with 1000- 2000 units a day and getting sunshine and stop checking the vitamin D levels.

L&B,
Dr. T

Jacob Teitelbaum, MD

is one of the world's leading integrative medical authorities on fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue. He is the lead author of eight research studies on their effective treatments, and has published numerous health & wellness books, including the bestseller on fibromyalgia From Fatigued to Fantastic! and The Fatigue and Fibromyalgia Solution. Dr. Teitelbaum is one of the most frequently quoted fibromyalgia experts in the world and appears often as a guest on news and talk shows nationwide including Good Morning America, The Dr. Oz Show, Oprah & Friends, CNN, and Fox News Health.

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