Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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I've been Paleo for 9 months and have, along with other supplements, been supplementing with Vitamin D over the winter period between 4-6k iU daily. I decided to have my levels checked (I didnt check them when i started supplementing), and stopped supplementing with vit d 2 weeks prior to taking the test. The results have just come back from the lab and my levels are 131.7 nmol/L. I have read that between 50 - 75nmol/L is optimal, therefore my high number scares me a little... I have been experiencing quite severe hair loss for the past 5/6 months (around the time when i started supplementing) and am wondering if there could be any link? To note: I am 26 year old female, 132lbs, 5ft 8", moderately active.

Should i stop supplementing, or is this a healthy level? Could it be negatively impacting on my absorption of other vitamins etc? Any opinions would be really appreciated thanks!

flag	asked Feb 28 2012 at 16:57 S'mee 188●5

	Do you know if the test was 1,25(OH) or 25-OH vitamin D? – Jeff Feb 28 2012 at 17:11
	I'd be curious to know where you are. In Canada, 80 nmol/L is the bottom of the reference range, so the optimal level you are quoting would be considered insufficient. The reference range at labs in Canada is 80 - 200 nmol/L, so you've got loads of breathing room. – Stephen Feb 29 2012 at 1:03
	Im in London UK... – S'mee Mar 1 2012 at 14:50

Jeff · Accepted Answer · 2012-02-28 17:04:00Z UTC

6

My math could be wrong, but I believe that's only around 53 ng/ml. Most people here are probably at or above that.

(conversion factor 2.496) http://www.globalrph.com/conv_si.htm

answered Feb 28 2012 at 17:04

Jeff
16.6k●1●8●33

	Your math is correct. – Dragonfly Feb 28 2012 at 17:44
	thank you Jeff! – S'mee Feb 28 2012 at 18:18

Dragonfly · Answer 2 · 2012-02-28 17:47:59Z UTC

Agree with Jeff.

50-60 ng/ml (NOT nmol/L) is what the Vitamin D Council recommends.

That means 124.8 -149.76 nmol/L. You are fine.

Your hair loss is likely due to other factors. Stress, lack of zinc, biotin deficiency can all play a part.

S'mee · Answer 3 · 2012-02-28 18:17:38Z UTC

Thank you all - sorry, i guess i thought nmol/L was the same as ng/ml. phew!

Dragonfly - i've been trying to work this out but any advice about my hair loss (and amenorrhea) would be so greatly appreciated. I am not stressed (i walk/yoga regularly and get good 8 hours sleep every night), i take a b complex as well as 1000mg biotin daily, and i take 25-50g zinc daily. I think its just a waiting game to get my periods back (after being an overtraining/under-eating vegetarian a couple of years ago), but my hair loss is baffling me..!

daz · Answer 4 · 2012-02-29 01:49:08Z UTC

On the hair thinning/hair loss subject, this may or may not be relevant;

Some people can exhibit hair thinning/hair loss approximately 2 months after some shock to the system.
This 'shock to the system' can include a change to the diet (i would assume quite a significant change).
This phenomenon is known as "telogen effluvium", google for more info, here is one article http://dermnetnz.org/hair-nails-sweat/telogen-effluvium.html

And, if a person is suffering/has suffered telogen effluvium, they may also notice a groove across the nails.
"Because nail and hair growth are under the same influences, an arrest in hair growth is often mirrored in the nails by a groove across them coinciding with the time of the shock to the system. This is called a Beau's line. The time of the shock can be estimated from the fact that a finger nail takes 5 months to grow from the posterior nail fold to the free edge. So if the groove in the nail is half way down the nail then the shock must have been 2 1/2 months ago."

ps. with regards to Biotin, did you mean you are taking 1,000mcg (not 1,000mg) daily? I have read that 5mg Biotin per day is a high dosage according to the "experts". So 1000mg would be mega high.
I am no expert on Biotin tho, so others please feel free to chime in here.....

Hack my Vitamin D level - dangerously high?

4 Answers