Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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Hi,

Currently, I do take a few supplements under the advice of my naturopathic doctor.

I'm currently on autoimmune paleo.

Serious allergies: Gluten (I'm celiac), Seafood (Vomiting, anaphylactic, or rashes), Dairy (bloating).

I don't eat: Nuts (I'm not crazy strict on this, I just am following AI paleo about 90% of the time!) Eggs or chicken Nightshades (potatoes, peppers, tomatoes, etc)

My diet: Mostly beef (Grass-fed about 1/4 of the time... Poor veterinary student!)- Occasional bison or lamb or pork Occasional granny smith apple (though fruit free otherwise) or sweet potato Plenty of coconut oil! (2-6 tablespoons/day either with cooked food, or eaten raw/on salad!) Plenty of veggies (mostly broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, celery, green beans, etc)

My supplements: Neuroscience products (Adrecor, Calm-PRT, D-Phenylalanine, Endotrex L-theanine) Standard Process' Thyroid Complex (600 mg iodide) Carlson's vitamin D 1000-2000 IU/day.

Last year, my vitamin D was 20. This year- it was 13 after adding a vitamin D supplement.

I've heard to add Carlson's Cod Liver oil (1 tsp BID)...But I am allergic to fish, and I avoid omega-3 supplements for this reason.

Ps, also on bloodwork was slightly high eosinophils, and hypochromia 2+ (iron deficiency... How?)

I used to have many chronic problems and I only found out about my celiac's disease 1 year ago! I just started paleo 4 months ago!

Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Thank you, Kara

flag	asked Oct 1 at 15:22 Kara 569●7

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Some people apparently need to take a minimum 5000 iu daily to move their Vit D up. The vit D should be in oil, or taken with fat. – Don Oct 1 at 15:45

Hmmm... Good to know! – Kara Oct 1 at 23:51

John Sorrentino · Accepted Answer · 2012-10-01 15:53:52Z UTC

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Most allergens are to the protein, not the fat. Try the cod liver oil or fish oil. Small quantity first and see how you react. Or straight vit D, it is in oil as well.

answered Oct 1 at 15:53

John Sorrentino
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Thank you! I tried a cod liver oil supplement with epipen ready and a person standing by and it worked out just fine! I'll stick with that. I got Carlson's brand fortified with extra vitamin D- So I'll be getting 6000 IU! Thank you very much! – Kara Oct 1 at 23:49

Glad to hear it worked. Not sure why someone downgraded me? Perhaps they don't understand allergens? Good luck! – John Sorrentino Oct 2 at 1:35

Happy Now · Answer 2 · 2012-10-01 19:40:27Z UTC

Sadly, it isn't always as simple as supplement more, and your numbers will go up. Vitamin D levels have as much to do with your ability to synthesize the D as your diet and getting out in the the sun. If you are getting plenty of sun, and taking supplements there would most certainly be an issue with what your body is doing with it, or rather isn't doing with it. Although, I wouldn't expect your numbers to move much with only 1000-2000 mg./day, if you are deeply deficient bump that up to 2-3 times that amount. Not being able to absorb nutrients is also a really common impact of celiac disease, and it takes a long time to heal, and get things back on track, even with a "perfect" diet.

Have you had a liver panel done because plummeting vitamin D levels can also be a sign of liver disease? Vitamin D is synthesized in the liver, and if it isn't working well, your numbers are going to be very low no matter how much you supplement. If you can't eat eggs or fish, and aren't eating liver, you might be low on choline, which is necessary for your liver to function properly.

There are also a number of other mineral and vitamin deficiencies, like magnesium, that could be impacting your ability to use the D you do get. I'd recommend you get into your doctor to do more testing, and see what might be going on.

Paleodude · Answer 3 · 2012-10-01 16:43:13Z UTC

I had to increase my Vitamin supplement 2000 iu's to get my VIT D up... Now take a total of 6000 iu's a day and my latest blood test was 69.5. That is up from 48 last year. Chances are you have to significantly increase your Vit D. I use the Bluebonnet brand that is made from fish oil and comes in a gel capsule.

Anondson · Answer 4 · 2012-10-01 18:59:40Z UTC

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A European health agency just recommended a daily vitamin d amount to 4,000 iu for those who need to raise levels that are otherwise not rising.

edited Oct 1 at 18:59

answered Oct 1 at 18:51

Anondson
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Hmmm... Thank you! – Kara Oct 1 at 23:49

Chris · Answer 5 · 2012-10-01 21:51:09Z UTC

I had my Vitamin D tested earlier this year and it was crazy low like yours (13). My doctor put me on an RX for vitamin D (50,000 IUs once a week for 6 weeks) and that got it up to 33. To maintain that amount, I have had to take 6,000 IUs/day. My last test, 6 months after the 50,000 IU experiment and I am still right at 33.

I've talked to other people that had to take around 10,000 IUs/day to get close. I think the amount you take really depends on the person. Try upping your dosage and see how that goes.

Dan · Answer 6 · 2012-10-01 15:32:25Z UTC

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Have you tried direct sunlight as often as possible?

answered Oct 1 at 15:32

Dan
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Yes! However, the new Vitamin D level is after a summer of being outside kayaking as much as possible! I live in New England (Maine Lake's region) and unfortunately we are hitting winter pretty soon. I'm moving to St. Kitts as soon as I get accepted to a veterinary school there- So that will be interesting to see after 2.5 years on a caribbean island. – Kara Oct 1 at 15:42

Jo tB · Answer 7 · 2012-10-01 19:56:55Z UTC

I would suggest downloading "Sunlight Robbery" It will give you a good idea of how much vitamin D you should take. There is also a good item on a low carb site called "The Great Vitamin D Experiment" How much vitamin D to take depends on how deficient you are, how much direct sunlight you get (each day) how active you are. As you will read to get a severe low level up you should build up to take at least 8000 iU a day for a couple of months. Once your levels are up you could take around 4 to 5000 iU per day in winter and you could stop in summer depending on how much sun you get.

I have been taking vitamin D for 6 years now. In the beginning I worked up to 8000 iU per day (increase by 2000 iU per week is a good guidline) and stuck with that number all winter. Once April came around I gradually decreased the number to 2000 Iu for that first summer as a back up in case I couldn't get enough sun. We have had washed out summers lately.

Your optimum level is when you get that "happy feeling".

PaleoRocks · Answer 8 · 2012-10-01 21:16:38Z UTC

Like others say take a larger supplement, say 5000IU or even more. I'm taking 2500IU a day and I doubt that will be enough for the winter. Make sure you take it with oil/fat and make sure you're getting some magnesium and vitamin K2 - these are needed to get the most out of the supplement. e.g. see http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/about-vitamin-d/vitamin-d-cofactors/

joe · Answer 9 · 2012-10-02 00:40:18Z UTC

My only supplements.. but get tested for vitamin d levels first as a base test.. vitamin d needs for be taken with vitamin k and a as the one below is. Also take while eating something with fat.

http://www.allergyresearchgroup.com/Vitamin-D3-Complete-Daily-Balance-with-A-and-K2-60-Fish-Gelatin-Caps-p-314.html

http://www.greenpasture.org/public/Products/ButterCodLiverBlend/index.cfm

My vitamin D won’t go up… How to change this?

9 Answers