If so, what dose, which type (D3?) and does it help?

D3, 2500ui daily. I think it helps.

All year, or just in the darker months?

We give the lad Vit D in the winter. Scottish daylight being somewhat limited at that time of the year.

October to March I do as you can’t get enough from the sun during this period. It helps me, at least I feel better when I take it compared to when I don’t.

Boots 10 mcg once daily combined with a SAD lamp – seems to help, could be psychological though! Don’t seem to get as many of the days where I come home from work and just slump on the sofa unable/unwilling to do anything more than order a takeaway though.

EDIT – Just the winter (Oct-March) for the SAD lamp, sometimes take the tablets other times whenever it’s a bit dull or I’ve been cooped up inside for a while.

combined with a SAD lamp

When do you use the lamp?

Is this some form of sarcasm IHN, given the number of ‘sunny’ foreign holidays you go on ?

I started using it a couple of weeks ago (D3), on recommendation from a couple of people on here. Too soon to notice any effect but I will carry on with it until spring. I get plenty of time outdoors on my bike and walking in spring and summer. Well, I do in the winter too, but the daylight is too rubbish for making vitamin D then!

Also, I’d say the lamp probably has more effect than the pills. Again, might all be in my head 😀

Also, I’d say the lamp probably has more effect than the pills.

When do you use the lamp?

SAD lamp

Am giving Vit D a whirl this winter. Hoping it helps.

When do you use the lamp?

We use SAD lamps to help wake up in winter, stick them on a timer to come on for an hour in the morning right next to the head of the bed – one each side. Certainly makes getting up a bit easier when it’s dark.

When do you use the lamp?

Oct-March, I do 5 mins with my face pushed right up against it once I get to work (which makes me look daft) then have it on about 30-50 cm from me for a few hours during the week as I’m at a desk all day anyway. At the weekend I just do the 5 mins after I’ve had breakfast.

Smashing, ta. Which lamp have you got?

We have these from Maplin

The wife also has a portable blue Philips SAD light thing which sits on her desk..

It’s a few years old now but I think the latest version of it is the one below – same name anyway (mini daylight).

Give it a go, you can get a 6 month supply from Amazon from a company called Nu U for not much.

It’s worth pointing out that the SAD lamps don’t affect vit D levels – you require UVB to produce vitamin D. The lamps only emit visible spectrum light, which helps with melatonin and the sleep cycle.

Also, beware of too much vitamin D without certain co-factors. I ran into a lot of trouble taking big doses of D and running out of magnesium, causing all sorts of problems.

Also, beware of too much vitamin D without certain co-factors. I ran into a lot of trouble taking big doses of D and running out of magnesium, causing all sorts of problems.

Any chance that you can elaborate on this a touch please? I take quite big doses (~10,000ui typically I think) although I’ve been forgetting to take it lately!

From a British GP:

http://www.drmyhill.co.uk/wiki/Vitamin_D_-_most_of_us_do_not_get_enough

http://www.drmyhill.co.uk/wiki/Vitamin_D_and_Sunshine:_an_essential_vitamin!_Protects_against_cancer,_heart_and_bone_disease

Edit: just to add that vitamin D can also be obtained as an oral spray which is ideal for those with gut issues.

Really must get my Pharos Max light set up to use for ~30mins in the morning and a similar time topup if I’m home before ~1600.

Never tried VitD supplements.

Thread tagged!

The only things I have tried are vit D capsules and a Lumie alarm/mood light beside my bed which has a different type of light bulb.
These two things definitely help but can’t hel but think I should buy a sad light for the evenings.

When I originally heard about sad lights, I thought how on earth does that work imaging one would be wearing an odd contraption on head like miners do.

for SAD – no

for general health – yes

ps I live in Norway

and all year round, and D3 tablets

and a Lumie alarm/mood light beside my bed which has a different type of light bulb.

I had one the original ones, was just a crappy 40W bulb inside, which was next to useless…

I’ve been taking 10,000 IU of D3 daily for the last year or so. Seems like good stuff.

I have also started taking Magnesium a couple of months ago. I’ve always been prone to muscle cramps and there are all sorts of things that can deplete magnesium besides the vit D, so it seemed like a good idea to supplement the magnesium as well.

There is lots of research going on at the moment that suggests there is a link between low vitamin D levels, and an increased risk of developing Multiple Sclerosis.

It seems there are plenty of good reasons to take Vitamin D if you’re struggling for sunlight.

I’ve been taking 10,000 IU of D3 daily for the last year or so. Seems like good stuff.

All year round? Or just Winter?

here in Norway, people are generally advised to take D3 the whole year if they are not getting enough sun (ie not active outdoors and covering up from the sun in the summer) or supplement a diet with as much oily fish as possible or fish oil

but really there is not enough sunlight up here for half of the year so its really important

All year round? Or just Winter?

All year round. The rational behind taking vitamin D year round is the idea that the UK is far enough North that we aren’t exposed to enough sunlight even in the summer.

My Dr did have my vitamin D levels tested at one point in the past, before I started taking supplements. They found low enough levels for them to proscribe supplementation. I now err on the side of too much rather than too little.

4+ years on D3 5000iu all year round as I live in the Highlands, I’d swear it works (wanksock) 😀

Aint had a cold or flu in that time either

I’m on d3 vit D. More energy, get less worse colds.

@ darrell – is it supplied by the health service to adults and children?

@ stom86 – it would be useful to know the low number to use as a base line, regardless it’s easy to test, costs £28 and could give peace of mind re toxicity. It is a huge dosage.

http://www.vitamindtest.org.uk/index.html

I’ve been taking 10,000 IU of D3 daily for the 4 years.

https://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vitamin-D3-5000iu-Vitamin-K2-100mcg-Cholecalciferol-Menaquinone-Vitamins/232223936926?hash=item3611a0119e:m:m5r2YDcZgir-9dbt-ClMXWA

The body is essentially useless at metabolising oral D3. It’s why you need quite such stupendous doses.

Much better to try and get 10-15 minutes of exposure to daylight – even in the winter this will be beneficial.

Most of those huge does will simply and literally mean money pissed away

I have been taking vit d 800iu daily – the recommended dose ( I keep forgetting to take it tho) It has had a noticeable effect on my general health although its 50 / 50 its placebo for me. I was tested and found to be badly insufficient with serum level of 16 iirc and with some possible symptoms. don’t mix medical evidence based practice up with nonsense on the net and don’t waste your money on ludicously high doses
https://cks.nice.org.uk/vitamin-d-deficiency-in-adults-treatment-and-prevention#!scenario