Suitable 'sunlight' lamp to boost Vitamin D?

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Sasha

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A recent blood test shows I'm very deficient in Vitamin D, despite supplementing for a long time. I'm housebound except maybe ten minutes to and from a cafe every day or other day. I try to get more sunlight exposure when it's sunny but as anyone looking out the window in the UK right now at this, the height of 'summer', we've not had much summer sun in the last few years. I also don't have a garden so can't go out with few clothes on and sunbathe.

So, I'm thinking - lamp! Is there such a thing as a lamp with a suitable spectrum for boosting Vitamin D? I don't want to buy a sunbed! :)
 
maryb

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I too am deficient in vit D but there's so much research on the dangers of supplementing its got me in a spin. I always feel ill when trying to take it orally but can tolerate the sun.
Also look at KdM's recent video interiew and what he says about supplementing......
 
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maryb said:
I too am deficient in vit D but there's so much research on the dangers of supplementing its got me in a spin. I always feel ill when trying to take it orally but can tolerate the sun.
Also look at KdM's recent video interiew and what he says about supplementing......
Click to expand...


That's a good reminder - I had a vague memory of reading somewhere recently that it's not good to supplement. Can you remember which video?

Have you thought about getting a lamp?
 
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maryb

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Sasha said:
That's a good reminder - I had a vague memory of reading somewhere recently that it's not good to supplement. Can you remember which video?

Have you thought about getting a lamp?
Click to expand...

The most current video no 45 deb wa?? interviewing Prof de Merleir - near to the end.
I've never thought about it but now you mention it? maybe I should.
 
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maryb said:
The most current video no 45 deb wa?? interviewing Prof de Merleir - near to the end.
I've never thought about it but now you mention it? maybe I should.
Click to expand...


Thanks - I'll take a look.

Having read a bit more I'm not sure that changing my lightbulbs is going to cut it but they might at least help my sleep rhythm and brighten the place up a bit! There's a lot to take in and it's not clear which of these people know what they're talking about - commercial interests are also at play, which muddies the waters.
 
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Seewell

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Youve sparked my interest this again:)
I know what you mean its confusing.Ive just been looking at full spectrum lamps on amazon.
Lamp or bulb.I dont know.
 
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Sasha

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It is confusing, isn't it? I'm wondering what medical speciality this would fall into so that I think what search terms to use.

It occurs to me to wonder whether my GP might prescribe me a suitable lamp on the NHS! The special lamps are very expensive.
 
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alex3619 - is this a topic that you know about? Not that lack of sunshine is going to be a problem for you in Australia, probably! Any idea even what medical speciality it would come under?
 
Misfit Toy

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I have bought a lamp for SAD, light bulbs that are UV light bulbs...none of it worked. Sun for me is the answer. I wish you got more of it. It helps me so much. Tanning beds help a lot of people without sun. I know it seems bizarre, but I have read that and when I was in my 20's I frequented them often.
 
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Full spectrum bulbs might not have enough UVB in the proper range for generating vitamin D.

But there are UVB lizard lamps designed for pet reptiles who need vitamin D, and it sounds like those produce enough of it to be somewhat on par with sunlight (when 12 inches away for a small critter).
 
alex3619

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Sasha said:
alex3619 - is this a topic that you know about? Not that lack of sunshine is going to be a problem for you in Australia, probably! Any idea even what medical speciality it would come under?
Click to expand...

I looked at vitamin D a long time ago but I am definitely not up to date, as there are so many issues that we know of now including immune links. While vitamin D is needed for the immune system to function, the immune and inflammatory systems can push vitamin D activation. I was interested in what KDM had to say. Only the active vitamin D test matters for us, most of us look deficient if the inactivated vitamin D is tested (the cheap test most docs use) ... because our disease activates it. However this means most of us have too much active vitamin D, and taking more is making things worse.

I do indeed have risks with vitamin D. I am indoors way too much, being housebound, though I try to get a little sun. I have wondered why we don't keep hearing about osteoporosis. What KDM is saying explains this - we have too much active vitamin D. I think that will stuff up our mineral balance too, but I haven't looked into that. It might be worth investigating.

I am not sure what specialty it is, but I think its likely to be endocrinology. However orthopedics might also know some due to the link with bone density, but they are unlikely to be concerned with deeper hormone and disease issues. From what KDM is saying though an immune specialist with interest in vitamin D might be a better choice - but how do you find one?
 
snowathlete

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Personally, I wouldn't suggest taking Vit D unless your active form (1.25 Di-OH) is low as well as your inactive form (D3 25 OH-). The fact your inactive form is low, may well just be as a result of your body converting a lot of it into the active form.

My own inactive form is low, but my active form is high. If I supplement, or catch more rays or whatever, then my inactive levels may go up, but i'll probably also get an even higher active form, and that wouldn't be a good thing.

I don't know how typical my test results are but they fit with what De Meirleir said in his latest video, so perhaps this is the norm. for us?
 
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I didn't even realise there were two forms of vitamin D!

I've got 16 ng/mL of total Vit D which is shown as below the reference range of 30-100 ng/mL, but 16 ng/mL of D3 and <4 ng/mL of D2, both of which the test says are within range. A bit odd that the components are within the range and the total isn't - I think I'm missing something.
 
sarah darwins

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If anyone is looking for that KDM (Dr Kenny de Meirleir) video where he talks a bit about active/inactive forms of vitamin D and their implications, it's here:


The vit D section starts around 4:40 or so and lasts a few minutes. He seems specifically to be talking about a situation of:

low inactive D3 (the 0.25 test) / high active vit D (the 1.25 test)

This he suggests is common in ME/CFS.

He doesn't specifically address my situation, which is:

low inactive D3 (the 0.25 test) / normal active vit D (the 1.25 test)

I'll ask him what that suggests to him when I see him in a few weeks. It's now on my list of questions.
 
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