My mom has hyperparathyroidism and her endo has her taking vitamin D
supplements because hers is low, lower than it should be.  She lives in
a cold, northern climate and doesn't spend a lot of time outside, but
even on (I think) 4,000 IU per day, her levels still come out
consistently low.  I don't know if it's because of the
hyperparathyroidism or what... her calcium has been on the high end of
normal and hasn't gotten to a point where they are talking surgery just
yet.  (And, no kidney stones or anything like that.) 

Since vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin, it would concern me that moms
might get worried about not getting "enough" and start taking
supplements... not having any idea what their levels are to begin with. 
It is available OTC now and isn't expensive.  Dairy and soy beverages
are fortified with it too.  (But far less than what my mom has to
take... but they test her levels every few months.) 

I have a feeling if we lived outside like traditional societies, we
wouldn't need to worry... but we are inside most of the time and fear
cancer so we slather ourselves with sunscreen.   I have a feeling we
don't yet understand a lot about how it's metabolized... a doctor my mom
had to see (urgent care for bronchitis, which is another story...) was
amazed that her levels were still low even though she was taking so much!

Liz Cammin, RN, LLLL

-- 
I didn't give you the gift of life.  Life gave me the gift of you.

             ***********************************************

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