Vitamin D and use in autoimmune disease
Anyone have any info on the use of vitamin D in autoimmune disease? Drew saw peditrician today. He said they are using vitamin d for lots of things- cancer prevention, type I diabetes. They think it's vitamin d deficiency because of all the sun block we use now. type I diabetes is autoimmune and on the rise- they explain why but think it's related to vitamin d. He is going to do more research on it and so am I but I was just wondering if anyone else has run across any info or studies.
He also is starting him on anti-depressant. He is clinically depressed. He said that 30% of all teens (he'll be 12 in dec) go thru some sort of depression during adolescence. Drew had talked to me a couple of weeks ago about being stressed, tired and sad alot. I thought he was depressed over the summer when he had the rash for 8 weeks too. He and the dr discussed these feelings and he gave him a scale for depression- he fell between 5 & 8- he said he considers anything under 10 depression. He felt it would be beneficial to start him on something. Drew was agreeable. I am too. My daughters have both inherited anxiety disorder and they are different children because of their medication or should I say they act like children with their medication. Before medication, they were anxious and scared all the time and could not sleep. It's just so hard to see your child crying and telling the doctor that he's sad and stressed all the time.
It's been a tough day but Drew felt better after seeing his doctor.
Thanks
Carey
It is so hard to read your post as I wish that Mike had been more open to us about how he was dealing with things. rather than internalizing it all and being so "lost". But it is so good to hear that Drew is getting the support that he needs. I know that Mike is really moving forward and is much more of himslef now that he/and we have gotten it in the open and have plans on how to tackle them.
VITAMIN D
Carey: Go to Pubmed.gov and you can look over the abstracts in the literature for yourself. I take 2000 units a day but I don't know what they would suggest for 12 year old. Glenn
He said 500-1000 for kids and 2000-3000 for adults. Thanks for the info. I'll do that. I've found a few just googling.
Lori,
I'm glad that Drew can talk to us but it's hard to hear as a parent too. I'm happy that Mike is finding his way! As parents we only want our children to be happy and healthy!
Re: VITAMIN D
there are multiple articles in the LEARING ABOUT OID forum at this site that I have posted on the topic of Vitamin D3 which is taken along with calcium and magnesium to allow the vitamin D3 to be used by us.
it impacts many autoimmune diseases. it is actually considered to be a hormone by the way as our body manufactures it through our skin.
one condition, Sarcodosis doesn't allow vitamin D3 to be metabolized. serum levels of D3 must be periodically done as it can become toxic in too great of quantities which are staying in the system. Like Glenn, I too take 200 units a day with calcium and magnesium. I get 800iu tablets at costco for about 10 dollars for 300 tablets. your pediatrician should get a baseline level and then periodically check it.
Re: VITAMIN D
Vitamin D and autoimmune disease primarily RA and SLE: rheumatology.oxfordjourna...l/48/3/210
Vitmin D impacts TH1 and TH17 response both of which impact inflammation through out the body and are seen in uveitis.
We discussed doing baseline level if we decided to start supplements and check periodically. He gets labwork every other month, so that shouldn't be a problem.
Re: VITAMIN D
I hope he gets the level higer than the FDA recommended level as it is WAY TOO LOW. the article above mentions getting it to that of people in equatorial latitudes to be effective.
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