PMR: Calcium and Vitamin D
Posted , 10 users are following.
I know we need calcium, but does it hinder absorption of prednisone? Should it be taken separately? Also, is Vitamin D particularly important, and can we get enough of it from exposure to the sun?
0 likes, 26 replies
carolk Daniel1143
Posted
maid_mariane carolk
Posted
Is adcal a prescription or over the counter and what strength do you take.
Many thanks
carolk maid_mariane
Posted
maid_mariane carolk
Posted
I take calcium 600mg vit. D 1000UI B6 100mg and multi vitamin vit.E 400UI
IF I've missed anything please tell me.
Mariane
ptolemy maid_mariane
Posted
maid_mariane ptolemy
Posted
I knew enough to get dexascan asap within a week of on prednisone and started vitamins however rumi refuses to do any blood work other than my inflammation rates.
I found out last week by accident my bp was180-190 and she said go to gp.
My GP was not impressed so i will start seeing him more regularly to get blood work done which he did this week as will as my new BP pills😠
PMR has come back in my toes, not as bad as before but walking is not great.
lodgerUK_NE Daniel1143
Posted
Vit D - Not unless you live in a Latitude South of Tuscany.
Also as you get older, you have a harder time in making Vit D.
The USA still fortifies its Flour - UK stopped late 50's early 60's.
EileenH Daniel1143
Posted
If you take pred and calcium together they can interact in the gut and reduce the calcium absorption and probably reduce the effect of the pred. So pred for breakfast, calcium for lunch and dinner (or a later meal) keeps them the necessary 2 or 3 hours apart. And you need a small amount of fat along with the calium and vit D for transport into the cells (that's why skim milk is a bad idea).
Vitamin D is essential for uptake of calcium but it is unlikely we get enough from the sun - although the only way to know is have a blood test to be sure you are replete.
In the UK, or really anywhere north of about Turin in northern Italy or Boston Mass in the USA, the sun is only high enough in the sky to trigger the production of vit D in skin from May to September and between the hours of 11am and 3pm (the sun's rays have to strike the skin at above a specific angle, don't ask me what it is off the top of my head).
So the main problems with "skin production" is that the winter can be forgotten and in the summer what are we told? Slip, slap, slop and don't go out in the midday sun. Factor 8 sunscreen reduces the amount of vit D produced by over 90% and for women most makeup is effectively Factor 15. If you take 100% as being what you produce at age 20, by 70 we are down to 25% of potential productivity - just from aging. And we aren't so likely to be out in the sun in sleeveless tops - all you would theoretically need is 15 min at midday with no sunscreen on bare arms, shoulders and face. Doesn't happen.
In the UK Adcal or Calceo can be had on prescription - especially if you are on pred it is normally given you automatically. They are 600mg calcium carbonate and 400IU vit D3 per tablet and you take 2 tablets, separately, the body can only absorb so much calcium at one time. That is the bare minimum of vit D3 really - you get next to none from food (under 10%) and in Europe no foods are supplemented, Orange juice and milk and cereals are in the USA - they used to be in Europe until children suffered from a mistake and it was stopped.
If your vit D level is low, get some extra vit D3 only tablets - don't ever take more than 2 of the calcium containing tablets. It's bad for you - but I have come across doctors telling you to do it. If you already eat/drink lots of calcium containing foods the you may be better with just 1 tablet of the combined version and extra vit D.
Have I missed anything?
whitefishbay EileenH
Posted
EileenH whitefishbay
Posted
I feel that ArthritisUK and such groups tend to look down on PMR and don't view GCA as an arthritis. And the leaflets for departments all cost money to produce. I doubt it'll change much.
On one of the forums we have a section that has a load of my posts under one heading. We have an FAQs on PMR page too - but the questions still come...
whitefishbay EileenH
Posted
Enjoy the bank holiday weekend. Was even sunny all morning.
EileenH whitefishbay
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I still have my winter tyres on - no-one else does though!
faye______00403 EileenH
Posted
idea if it is the right one or how many you need to chew.
Any idea?
lodgerUK_NE EileenH
Posted
ARC don't recognise it as an arthritis. Historically they were the only people who had piece in an arthitis pamphlet on both PMR and GCA.
It is not surprising as GCA is arteritis and part of the vasculitis family, as you well know and now PMR is finally being recognised as being in the same family.
If we had loads of money, instead of being tiny and running on a shoestring, we would happily produce leaflets for depts, particularly as both PMR & GCA are now being recognised more and more and more people are being diagnosed. But like you, I am not holding my breath.
From no charities to three in 8 years is not bad and all run by volunteers.
Maybe someone with energy will do a 'crowdfunding' for us and then we can do a pamphlet. One fine day........................... I live in hope.
EileenH faye______00403
Posted
However - they do not contain any vit D and vit D is very important in the absorption of calcium into bone.
ptolemy lodgerUK_NE
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lodgerUK_NE ptolemy
Posted
We did try and get under the umbrella of that organisation at that time, but well understood that they did not want to branch out into an entirely different field.
http://www.patient.co.uk/forums/discuss/pmr-gca-website-addresses-and-resources-35316
The above link takes you to a different part of this site and you can see how progress has been made. Very useful.
ptolemy lodgerUK_NE
Posted
Thanks for the link. In fact I had set up the discussion board for Canada which is included.