So, I got bloodwork results today after going to an endocrinologist....(with a PSA about diet soda)

...i have a SEVERE vitamin D deficiency.

I have kind of felt not like myself for the last 2 years in terms of enegy levels, some hair loss , brittle nails etc...

I thought it might be thyroid since my family has a huge history with thyroid problems.

She ran a full panel...my vitamin D #'s were in single digits. Normal is 30-100.

I confessed that I am hooked on diet soda. It's something that is kind of out of control. I KNOW it's not great for you, but i felt like it wasn't the worst thing ever.

Turns out that artificial sweetners and really acidy foods/drinks will leach calcium from your bones and inhibit absorption of vitamin D. She is almost 100% certain its the diet soda. She said its a huge problem in America right now-lots and lots of young people with deficiencies from this-and if i don't change it now, i will almost certainly get osteoporosis. I run a LOT and i was warned that i could easily get fractures....

Anyway, just wanted to share. It really shocked me a bit. The doctor said that they are starting to see things in lots of young women now similar to when people lived with rickets from not having sufficient nutrition...kinda scary.

I am cutting back enormously and now on a prescription to get my levels in normal range. I don't know if it will help much with how tired i've felt, but i chalk a lot of it up to the half marathon training...

thanks for reading...

Re: So, I got bloodwork results today after going to an endocrinologist....(with a PSA about diet soda)

Wow!
I don't drink diet soda, but I had no idea about the connection!
I hope you start to feel better soon!

Re: So, I got bloodwork results today after going to an endocrinologist....(with a PSA about diet soda)

Re: So, I got bloodwork results today after going to an endocrinologist....(with a PSA about diet soda)

caffine has the same effect

Re: So, I got bloodwork results today after going to an endocrinologist....(with a PSA about diet soda)

most of us actually are deficient. mine has been as low as 5 at times. i have been on prescription D for quite some time. And i don't drink diet soda at all. But i do have a cup of coffee a day. I think in general we don't spend enough time in the sun. and we wear sunscreen. You are supposed to get at least 20 minutes a day in the sun with no sunscreen in order for your body to make the extra D, so I think that's one thing that keeps our levels down as well.

Re: So, I got bloodwork results today after going to an endocrinologist....(with a PSA about diet soda)

Re: So, I got bloodwork results today after going to an endocrinologist....(with a PSA about diet soda)

wow..I do drink diet soda 1x a day..maybe like 1/4 glass.

but i use a lot of equal in either my coffee or teas during the day too.

Guess I should start taking my supplements again.

Feel better!

Re: So, I got bloodwork results today after going to an endocrinologist....(with a PSA about diet soda)

I hope the extra vitamin D helps you and I dont mean to be cynical but. .

this is the new "thing" Vitamin D. . .

I can count off teh top of my head about 20 people in my friends and family who have to take supplements now . . .

i am not saying its not a real issue but i feel like its more of a push from a pharma company. . .

I never went on it b/c the dosage she wanted me to go on was ridiculously expensive. . .

ANY soda steals calcium and vitamins from your bones and not just diet soda. . . and a few people I know who NEVER drink soda also were recently diagnosed with this "deficiency"

Re: So, I got bloodwork results today after going to an endocrinologist....(with a PSA about diet soda)

The doctor I met with (endocrinologist) didn't sound like this was a small deal..but I guess maybe it is? I honestly have no clue.

I was just happy to possibly have some answers as to why i feel tired all the time, and why my hair was getting brittle...

I'm sure a lot of people are deficient and she did say that sunlight exposure effects levels to a certain point. She was just concerned about my number, i guess it was crazy low and cause for concern.

And no, its not only diet soda..she was just saying that in my case, it is prob the reason for the abnormally low levels. It could be caused by lots of different reasons.

I don't really know anyone else out of friends or family who were specifically bloodtested for Vit D so i really have nothing to compare it to. It was ordered specifically for me because a lot of my symptoms sounded like it...who knows?

I just hope that maybe it helps me.

Re: So, I got bloodwork results today after going to an endocrinologist....(with a PSA about diet soda)

Re: So, I got bloodwork results today after going to an endocrinologist....(with a PSA about diet soda)

Re: So, I got bloodwork results today after going to an endocrinologist....(with a PSA about diet soda)

Posted by GioiaMia

Posted by maybebaby

Posted by GioiaMia

I hope the extra vitamin D helps you and I dont mean to be cynical but. .

this is the new "thing" Vitamin D. . .

I can count off teh top of my head about 20 people in my friends and family who have to take supplements now . . .

i am not saying its not a real issue but i feel like its more of a push from a pharma company. . .

I never went on it b/c the dosage she wanted me to go on was ridiculously expensive. . .

ANY soda steals calcium and vitamins from your bones and not just diet soda. . . and a few people I know who NEVER drink soda also were recently diagnosed with this "deficiency"

IF you don't mind me asking...you said you know so many people with this deficiency..did all these people have bloowork done for specific reasons?? Or did a doctor look at them and say "oh you're tired, i bet your vit D levels are low..".Just wondering.

When a normal healthy range is 30-100 and someone has single digits, i'm sure its something to correct ( i would think??)

I dont know what their range was - mine was single digits too.

We were all just there for regular check ups - and got full bloodwork, I dont know if the doctor had to order anything especially for the Vitamin D. I personally DID complain about being tired but my parents did not - they just want to get in and out LOL

Once my parents were put on the vitamins, and they complained to everyone they knew a lot of people were saying "oh yeah, me too!"

Now, most of us go to teh same doctor in my neighborhood so maybe that's why I am a little cynical about it.

I dont think its made up, and I hope it does help you! I just don't know why the sudden push for this all of a sudden?

If the vitamins weren't so expensive I would haev given it a shot! It was a once a week pill. Is that what you have?

Re: So, I got bloodwork results today after going to an endocrinologist....(with a PSA about diet soda)

Posted by GioiaMia

Posted by maybebaby

Posted by GioiaMia

I hope the extra vitamin D helps you and I dont mean to be cynical but. .

this is the new "thing" Vitamin D. . .

I can count off teh top of my head about 20 people in my friends and family who have to take supplements now . . .

i am not saying its not a real issue but i feel like its more of a push from a pharma company. . .

I never went on it b/c the dosage she wanted me to go on was ridiculously expensive. . .

ANY soda steals calcium and vitamins from your bones and not just diet soda. . . and a few people I know who NEVER drink soda also were recently diagnosed with this "deficiency"

IF you don't mind me asking...you said you know so many people with this deficiency..did all these people have bloowork done for specific reasons?? Or did a doctor look at them and say "oh you're tired, i bet your vit D levels are low..".Just wondering.

When a normal healthy range is 30-100 and someone has single digits, i'm sure its something to correct ( i would think??)

I dont know what their range was - mine was single digits too.

We were all just there for regular check ups - and got full bloodwork, I dont know if the doctor had to order anything especially for the Vitamin D. I personally DID complain about being tired but my parents did not - they just want to get in and out LOL

Once my parents were put on the vitamins, and they complained to everyone they knew a lot of people were saying "oh yeah, me too!"

Now, most of us go to teh same doctor in my neighborhood so maybe that's why I am a little cynical about it.

I dont think its made up, and I hope it does help you! I just don't know why the sudden push for this all of a sudden?

If the vitamins weren't so expensive I would haev given it a shot! It was a once a week pill. Is that what you have?

Re: So, I got bloodwork results today after going to an endocrinologist....(with a PSA about diet soda)

I am a physician and just wanted to say that if you are vitamin D deficient by bloodwork then you are vitamin D deficient. There is nothing made up about that. Vitamin D is important for calcium to be absorbed. You need calcium to keep your bones strong and prevent osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a serious condition that can lead to decreased quality of life and medical sequelae such as fractures. I am glad you are taking care of this.

Re: So, I got bloodwork results today after going to an endocrinologist....(with a PSA about diet soda)

Wow!!!!

I used to drink a lot of diet soda , now I drink only Selzter. It took me a while to get used to it but now I am hooked. The carbonation gives me that soda feeling. But you have to be careful because some flavored water has aspartame in it.

I love the rasberry lime seltzer

Re: So, I got bloodwork results today after going to an endocrinologist....(with a PSA about diet soda)

DD went for her well visit last week (she is 13 years old) the Dr called me to tell me that her vitamin d was slightly low and wants her to take a supplement (she already takes a multivitamin)

DD is very light skinned so I always put sunblock on her, maybe I will put a little less spf or let her go out for a little bit with out any...

What is strange is for the past few months she has been asking for and drinking more milk then ever (since she was little) maybe her body was trying to tell us something on its own!!

Re: So, I got bloodwork results today after going to an endocrinologist....(with a PSA about diet soda)

Vitamin D deficiencies are definitely the new "thing" doctors are testing for. I've also heard of many people now needing to supplement (myself included). I read an article recently about it, and they attributed the majority of issues to the use of sunscreen which does not allow our bodies to absorb the Vitamin D.

Re: So, I got bloodwork results today after going to an endocrinologist....(with a PSA about diet soda)

Posted by Serendipity

Posted by GioiaMia

Posted by maybebaby

Posted by GioiaMia

I hope the extra vitamin D helps you and I dont mean to be cynical but. .

this is the new "thing" Vitamin D. . .

I can count off teh top of my head about 20 people in my friends and family who have to take supplements now . . .

i am not saying its not a real issue but i feel like its more of a push from a pharma company. . .

I never went on it b/c the dosage she wanted me to go on was ridiculously expensive. . .

ANY soda steals calcium and vitamins from your bones and not just diet soda. . . and a few people I know who NEVER drink soda also were recently diagnosed with this "deficiency"

IF you don't mind me asking...you said you know so many people with this deficiency..did all these people have bloowork done for specific reasons?? Or did a doctor look at them and say "oh you're tired, i bet your vit D levels are low..".Just wondering.

When a normal healthy range is 30-100 and someone has single digits, i'm sure its something to correct ( i would think??)

I dont know what their range was - mine was single digits too.

We were all just there for regular check ups - and got full bloodwork, I dont know if the doctor had to order anything especially for the Vitamin D. I personally DID complain about being tired but my parents did not - they just want to get in and out LOL

Once my parents were put on the vitamins, and they complained to everyone they knew a lot of people were saying "oh yeah, me too!"

Now, most of us go to teh same doctor in my neighborhood so maybe that's why I am a little cynical about it.

I dont think its made up, and I hope it does help you! I just don't know why the sudden push for this all of a sudden?

If the vitamins weren't so expensive I would haev given it a shot! It was a once a week pill. Is that what you have?

Musso???

Re: So, I got bloodwork results today after going to an endocrinologist....(with a PSA about diet soda)

wow, I had a physical in january and also was told to take vitamin D supplements as my level came back at 29. However, I also pretty much live on diet soda, so now it makes sense! Thanks for the heads up8 .

Re: So, I got bloodwork results today after going to an endocrinologist....(with a PSA about diet soda)

Having adequate levels of Vitamin D is so important for immune function. It's critical for overall health.

I am so glad your endo tested you for it.

Message edited 3/16/2012 10:15:12 AM.

Re: So, I got bloodwork results today after going to an endocrinologist....(with a PSA about diet soda)

Posted by GioiaMia

Posted by Serendipity

Posted by GioiaMia

Posted by maybebaby

Posted by GioiaMia

I hope the extra vitamin D helps you and I dont mean to be cynical but. .

this is the new "thing" Vitamin D. . .

I can count off teh top of my head about 20 people in my friends and family who have to take supplements now . . .

i am not saying its not a real issue but i feel like its more of a push from a pharma company. . .

I never went on it b/c the dosage she wanted me to go on was ridiculously expensive. . .

ANY soda steals calcium and vitamins from your bones and not just diet soda. . . and a few people I know who NEVER drink soda also were recently diagnosed with this "deficiency"

IF you don't mind me asking...you said you know so many people with this deficiency..did all these people have bloowork done for specific reasons?? Or did a doctor look at them and say "oh you're tired, i bet your vit D levels are low..".Just wondering.

When a normal healthy range is 30-100 and someone has single digits, i'm sure its something to correct ( i would think??)

I dont know what their range was - mine was single digits too.

We were all just there for regular check ups - and got full bloodwork, I dont know if the doctor had to order anything especially for the Vitamin D. I personally DID complain about being tired but my parents did not - they just want to get in and out LOL

Once my parents were put on the vitamins, and they complained to everyone they knew a lot of people were saying "oh yeah, me too!"

Now, most of us go to teh same doctor in my neighborhood so maybe that's why I am a little cynical about it.

I dont think its made up, and I hope it does help you! I just don't know why the sudden push for this all of a sudden?

If the vitamins weren't so expensive I would haev given it a shot! It was a once a week pill. Is that what you have?

Musso???

yup!


And just wanted to clarify - i do not think its made up or fake AND its important to me bc osteoporosis runs in my family. . . i am just a little cynical about how "popular" vitamin D is becoming.

Sorry, if I took away from the OP I hope that you get your energy back!

Re: So, I got bloodwork results today after going to an endocrinologist....(with a PSA about diet soda)

Re: So, I got bloodwork results today after going to an endocrinologist....(with a PSA about diet soda)

Wow! I had the same results from my recent bloodwork (Vit D was 7!!!), and I am also on the prescription Vitamin

My Dr. didn't say anything about Diet soda, but I am a Diet Pepsi fan....I had no idea!

THank you for posting this!!

Re: So, I got bloodwork results today after going to an endocrinologist....(with a PSA about diet soda)

Re: So, I got bloodwork results today after going to an endocrinologist....(with a PSA about diet soda)

I first heard about vitamin d's benefits from my perinatologist, Dr. Kofinas. Apparently it is vital for overall health. I now take supplements.

At the same time, my mom, who is fighting cancer, found out she has low vitamin d levels, also in the single digits. She has major catchup to do with her levels, but she unfortunately already has 4 fractures in her back over the past few weeks from depleted calcium in her bones (my poor mom). It just reinforces the importance of vitamin d. And vit d deficiency is also linked to cancer!

I didn't know about the diet soda link... interesting. I stopped drinking diet soda when I was pregnant and I decided to give it up completely. Thanks for the heads up!