vitamin D

[fruitsalad]

have been feeling really tierd lately and not having a great deal of energy I was told it could be due to the time of year dark mornings and dark early evenings a lack of sunlight is anyone taking it and if so have they noticed any difference?

[Eve]

I was prescribed supplements by my rhumatologist as they found that I had a low Vitamin D level (found on blood test) though for me I guess it was related to the impact on bones and related pain from that.

I didn't notice a huge difference though I think Vit D is one of the fat soluble vitamins I don't think I can process properly due to bile acid malabsorption so maybe as I wasn't on meds for that then yet.

I feel much better when the malabsorption is under control, loads more energy etc... and I do hurt a bit less (considering I have inflammatory arthritis anyway), less bone pain it seems anyway. I'm not sure if it's related but my pelvis and leg bones especially seem to hurt when my malabsorption is not being controlled.

Could your iron level be a bit low or could you be anaemic if they are too low? I've had low iron levels and find iron supplements help perk my energy levels up then.

I think it's easier to feel tireder when it's dark so much anyway though.

[boxtops]

I agree with jenna, dark nights just make me weary, it's the time of year.

[Euphemia]

My daughter has a daylight alarm and swears by it.

[Sqad]

Absence of sunlight causing Vitamin D deficiency?....yes....possible, but as Jenna implies, other causes of tiredness should be ruled out first.

[fruitsalad]

thank you, I do have an under active thyroid but take medication for it and blood tests show its ok, I do suffer with athritic pain in joints, may give it a try for a month or two and see if I notice a difference.

[pastafreak]

I read recently that the sunlight we get here from September onwards is so weak,that we get virtually no benefit from it in regards to Vitamin D.
I've suffered to some extent from SAD most winters,and last year was particularly bad. I starting taking Vitamin D3 in the form of a spray back in September,and I feel much better....not bubbly all the time-but my low periods are far less frequent-and I bounce back immediately.
As others have said-there may be other causes of your tiredness-but it's something to consider.

[erin-x]

My mum started taking Vitamin D tablets a few months ago and she says she has noticed an improvement, nothing drastic but definitely a bit better. She takes these... http://www.boots.com/...-90-Tablets-_1127509/ as suggested by her Doctor.

[LazyGun]

Unless you are on an absolutely awful diet, or are in an obviously high risk group, then I think the use of vitamin supplements is an absolute waste of money.

That is, with the possible exception of Vitamin D. Although you need very little exposure of some skin to sunlight on a regular basis, There might be some value to it, but in all honesty, the benefits are probably more likely to be placebo :)