10 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
10 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

VITAMIN GREED!

by seasoned
9 replies
  • OFF TOPIC
    • |
OK, what the ****HELL**** is going on!?!?!? I looked for Zinc Gloconate at a local drug store, and all those that came up were PRESCRIPTION! Earlier I found that the FDA was likely to outlaw a Vitamin B for OTC because it was found to help kidneys!

I was recently tested for Vitamin D. My test indicated 20 ng/ml. The lowest limit is 20 ng/ml, so I am NOT considered deficient, but I was prescribed a gigadose(FAR more than I would call a megadose). When I asked why, they claimed that they were going to raise the minimum to 30 ng/ml. OK, apparently studies have indicated that it SHOULD be 30 ng/ml.

I just got an email saying they were going to LOWER the blood amount, and that ontario has DELISTED Vitamin D, and won't be paying for tests. Is there ANY unbiased list one could use?

Vitamin D Update

Steve
  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    Can't remember the name of the organization which sets the needs limits - but they are refusing to show documents which give results on needs from their OWN experts - they are going to be accessed by the freedom of information act because there is alarm that people will be very ill if they walk around with these low doses of D in them. I just read that today - I know some aren't fond of Dr. Mercola - but if you follow his research resources, he's got the nail/head thing going on this one.

    I buy Zinc now and again and have never seen it restricted. Vit. B6 got hit by CODEX which proclaims it a TOXIN! It is one of those you can over-dose on if you start getting too much, but there's some good food sources, too, so it should be easy to get it the way we were intended - eating food.
    Signature

    Sal
    When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
    Beyond the Path

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3001306].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Kay King
      The zinc problem is rather new. There was a flurry about it in the past year and the result was I can't get my favorite cold medicine now in the same formulation.

      It affected a lot of consumer products and the apparent concern was over exposure to zinc. Honestly, seemed silly to me. There's someone with sensitivity to almost every element in the universe - doesn't mean everything has to be limited...but that's what happened with zinc.

      Odd thing is - zinc oxide for diaper rash wasn't included in the limitations so guess it was only ingested zinc they thought was a problem.

      It's the same thing that happened with quinine. Used to buy cheap quinine tabs for infrequent bouts of restless leg syndrome - then the FDA decided it was dangerous and it's now almost impossible to get it even by prescription.

      However, I get around that by drinking tonic water - which contains quinine:rolleyes: A little vodka added doesn't hurt either.

      kay
      Signature
      Saving one dog will not change the world - but the world changes forever for that one dog
      ***
      Live life like someone left the gate open
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3001381].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    Heysal,

    I meant that zinc that came up on the search at the drug store was prescription. I guess that is just a scam to make the drug companies and doctors rich. They DID have what was chemically *******IDENTICAL******* Over The Counter! I bought THAT!

    As for overdosing, it is generally safe, but they COULD make them sublingual tablets and say to take them under the tounge and to stop taking if they are distasteful. If you have plenty of zinc, there is a kind of bad taste. If you are deficient, it is pretty much tasteless.

    The vitamin B I was talking about was a type of B2, as I recall. As for B6, there is a HUGE chasm between PLENTY and an OVERDOSE. And you apparently have to overdose for MONTHS to get a real injury. The injury is generally nerve damage.

    Steve
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3001614].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author ThomM
      It's the same thing that happened with quinine. Used to buy cheap quinine tabs for infrequent bouts of restless leg syndrome - then the FDA decided it was dangerous and it's now almost impossible to get it even by prescription
      Kay my mother had back surgery in the early 60's and needed to take a Quinine pill every night to prevent leg craps.
      After I had back surgery in 03 I started having cramping problems in my lower legs and feet, I couldn't get Quinine anywhere.
      I started drinking the tonic water with Quinine.

      Steve read these.
      Widespread deficiency leads to massive boost in vitamin D sales
      Vitamin D Council | Understanding Vitamin D Cholecalciferol
      Signature

      Life: Nature's way of keeping meat fresh
      Getting old ain't for sissy's
      As you are I was, as I am you will be
      You can't fix stupid, but you can always out smart it.

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3001936].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author seasoned
        Originally Posted by ThomM View Post

        Kay my mother had back surgery in the early 60's and needed to take a Quinine pill every night to prevent leg craps.
        After I had back surgery in 03 I started having cramping problems in my lower legs and feet, I couldn't get Quinine anywhere.
        I started drinking the tonic water with Quinine.

        Steve read these.
        Widespread deficiency leads to massive boost in vitamin D sales
        Vitamin D Council | Understanding Vitamin D Cholecalciferol
        OK, they ARE in line with what I said. As for "caucasion skin", that OBVIOUSLY has to do with melanin. So, logically, a persons skin will vary even over their exposure. Since I DO have a bit of a tan, and some freckles, I could see a 10%+ reduction. ALSO, clothes would affect it. AND, I work indoors, and am not often exposed to the sun. So that could reduce it maybe another 80%+. So I might get like 10% or less of that indicated. ALSO SOME have actually said the vitamin D stays ON the skin for a while. That sounds crazy BUT, if true, it might reduce the value by another 50% for me, since I take HOT showers, etc...

        BTW to give you an idea of how little sun I have gotten in the past, sometimes I have noticed that my left side was tanned more! THINK about it a minute! An AMERICAN being tanned more on the left side? WHY? Because I had my left arm near the left hand window, in the car, and sometimes had my elbow on the sill. So I got THAT much more exposure MERELY by driving.

        STILL, even if caucasions DID get the full value of that much, what about BLACKS? In the same climate THEY may get less TOTAL than I do even after all the things I spoke of.

        And STILL, regardless, blacks should require about the same vitamin D, and I WAS talking about blood levels that were recommended.

        Steve
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3002361].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    Zinc is highly toxic in high levels over time - and not that much time - and it's not too hard to get those levels. It should be a real longshot that anyone that eats seafood and meat a lot should have shotages unless they are foiling the absorption some way. Zinc from plant sources won't absorb and high fiber diets mess with absorption. If you're taking zinc, around 9 - 10 mg a day is enough. It builds up in your system, too - and too much of it can cause anemia and lowered white cell count. Not nice stuff. It will screw with your copper levels - and that is more bad news - can mess with your heart - also fatigues and lowers resistance to infection. It can cause all sorts of problems with your bones and connective tissues (a lot of crap they call "natural aging" pfffft).

    It wouldn't hurt my feelings that much if they nixed it off shelves (other than I don't believe in their right to do so). If I get short on zinc, I'll just eat a steak or two and maybe have chicken for a few days, too. It's not that tough to build it back.
    Signature

    Sal
    When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
    Beyond the Path

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3002054].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author seasoned
      Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

      Zinc is highly toxic in high levels over time - and not that much time - and it's not too hard to get those levels. It should be a real longshot that anyone that eats seafood and meat a lot should have shotages unless they are foiling the absorption some way. Zinc from plant sources won't absorb and high fiber diets mess with absorption. If you're taking zinc, around 9 - 10 mg a day is enough. It builds up in your system, too - and too much of it can cause anemia and lowered white cell count. Not nice stuff. It will screw with your copper levels - and that is more bad news - can mess with your heart - also fatigues and lowers resistance to infection. It can cause all sorts of problems with your bones and connective tissues (a lot of crap they call "natural aging" pfffft).

      It wouldn't hurt my feelings that much if they nixed it off shelves (other than I don't believe in their right to do so). If I get short on zinc, I'll just eat a steak or two and maybe have chicken for a few days, too. It's not that tough to build it back.
      Yeah, I forgot about the copper and anemia. STILL, apparently a lot ARE deficient.

      Steve
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3002317].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    Blacks and Mexicans are more prone to shortage, Steve. As humans moved North their skin got lighter.....to help absorb vitamin D. If it's cloudy out long enough to make a white person deficient, it's playing bad havoc with someone with darker skin, which is more resistant.

    If you get out in the sun every day showers won't matter so much - but if you aren't getting a lot of sun, you definitely want to avoid showers/baths for at least 24 hours to let the stuff process. If your skin is white it will turn just a bit pink (not sunburn) when you've gotten enough D. The next day you'll see that pink is gone - that's what that's all about. It takes me 15 minutes of exposure in the spring to get there - by autumn I can stay out half the day before I absorb that much because my skin gets so dark so fast.

    BTW - copper - yeah, I mentioned fatigue........a lot of deficiencies that cause fatigue is deficiency caused anemia.
    Signature

    Sal
    When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
    Beyond the Path

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3002769].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author seasoned
      Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

      Blacks and Mexicans are more prone to shortage, Steve. As humans moved North their skin got lighter.....to help absorb vitamin D. If it's cloudy out long enough to make a white person deficient, it's playing bad havoc with someone with darker skin, which is more resistant.
      I mentioned that.

      If you get out in the sun every day showers won't matter so much - but if you aren't getting a lot of sun, you definitely want to avoid showers/baths for at least 24 hours to let the stuff process. If your skin is white it will turn just a bit pink (not sunburn) when you've gotten enough D.
      I have a tan, so it is a bit darker than off white, if you know what I mean.

      The next day you'll see that pink is gone - that's what that's all about. It takes me 15 minutes of exposure in the spring to get there - by autumn I can stay out half the day before I absorb that much because my skin gets so dark so fast.
      Yep, like I said...

      BTW - copper - yeah, I mentioned fatigue........a lot of deficiencies that cause fatigue is deficiency caused anemia.
      Yeah
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3002897].message }}

Trending Topics