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Vitamin D deficiency

Vitamin D deficiency is tricky. It is frequently found in primary hyperparathyroidism, but in this case the deficiency is caused by the parathyroid condition, and should not be treated. But Vitamin D deficiency can itself produce a separate parathyroid condition called secondary hyperparathyroidism, which is treated with Vitamin D supplementation. This can get confusing, even for physicians.

Do I need to take Vitamin D? My latest calcium was 10.7 mg/dl and PTH 60 pg/ml. My doctor is very concerned about my Vitamin D of 15 ng/ml, and says that I should get my Vitamin D level up with supplementation before undergoing parathyroid surgery. Someone else said I should not take Vitamin D. Should I take it? (I am 50 years old.)

This question comes up a lot with parathyroid patients! Most patients with primary hyperparathyroidism will have low or low-normal Vitamin D levels. And many of them are told to take Vitamin D supplements. I do not recommend doing this, and I'll explain why. Your labs indicate primary hyperparathyroidism because your calcium is elevated and the PTH is inappropriate for that calcium. When yo...

Vitamin D Vitamin D deficiency Parathyroid Disease Basics primary hyperparathyroidism

My calcium is 10.5 mg/dl, my PTH is 53 pg/ml, my Vit D 25-hydroxy is 21 ng/ml. My doctor wants to start me on Vitamin D daily. Everything I’ve read says not to treat the low Vitamin D, if this could be primary hyperparathyroidism. Not sure what to do! How is taking Vit D going to lower my calcium level? I am 47 years old.

Let's summarize your results: Calcium at 10.5 mg/dl is elevated for your age. PTH at 53 pg/ml is not suppressed, which is inappropriate for the elevated calcium level. Vit D 25-hydroxy at 21 ng/ml is on the lower side. These numbers strongly suggest primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT). In the context of pHPT, taking Vitamin D supplements is not the recommended course of action. Why? Bec...

Hypercalcemia primary hyperparathyroidism Diagnosis Vitamin D Vitamin D deficiency

I’m a 32 year old female. I have extreme fatigue and mood swings that are abnormal. It prompted me to ask my PCP for blood tests to try and determine cause. My vitamin D 25-hydroxy came back low at 12 ng/ml and my calcium at 10.4 mg/dl. My PCP prescribed me 50,000 iu of D3 once a week for 12 weeks and told me my calcium was low and to find a daily supplement with calcium in it. The more I read online about calcium and vitamin D, I feel like the root cause of my issues are related to parathyroid. I’m also concerned about the recommendation to take calcium when my mychart shows my calcium on the higher side of the bar chart.

Your concerns are valid and it's good that you're being proactive about your health. Your calcium level of 10.4 mg/dl is actually on the high side for your age, not low. In your early 30s, you can have calcium levels in the low 10s, but as you get older the calcium should start to go into the 9s. A high-normal calcium combined with a very low Vitamin D is concerning for primary hyperparathy...

Vitamin D Primary HPT Diagnosis Vitamin D deficiency