When I read folks giving advice about mineral supplementation there’s almost always one thing missing from the equation and it seems that that one thing is still missing in this thread. With the exception of @Mary Stetler, no one has brought up the vast importance of a good D3 intake especially for those who use supplementary minerals. Even if someone doesn’t use supplementation and depends solely on diet alone, an intake of at least 900 units of D3 per day (no more than 4000) is still important. The simple fact is that some minerals cannot metabolize properly without D3 and let’s face it, seniors rarely get enough sunlight to create the stuff and even if we did get enough ultra violet light, it probably won’t produce enough D to do the job as well as when we supplement the vitamin. Note: Vitamin D3 isn’t really a vitamin. It’s closer to being an enzyme or hormone but for whatever reason, it is still called a vitamin. I digress. A person can take all the electrolytes they want but without D3, they will NOT metabolize properly and the usage will be minimal at best. Also, if a person is low on D3, the chances of decreased bone density, heart palpitations, diabetes, slow cognitive skills and continued loss of energy is greatly increased. The long and the short of it is that without additional D3, pounding down a bunch of minerals is pretty much a waste of money and can actually be harmful.
I would like to add the K2 to your formula as well. Studies have shown that insufficient K2 can lead to calcium supplementation ending up in the soft tissues instead of adding to bone density, and that can add to atherosclerosis. If you live between 30 degrees north and 30 degrees south and spend a lot of time outside scantily clothed, you may not need additional D3 if your cholesterol level (from which your body makes vitamin D) is high enough.
Righto Robert! D3 is necessary for most seniors especially those with medical problems and double especially for those that don't get outdoors much. My only disagreement would be that 4000 is the safe maximum per day. Many seniors can easily take 12,000 units without any side effects at all except better heath both physically and mentally. I take 8000 iu of D3, 2400 iu of vitiamn E, plus 4000 mg flaxseed oil, 2000 mg of vitamin C per day. Vitamin D3 in massive doses for 30 days is what got me out of bed that held me captive for 3 YEARS! Nothing else was changed in my diet, medication, or natural therapy regimen. After years of living under the shadow of a MS diagnose based on MRI, I was sent to a young lady neurologist from Vietnam that read over my records and then put me on 50,000 iu a day for a week of D3 then reduced to20,000 iu for the rest of the month and then my present dose that I will take for life.
50,000 units of D3? That is higher than I have heard about. 50,000 units of D2, however, is fairly common in therapeutic situations. You will have to watch for calcium deposits in strange places @Faye Fox .
That is totally AWESOME, @Faye Fox ! I am a huge believer in how much difference a proper diet/supplements can make in a person’s life, and your dowses seem good to me when trying to heal your body. My daughter has MS, and she relies completely on what her doctor gives her for medication, and she somehow has gotten the idea that if she does anything with diet or lifestyle that she is saying that the doctors do not work, and that i want her to stop her medication, and then she is upset with me. I have explained to her that I take my necessary heart medication, but I am still trying to take care of my health and eat beneficial foods as well; but it just does not click with her what i am saying.
Here is the thing Don. I don't have calcium build ups because my system doesn't absorb vitamins like it should so massive doses are sometimes needed. It isn't an issue for my kidneys because much of it goes out in the bowel. I get tested every year for everything they can and the only one that came back a tad on the high side was B12. I cut it in half so that took it into the normal range. I don't recommend what I do for others, just as info for others to consider. Some may need to lower certain vitamins and others increase them. I also go by results and weight the consequences. An example is my dealing with nerve shocks especially in my head. They can be controlled with medication, but that medication would put me a doped up state. I refuse to be doped up just to control such nerve shocks even though they are scary and leave my face number than usual. The pain is sharp but quick. I chose that over being doped up 24/7.
I have just known people who developed things like bone spurs and such on high levels of D3, but if it is necessary, so be it. It is unusual for us older folks to have high levels of B12. You must be doing something right with your absorption.