Started the Vitamin D3 Regimen. PTH came in higher than baseline after 30 days. What's going on?

[sunghan]

First time poster. Long time sufferer of Cluster Headaches.

I decided to start the D3 regimen in early March, and I'm so glad I did. Like many of you here, I've had some great results. My current cycle started on March 27, but the intensity is greatly reduced, and for the first time in my life, my cluster headaches feel manageable. Simply amazing.

However, I have some questions regarding my lab work. I tried explaining the D3 Regimen to my doctor, but he didn't really seem to care. I asked for the blood work, and he said ok. Felt somewhat dismissive. Anyways, here are the baseline results and the results 30 days after starting.

Vitamin D3: 22 ng/ml -> 127 ng/ml

Calcium: 10 mg/dl -> 9.8 mg/dl

PTH: 46 pg/ml -> 55 pg/ml

From what I understand of the regimen, my PTH should be dropping, right? But instead it has increased over baseline. What would be the reason for this? And any concerns I should have? BTW I am a 200lb male. Is 127 ng/ml D3 anything to be concerned about?

[Craigo]

Not a doctor, not medical advice. First, celebrate the win, it’s great to hear you have found it has reduced the intensity of the attacks, hopefully the cycle is short lived. 

You are correct in principle. With rising 25(OH)D, PTH trends downward due to improved calcium homeostasis however a couple thoughts for you and your lab values. 

1. PTH is not a static marker and fluctuates based on circadian rhythm, dietary calcium intake, hydration status, assay variability and even lab timing. I would think a shift from 46 to 55 is fairly small and within normal variability.

2. If dietary calcium is inconsistent or on the lower side, PTH may rise slightly to maintain serum calcium, even in the presence of higher levels of vitamin D.

Are you taking a men’s multi with calcium? 

Any of the doctors at my clinic don’t know much about vitamin D3 apart from that it’s important - they will order the lab tests for me, even right a script for subsidized D3 capsules but I understand they can’t get on board given it isn’t in their practice guidelines. 

I wouldn’t worry too much about your level, my own would be slightly higher having taken a loading dose with a baseline of 78ng/mL of 800,000iu and anticipate hovering around this level for a wee bit longer (I think I am one week or so out of this unexpected cycle that started mid-March having added MM this time round with success, it seems). Look after your kidneys, hydrate well and ensure you are taking the adequate amount magnesium (often times people miss to get the required magnesium dose often requires 3x capsules per day). 

Hope it helps, just my 2 cents. PFW - hope cycle ends soon mate.

Craig. 

[sunghan]

Thank you, Craig. Your information is helpful and reassuring.

My attacks skipped a night a couple nights ago. Typically an indicator that the cycle is winding down. That would mean this cycle will have lasted roughly 2 WEEKS. My cycles last at least a month. Don't want to count my chickens just yet, but I am overjoyed and just so thankful for all the work that went into creating this regimen. I am also glad to  hear your unexpected cycle has ended.

Appreciate the information you provided. I am taking all the co-factors listed in the regimen, including a Mature Multi from Costco. I also take 1 capule of 400mg of Magnesium as instructed in the regimen. Are you saying I should up this to 3 times a day?

 

 

[Craigo]

2 hours ago, sunghan said:

Thank you, Craig. Your information is helpful and reassuring.

Appreciate the information you provided. I am taking all the co-factors listed in the regimen, including a Mature Multi from Costco. I also take 1 capule of 400mg of Magnesium as instructed in the regimen. Are you saying I should up this to 3 times a day?

No, I'm just saying in the years I have helped people around the world with Pete Batcheller's regimen I have found often times they buy a magnesium supplement whereby the 400mg dose is x3 capsules daily, rather than one capsule being 400mg so I considered worth a note - never know whom else may read this, wander over to their supplement box and find - wullah, indeed they had been taking too little.

As I found the regimen kept me in remission so long and certainly believe the attacks during this cycle mild to the brain bruising experience of full kip-10's, I decided to throw everything but the kitchen sink so I am on 800mg magnesium per day, one capsule in AM and one with dinner - no stomach upset but also have added inulin as part of an OMG can't believe I found myself in cycle for so long - what can I do to improve my overall health (knowing full well that all the recent literature suggests there is never really a return to normal post an episodic cycle ending). 

Just to be pain free again anyway - for today, I'll take that. And I wish for you the same streak of luck to continue friend. I'll try and swing back here in a couple months and share with ya'll my updated 25(OH)D, calcium and PTH labs when I get around to taking them. I don't think I want to allow my level to drop to 78ng/mL again, which I'm not attributing to the cause of the cycle (frankly I reackon it was a good dose of life stress in Feb). It was surprising to me that it had dropped that low considering it's only the rare occasion I get lazy and flag the vitamins for the day.

[sunghan]

I see what you are saying now. I went and made sure to read the label on my pills, and thankfully the 1 capsule is the full 400mg.

Since the regimen has been effective for me so far, I'll keep doing what I'm doing now. I'll consider changes in the future if I see any worsening cycles. I'm hoping to find a PCP who's more receptive to this regimen by then.

Anyways, appreciate all the information. And good luck to you, brother. Good luck to us all.