Low T and Low Vitamin D

I read somewhere on the interwebs that there may be a casual link (or maybe a firm link??) between Low T and Low Vitamin D. But I can't seem to find any studies on that or anything really definitive.

Anyone have any info on this?

Thank you

Buster

Here is one article I found on the relationship, but it doesn't say why low T and low D are paired.

http://www.nutritionexpress.com/showarticle.aspx?articleid=1590

May have answered my own question a little. This link is OUTSTANDING for Vit D and its benefits, and how it's tied to how we produce other hormones.

http://drgominak.com/vitamin-d-3/

Hey Buster,

Low T & Low D are what I am currently treating as well. I am 39yo with a Total Testosterone of 234 and Vitamin D is only 30. So, in my case they are running low together but not sure if its linked. I do get plenty of Sun so the Low D was a shocker.

Thanks for responding Sick. I really think the two (T and D) are linked. Found a few things in the interwebs about it, but nothing super definitive. (Some Korean study found a 20% increase in T in like 200 test men JUST by increasing D alone!) I get a slightly below average amount of sun and was surprised by the low D too. I don't "lay out" and sun tan, but we live in the desert and get good sun.

I'm currently taking 1000-2000 IU a day on Dr's orders of Vit D. My levels were 25 two months ago when we found it, and are recently tested at 26. Slow, but climbing...and I feel better too. But my T levels remain low and my TRT seems to be a 2-week roller coaster. Working with my doc to change that now. I'm hoping that as my D levels climb, my T levels will naturally follow.

I also read that it takes a long time (5-6 months) for D levels to really climb up to normal.

Thanks for the post and please let me know what you find out with both of your treatments.

Hey Buster,

I see that you started posting in May. Might I ask what your current T levels are and what treatment you are on?

I just want to add that I have been researching health and wellness several hours per day for about 4 years now and I have NEVER heard of a doctor advising a patient to take only 1000-2000 IU of Vitamin D in order to INCREASE the levels. Did you know that 4,000 IU of Vitamin D is a MAINTENANCE dose for a grown man? You will not raise your levels on the protocol you are on...and this has me worried that your doctor is addressing the Testosterone the same way and just keeping you sick for as long as possible. You need to look into this my man.

My best friend is a Chiropractor and Naturopath, he is taking 25 drops of Source Naturals Vitamin D-3 liquid daily and he brought his levels from 28 to 60 in 3 months. I am now taking the same dose for only 3 weeks now and feel much better already. I am also on a compounded Testosterone cream at 100mg per day for 3 weeks...so maybe that is doing the trick too. I should have follow up labs within 2 weeks from now.

Your Protocol of Vitamin D is telling me that you are not in good hands at all. My 6 year old daughter takes a gummy vitamin with 400 IU of D in it.

Hey Sick,

I appreciate the concern and the heads up! You know, i think you are right. I've been reading about Vit D a lot this week since my last measurement came in with so little increase. Everything I read says what you are saying and that I need to be taking a serious amount (4000+) IU of Vit D to get back to normal.

So I am a recently retired Veteran, 43 yrs old, and unfortunately my doctor really is not that good. I go over to the base and see a general practitioner who sees 40-50 old and young Vets a day...and I have been really unhappy with him. He doesn't know anything about Low D/T and despite me begging him to send me to a specialist, he won't. He is my 2nd doc in 3 months as there is so much turnover over there. It's not optimum. It's a system designed to get the most patients through in the cheapest and fastest way possible. My 1st doc put me on the 1000 IU of Vit D...and the new doc hasn't even commented on it to me. I swear, I am asking him more about treatment options for T and I feel like I am educating him!

Thanks dude, this is a wake up call for me. I need to exit this generic care ASAP. Sorry for the rant

Sorry, I am on Cipionate injections every 2 weeks. 200mg. My first 2 T levels when we found all this in May were low 200s. After a month of injections (2 cycles) my levels went down to 160...which he said was normal.

We just did another check at the end of the last 2 week cycle and I am awaiting those results.

At the VERY least, take it upon yourself to increase your Vitamin D intake right away...you do not need a doctor for that!

Just did. Got my prescription D (1000 IU each, not sure if it's D2 or D3)...upped that to 2, and am taking OTC Vit D3 (1000 IU) plus my daily multi-Vit which has 500 IU of D.

Thanks again. Seriously.

How's the T gel working for you? I've heard mixed results.

Hey Buster,

I am still inside a month of the gel, but my energy is increasing. I have a whole host of symptoms I need to get fixed and fingers crossed on the TRT to help with most!

Also, you are still not getting enough D. You need 5,000 to 10,000 daily of D3...trust me on this one. I am taking 12,000 daily currently. remember, 4,000 is a MAINTENANCE dose and will not increase your levels but keep them from falling only.

Agreed. My wife found 5000 IU vitamins and I'm taking that now...plus the prescription 1000 and another 700 in a multi-Vit.

So I'm up to 6700 a day plus a little form being outside here and there.

Keep me posted on your T info. I get my results tomorrow from my latest T bloodwork.

Just got done at the Doc. My T total levels have dropped even lower. (97!) Thankfully my GP doc suggested that I go to an endocrinologist specialist and he set up the referral immediately. I think I'll get better care that way too and I also believe that my 2 week T shot interval is too far apart...as Justin and other have suggested.

The doc also agreed that the previous 1000IU of D2 was waaay too little. He put me on a booster plan of 50,000 (yep, 50k) of D2 once a week for 12 weeks. He agreed D3 is better, but D2 in the booster dose is substantial and sufficient to get things moving up.

All for now.

Hey Buster,

I am NOT feeling well, so I assume the cream is not strong enough...at least i hope that is it!

What are you feeling? The reason I ask is if you are feeling bad or having symptoms from the low D or the low T? Can you tell?

My dizziness and exhaustion seemed to be much better once I started taking more D.
My sleep and headaches seem to cycle with my T swings.

My doc did say the gel had mixed results for some guys.

Update:

So today I saw my Endo for the first time. My PCM finally gave up and realized he was steering me wrong with shots every 2 weeks. My Endo was very knowledgeable and decided to put me on the Gel. He prescribed Fortesta daily. 4 pumps. I hope this helps stabilize my levels as I've been feeling pretty good on my 1st week after a shot, but lousy on my second week. This is also good as I have an overseas trip in 2 weeks and was wondering how to continue my treatment for the 4 weeks I'm overseas.

Lastly, my Endo ordered me a sleep study. According to him the amount and quality of sleep we get directly relates to how much T we produce. Seems logical. And I have been sleeping like crap lately. I wake a lot, am restless at times, and wake up sometimes feeling tired. My wife says I snore a little, but not always. So we'll see.

That's my latest. Thanks!

Hey Buster,

Thanks for the update, looks like you are in better hands at last!

I too was asked to do a sleep study, but here is what I replied...


"Lets assume that I DO have sleep apnea (even though I do not snore at all) and design a treatment plan that would avoid surgery and a CPAP machine."

So basically I am focused on losing 30 pounds and will begin EWOT (exercise with oxygen therapy) which is supposed to reverse sleep apnea and heal deep down and eliminate fatigue. My EWOT machine will arrive tomorrow and I am going to get started right away.

Fatigue, Brain Fog, Sore Eyes, and muscle chills are my main complaints these days....more in a few weeks to update.

So an update on me.

Today is just over a week of using the gel and no injections. I have been feeling pretty good overall I suppose, but still have some tiredness (not quite the exhaustion of before) mid afternoon to dinner time. This seems to occur most days and some days after dinner I have more pep, but not always.

I think I have found the culprit for my headaches. Artificial sweeteners! I decided last week to cut ALL artificial sweeteners (my daily AM Quest bar (protein bar) is loaded with Sucralose). Following a couple days of detox from those I have had zero headaches and maybe just one short light head discomfort episode.

I always thought my semi-frequent headaches were T related (and maybe they still are to a degree). But I am amazed at how much they tapered off after stabilizing my T levels and dropping the Quest bars. Maybe that could help someone else out there.