Dr. Mercola (mercola.com) recommends between 4000-8000 IU a day.

"Researchers have found that daily intakes of vitamin D by adults in the range of 4000-8000 IU are needed to maintain blood levels of vitamin D metabolites in the range needed to reduce by about half the risk of breast cancer, colon cancer, multiple sclerosis, and type 1 diabetes."

Just an FYI

Peace

I agree Everyone,

I was wrong to suggest dosing, and I apologize to the forum for doing so.

In answer to your question Annie, here is the study quote and the link:

http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/2010_conference/easl/docs/0518_2010_b.html 

I take 4000 units a day under the supervision of my Primary Care Doctor.

Thanks for bringing this to my attention, again I apologize for my over exuberance.

Ron

After reading Ron's posts about Vit D I decided to add it to my daily regime of pills.. But not before asking my Dr first. His opinion, good idea to start them but to stick to the daily dose recommended, don't go over that amount. Too much is never going to be a good thing. I take 1 pill a day, will continue with that amount. I agree with Heather, the best advice yet concerning suppliments etc, none of us are Dr's, advice on medical issues are always best left with them..

It is ALWAYS recommended that people consult with their medical team before taking any medicines/supplements that are not prescribed.  We are NOT a medical forum and therefore are NOT qualified to do anything other than make suggestions, or offer advice.  

Hugs, Heather xxx

Very sage advice there, Annie!  I would tell everyone to check with their doctors before beginning any new addition, supplement, etc., while on treatment.  You should also keep them informed of what you take just because you have HCV.  If you don't have a doctor you can trust, or don't feel that they are up on things, then find another. 

AND be sure your sources are REAL medical sources, and not just anyone, as you and I all know that anyone can basically post anything online and call it a fact.  Not insinuating that the vitamin D studies are not valid ones, just that it's possible there are also some not so valid ones out there. 

My concern is that someone comes here, reads one or two posts, and off they go, taking mega doses of something that may actually harm them. 

Hi Ron,  Where do you get your figures from re: doubling the chances of SVR by taking extra large doses of Vit D? I have seen various studies which seem to indicate Vit D supplements as increasing the chances of SVR, but 4000 units a day sounds like a lot!   From what I can find out 400 to 800 IU seems to be the recommended dose, and of course will depend individually on whether you are deficient, your diet, state of your liver, size, country you live in etc..etc.... it makes sense to check it out with the liver specialist, and to get tested to see if one is deficient before following your advice. I understand that it is possible to overdose, and that this can cause dangerous deposits of calcium in the heart, kidneys and blood vessels. No harm in asking the doctor before taking any supplements.

Annie

Hi Friends,

Toxicity issues are extremely rare and extremely unlikely. Comments like "stick to the daily recommended dose" are being made by people who are uninformed.

The daily recommended dose of 300 units is outdated by decades.

There are two known incidences of toxicity where over 100k units were being taken a day!

Is anyone here thinking of taking 100-500k units per day. LOL. I don't recommend it.

What I do recommend (and take myself) is 4000 units a day. It is what was taken during the study, and proved extrodinarily great results.  

I take a multi vitamin and a calcium/d supplement so I'm actually getting about 5000 units of d per day. My most recent blood test for vit.d (the only way to truly know your levels) showed that the acceptable range is 50-100 and I scored an 80. My primary care Doctor was very happy with that result and so was I. No chance of being toxic whatsoever.

I dont know where all the "toxicity" talk came from but unless you have a blood test to show toxicity and your taking 100 times what Im taking the chances are remote.

The true "elephant in the room" that no one really wants to talk about is the fact that a daily d3 supplement can DOUBLE your chances for reaching SVR.  

Ron.

EDIT: Post deleted by Greg

Vitamin D Has Benefits in Chronic HCV Infection

November 5, 2009 (Boston, Massachusetts) Supplementing pegylated interferon-alfa2b and ribavirin with a daily dose of vitamin D might increase virologic response rates, according to results of a late-breaking abstract reported here at The Liver Meeting 2009, the 60th Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD).

"Vitamin D is a potent immunomodulator whose impact on virologic response rates of interferon-based treatment of chronic HCV [hepatitis C] is unknown," lead investigator Saif M. Abu-Mouch, MD, from the Department of Hepatology, Hillel Yaffe Medical Center, in Hadera, Israel, and colleagues note in their abstract. (more at link above)

Could Vitamin D Be the Missing Ingredient in HCV Therapy?

Even though an estimated 170 million people worldwide are infected with Hepatitis C, the current treatment can only help about half of them. However, new research suggests that a common vitamin could greatly increase Hepatitis C treatment's effectiveness.

by Nicole Cutler, L.Ac.

Previous research has provided evidence pointing toward a Vitamin D deficiency in those with chronic Hepatitis C. This association has spawned an interest in how Vitamin D could help those with viral hepatitis. While Vitamin D supplementation may help prevent some complications of advancing liver disease, deciphering this vitamin's role in Hepatitis C has been relatively limited - until now.

Approximately 15 percent of those infected with Hepatitis C have an immune system that is able to eliminate the virus. Unfortunately, the remaining 85 percent infected with Hepatitis C end up with a chronic illness. If the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is not eradicated, it can progress to more serious forms of liver disease like cirrhosis, liver cancer or liver failure.

Combination Therapy
While great strides in HCV treatment have been made over the past decade, the current standard of care can help approximately 50 percent of those infected beat the virus. Referred to as combination therapy, this standard treatment consists of two drugs: pegylated interferon and ribavirin.

About half of those with the virus do not respond to combination therapy. Consequently, the pharmaceutical industry has been dedicating enormous resources into improving these odds. Taking their cue from the successful management of HIV/AIDS, much research is focused on developing a third drug, that when added to pegylated interferon and ribavirin, will create a highly effective triple therapy for Hepatitis C.

Vitamin D for Triple Therapy
Based on results of a preliminary Israeli study, Vitamin D could represent the best possible candidate for a third substance to comprise triple Hepatitis C therapy. As reported at the 2009 Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), adding a daily dose of Vitamin D to the regimen of pegylated interferon-alfa 2 and ribavirin might increase Hepatitis C response rates to therapy.

According to lead investigator Saif M. Abu-Mouch, M.D., from the Department of Hepatology, Hillel Yaffe Medical Center in Hadera, Israel, "This preliminary study confirms the benefit of adding Vitamin D to conventional antiviral therapy in patients with chronic Hepatitis C." Details of Abu-Mouch's study are described below: