Hey JMC,

Thanks for the feedback and good questions...  I like your husband's stand on sticking with his present vitamin D3 dose no matter what his PCP says...  There are so many health benefits and advantages made possible with a serum 25(OH)D concentration around 80 ng/mL plus Omega-3 fish oil and all the cofactors, that going to a lower serum concentration really doesn't make any sense.  That said, nearly all of these benefits are still available, but at a lower probability at a vitamin D3 intake of 5,000 IU/day and 25(OH)D at 60 ng/mL... 

One of the best ways of addressing situations like this is to go in for lab tests of serum 25(OH)D, total calcium and PTH.  As long as serum calcium remains within its normal reference range and PTH stays in the lower third of its normal reference range, the 25(OH)D serum concentration is no worry even if its above 100 ng/mL.

For reference as a chronic CHer. i'm constantly adjusting my vitamin D3 intake to remain CH pain free.  As a result, I've averaged a vitamin D3 dose of 20,000 IU/day over the last 3 years.  Of course that dose has driven my serum 25(OH)D concentration to an average of 140 ±50 ng/mL and it's gone as high as 200 ng/mL. 

I made sure my PCP had a copy of the anti-inflammatory regimen a long time ago so he looks at my labs at my annual physical and smiles...  Then says "Your labs all look great... but your 25(OH)D is elevated as usual... However, as long as your serum calcium remains within its normal reference range and your PTH is low... I've no problem with your serum 25(OH)D as long as it prevents your cluster headache."

The half-life of serum 25(OH)D is roughly two months.  In other words, if your 25(OH)D was 100 ng/mL and you stopped vitamin D3 supplements, it would take two months for your 25(OH)D serum concentration to drop to 50 ng/mL. 

I can confirm that half-life.  It took two months without any vitamin D3 supplements for my serum 25(OH)D to drop from 200 ng/mL to 100 ng/mL.

We all need magnesium... CH or not and particularly if supplementing with vitamin D3 at 5,000 IU/day or higher.  400 mg/day is sufficient for most adults...  If the magnesium is still causing lower GI tract problems, try switching to another magnesium salt.  I try all of them...  Magnesium glycinate and magnesium chloride appear to be less likely to result in osmotic diarrhea.

Hope this helps...  Take care and please keep us posted.

V/R, Batch

JMC,

If anything, the Omega-3 and vitamin D3 cofactors are more important if your husband decides to cut back to a vitamin D3 dose of 5,000 IU/day.

With a 25(OH)D serum concentration of 69... I would stay at 10,000 IU/day vitamin D3.  The super K is very important for good cardiovascular health...  As is CoQ10 and Turmeric (Curcumin)...  In short, why increase the risk of heart problems over the inconvenience of taking a handful of pills...

Take care and please keep us posted...

V/R, Batch