If you are on drugs for seizures, your doctor should have warned you that they carry a risk of bone loss. Millions of people on antiepileptic drugs do not know this. Fortunately, theres an easy — and proven — way to solve the problem.
A recent study looked at supplemental vitamin Ds ability to protect seizure-drug users. Researchers gave patients vitamin D at two different doses: 400 IU (called low dose) or 4,000 IU (called high dose). They found that the high dose — and only the high dose — increased bone mineral density at several measured bone sites in adults.
We can learn two lessons from these findings. First, if you are taking antiepileptic drugs, consider taking vitamin D regardless of your blood level. Second, theres clear evidence that a vitamin D dose of only 400 IU wont do much good. Stick with 5,000 IU per day.
Ref: Neurology, 2006; 67(11): 2005-14.