Medications might milk vitamin D level
Q: My physician recently found that my vitamin D level is very low. I find this hard to believe since I drink nearly a gallon of milk weekly and take a multivitamin and supplement of calcium plus D each day.
I also take prednisone, tramadol, gabapentin, methotrexate and leucovorin. Could one of these drugs interfere with vitamin D absorption?
A: Many people have low vitamin D levels, especially in winter when they don’t get regular sun exposure. A glass or two of milk daily combined with vitamin supplementation does not always correct the imbalance.
Your medications are likely making the situation worse. Prednisone, gabapentin and methotrexate all can interfere with vitamin D.
You may need at least 2,000 International Units daily, which is much more than you are getting from your supplements and diet. Have your doctor monitor your progress.
Q: Is it Earl Grey or English breakfast tea that can cause sore muscles?
A: There is one case report of a man who developed significant muscle pain and cramping in reaction to Earl Grey tea (The Lancet, April 27, 2002). We have also heard from a few readers who had similar problems.
Earl Grey tea is flavored with oil from the citrus fruit bergamot. This oil contains bergapten, a natural compound that can block the flow of potassium in and out of cells. Muscle cells rely on potassium flow, so that might explain the connection. Most people do not seem to suffer this kind of reaction, so those who do may be exceptionally sensitive.
Q: You recently had a question from a woman suffering hot flashes. I am a cancer patient and avoid soy because it acts like estrogen. I have found borage seed oil nearly eliminates my hot flashes. The cancer center checked on it before I began and said it’s OK.
A: You were smart to have the cancer center check your supplement first. Borage seed oil is rich in gamma-linolenic acid, similar to the fat found in evening primrose oil or flaxseed oil.
Although the Web has many sites that recommend borage seed oil for hot flashes, we were unable to find a study showing that this dietary supplement can reduce them. Make sure that your supplement has had the pyrrolizidine alkaloids removed, since these can be toxic to the liver.
In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Write to them c/o King Features Syndicate, 888 Seventh Ave., New York, NY 10019, or via their Web site: www.peoplespharmacy.org