Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Watch Out For Mineral Supplements After Beginning Gluten Free Diet

Bevsis3

Recommended Posts

Bevsis3 Newbie
Bevsis3
Posted

For many years I have been taking both calcium supplements and Vitamin D supplements in the form of Calcitriol. This was to keep my Calcium levels within the normal limits. Noone was able to tell me why they were low, but when I was diagnoaed with Celiac, it all came together...After being diagnosed with Celiac in January 2006, I was concerned that if my bowel healed enough to start absorbing nutrients normally, I might actually overdose on Calcium since I was still taking the supplements per Dr. Orders. Sure enough, that is exactly what happened this summer, 7-8 months after instituting a gluten free diet. I started to experience a lot of joint pain, and did not feel good overall. My Calcium levels were way above normal and my kidney function was already adversely affected by the high calcium levels. Luckily for me, I am an RN and was on top of this situation and insisted on lab tests every few months. If you are taking supplemental minerals to keep your levels in the normal range and then begin a gluten free diet (which enables your bowel to heal enough to start absorbing nutrients normally), be aware of this issue and insist that your physician keep close tabs on your electrolytes. High levels of many minerals can be very dangerous, causing kidney failure, heart problems etc. You sometimes have to be your own advocate, since physicians today see so many patients and I don't believe they always think proactively ahead of what might occur, and also many are not very familiar with Celiac disease and what is entailed in the recovery phase.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


lindalee Enthusiast
lindalee
Posted
For many years I have been taking both calcium supplements and Vitamin D supplements in the form of Calcitriol. This was to keep my Calcium levels within the normal limits. Noone was able to tell me why they were low, but when I was diagnoaed with Celiac, it all came together...After being diagnosed with Celiac in January 2006, I was concerned that if my bowel healed enough to start absorbing nutrients normally, I might actually overdose on Calcium since I was still taking the supplements per Dr. Orders. Sure enough, that is exactly what happened this summer, 7-8 months after instituting a gluten free diet. I started to experience a lot of joint pain, and did not feel good overall. My Calcium levels were way above normal and my kidney function was already adversely affected by the high calcium levels. Luckily for me, I am an RN and was on top of this situation and insisted on lab tests every few months. If you are taking supplemental minerals to keep your levels in the normal range and then begin a gluten free diet (which enables your bowel to heal enough to start absorbing nutrients normally), be aware of this issue and insist that your physician keep close tabs on your electrolytes. High levels of many minerals can be very dangerous, causing kidney failure, heart problems etc. You sometimes have to be your own advocate, since physicians today see so many patients and I don't believe they always think proactively ahead of what might occur, and also many are not very familiar with Celiac disease and what is entailed in the recovery phase.

I haven't heard of this. What would I need to get tested for when I do go to the dr? I have been gluten-free for a about 4 months.

Lymetoo Contributor
Lymetoo
Posted

Thanks for letting us know. With my Lyme disease issues, I usually have blood work done every 4 months. So is a CBC with differential all I need?

AndreaB Contributor
AndreaB
Posted

Is this just for high doses. My family is also dairy free so we supplement. I think the kids have 500 mg and me and my husband have that amount too. I'm afraid of being low since I'm still breastfeeding.

Guest AutumnE
Guest AutumnE
Posted

How high of a dose where you taking? Im taking 1000mgs of calcium a day, I dont eat near enough dairy products and am going off them for a while also for diet reasons. I always thought they were water soluble and what your body didnt use it would pee out like b vitamins. Im taking caltrate calcium supplements along with b vitamins, zinc, and biotin because I lost half of my hair length and about 1/3 of its thickness.

I had a blood test and I'm awaiting the results of it regarding a vitamin panel. It wasnt part of a cbc.

BeckyW Contributor
BeckyW
Posted

I had my thyroid removed in February and the doctors could not understand why I was not absorbing the calcium supplements. I was put on calcium citrate 5,000 mg a day which still did not put me in the normal range and I suffered from symptoms. My endocrinologist started me on a prescription form of vitamin D. I found out in August, 2006 that I have Celiac and numerous food sensitivities but the endocrinologist right away said that explained why my body was not absorbing the calcium supplements. He said I have to be very careful now as my intestines start to heal that my levels do not go too high. I am currently down to 2,000 mg of calcium citrate a day with the prescription vitamin D at 2-3 pills a day depending on my symptoms. I go for bloodwork every 2 weeks to monitor the levels but I can always tell if my calcium level drops low. I am hoping it will continue to improve so I can get off so much calcium and vitamin D.

lindalee Enthusiast
lindalee
Posted
I had my thyroid removed in February and the doctors could not understand why I was not absorbing the calcium supplements. I was put on calcium citrate 5,000 mg a day which still did not put me in the normal range and I suffered from symptoms. My endocrinologist started me on a prescription form of vitamin D. I found out in August, 2006 that I have Celiac and numerous food sensitivities but the endocrinologist right away said that explained why my body was not absorbing the calcium supplements. He said I have to be very careful now as my intestines start to heal that my levels do not go too high. I am currently down to 2,000 mg of calcium citrate a day with the prescription vitamin D at 2-3 pills a day depending on my symptoms. I go for bloodwork every 2 weeks to monitor the levels but I can always tell if my calcium level drops low. I am hoping it will continue to improve so I can get off so much calcium and vitamin D.

Could you explain the symptoms?

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


gfp Enthusiast
gfp
Posted
How high of a dose where you taking? Im taking 1000mgs of calcium a day, I dont eat near enough dairy products and am going off them for a while also for diet reasons. I always thought they were water soluble and what your body didnt use it would pee out like b vitamins. Im taking caltrate calcium supplements along with b vitamins, zinc, and biotin because I lost half of my hair length and about 1/3 of its thickness.

I had a blood test and I'm awaiting the results of it regarding a vitamin panel. It wasnt part of a cbc.

No! indeed you pee it out through your kidneys where it can form kidney stones.

BeckyW Contributor
BeckyW
Posted
Could you explain the symptoms?

Hi, my symptoms of low calcuim are numbness and tingling. It starts in my foot as the feeling as if I have been sitting awhile, or sometimes if it is not that low then I just get a tingling sensation in my foot. Then I will feel it in my hands. When it is really low then I get the numbness and tingling in my jaw and it hurts when I first chew food. I can always tell just about what level I am at and then I increase my calcium or the RX vitamin D. I have blood tests every 2 weeks now that my levels have been in the normal range a few times. You have to be extremely careful of low calcium and high calcium levels. The test itself is a blood calcium level and I don't believe it is part of a CBC but I could be wrong on that.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. Wheatwacked
      - Wheatwacked replied to plumbago's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      8

      Anyone else with very high HDL?

      @plumbago, I found a good PDF on cholesterol: Unlocking the mysteries of VLDL: exploring its production, intracellular trafficking, and metabolism as therapeutic targets I just started it, but it may have answers for us, with whacky cholesterol. The pharmaceuticals don't seem to be interested in anything but statins. "The nicotine in tobacco...
    2. plumbago
      - plumbago replied to plumbago's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      8

      Anyone else with very high HDL?

      I have taken thiamine on and off (just not at this exact moment), and I’m not sure it's made any difference. Yes, I almost always “fast” (12 hours NPO) for blood tests, as do a great many other Americans, so I tend to think that’s not it. All I can say is that the mystery continues. I could do some speculating here…well, heck, let me go ahead and specu...
    3. trents
      - trents replied to plumbago's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      8

      Anyone else with very high HDL?

      Well, I have the opposite problem. My LDL has been moderately high for years. I eat healthy and exercise regularly but can't seem to move that meter. I used to be on a statin (and my doctors want me to go back on one) and it brought both HDL and LDL down but the ratios never changed. I think a lot of that cholesterol stuff is just baked into the genes.
    4. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to plumbago's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      8

      Anyone else with very high HDL?

      Wow, @plumbago, Curiouser, and curioser... Have you been fasting? Apparently HDL levels increase after fasting... https://ajcn.nutrition.org/article/S0002-9165(23)31185-7/abstract I must say it, try taking some Thiamine. Thiamine helps regulate lipoproteins... Thiamine helped lower HDL in this study whether they had diabetes or...
    5. trents
      - trents replied to Tyoung's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      1

      Celiac Disease and Mild Chronic Gastritis

      Welcome to the forum, @Tyoung! I would assume for the time being that the mild gastritis and the celiac disease are connected and that once you get a good handle on gluten free eating and experience significant healing in the lining of your duodenum, you will also see improvement in the gastritis as well. Gastritis is more often than not an accompanying...
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      127,910
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Manana
    Newest Member
    Manana
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121k
    • Total Posts
      70.5k
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Wheatwacked
      Anyone else with very high HDL?

      By Wheatwacked · Posted

      @plumbago, I found a good PDF on cholesterol:  Unlocking the mysteries of VLDL: exploring its production, intracellular trafficking, and metabolism as therapeutic targets I just started it, but it may have answers for us, with whacky cholesterol.  The pharmaceuticals don't seem to be interested in anything but statins.   "The nicotine in tobacco causes a decrease in the HDL cholesterol level. " Maybe you should start smoking? 🤪 I have high LDL and low HDL.  It is genetic mutations in the LDLR, APOB, PCSK9, or LDLRAP1 genes. My whole family is on statins for Familial Hyperliperdemia except me.  December I had ultrasound and cat scan for Carotid Artery blockage and both sides are above 85% blockage.  I started on Atorvastatin and that made me weaker than ever, even with CoQ10.  I asked for and got prescription for 2000 mg/day Nicotinic Acid B3 and in the 3 weeks my numbers changed. I am feeling realy good lately.  Stronger and more flexible.  Sleeping better.  Getting roto router (TCar) as soon as I get clearance from a cardiologist.  I expect that by my next blood panels in April to be even better. I am beginning to believe that like vitamin D where the RDA only accounts for preventing Rickets, the RDA for B3 is way underestimated.   From Oct 22 to Jan 17: A1c from 13.5 to 10.2 eGFR from 55 to 79 Triglyeride from 458 to 362 Total cholesterol from 245 to 264 HDL from 27 to 44 VLDL from 84 to 68 LDL from 134 to 154
    • plumbago
      Anyone else with very high HDL?

      By plumbago · Posted

      I have taken thiamine on and off (just not at this exact moment), and I’m not sure it's made any difference. Yes, I almost always “fast” (12 hours NPO) for blood tests, as do a great many other Americans, so I tend to think that’s not it. All I can say is that the mystery continues. I could do some speculating here…well, heck, let me go ahead and speculate now: The lab ranges we all see on our reports are more or less the averages of Americans who have had those blood tests. Now, it’s up to you and me whether or not to think of the average American as healthy. I can make arguments both ways, more often than not, on the negative. My point here is that maybe the current range of HDL is somewhat skewed (ie, low), and maybe just maybe my super high (plus 100s) HDL results are not something to worry about; the range just needs updating. Why do I say this? Because pre-celiac disease diagnosis, my HDL values were in the normal range, but post celiac disease diagnosis, my HDL levels are way above average. See where I’m going? My trusty guidebook on celiac disease, Recognizing Celiac Disease by Cleo Libonati, RN, BSN, says that HDL increases after being on the gluten free diet. Or can increase, I guess. Then again, it could be something else. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ In thinking of going to a cardiologist, I sort of fear that he/she will be dismissive of a link to celiac disease, treated celiac disease, and would not therefore be considering all possibilities. @trents I'm sorry you've been diligently working on your numbers to no effect. That must be frustrating. LDL is a world that is far better understood than HDL, so for you there's maybe less "mystery." Familial hypercholesterolemia is for sure something that can be tested. Outside of that, you're right, genetics can determine a general pattern.
    • trents
      Anyone else with very high HDL?

      By trents · Posted

      Well, I have the opposite problem. My LDL has been moderately high for years. I eat healthy and exercise regularly but can't seem to move that meter. I used to be on a statin (and my doctors want me to go back on one) and it brought both HDL and LDL down but the ratios never changed. I think a lot of that cholesterol stuff is just baked into the genes.
    • knitty kitty
      Anyone else with very high HDL?

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Wow, @plumbago, Curiouser, and curioser... Have you been fasting?  Apparently HDL levels increase after fasting... https://ajcn.nutrition.org/article/S0002-9165(23)31185-7/abstract   I must say it, try taking some Thiamine.  Thiamine helps regulate lipoproteins... Thiamine helped lower HDL in this study whether they had diabetes or not. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3921172/#:~:text=Serum thiamine and its derivatives,supplementation (p %3D 0.009).
    • trents
      Celiac Disease and Mild Chronic Gastritis

      By trents · Posted

      Welcome to the forum, @Tyoung! I would assume for the time being that the mild gastritis and the celiac disease are connected and that once you get a good handle on gluten free eating and experience significant healing in the lining of your duodenum, you will also see improvement in the gastritis as well. Gastritis is more often than not an accompanying finding that is commented on in the post scope/biopsy notes when people are positive for celiac disease. 
×
×
  • Create New...