Vitamin D3 Coimbra Protocol

[Sharon]

According to this study, Vitamin D reduces inflammatory environment in the gut.
A healthy gut may play a major role in the recovery of autoimmune diseases.
Check it out:

http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Research/High-dose-vitamin-D-may-boost-diversity-of-the-gut-microbiome-Study

BTW, I'm now taking 5,000IU of Vit. D daily and am doing well on it. 

[WhatYouSjo]

WhatYouSjo- You have no problem swallowing worms but balk at overdosing on Vit. D? 

Perhaps my previous post was unclear - I am not entirely opposed to trying the protocol, but I would consult with my rheumatologist first. I would not try it on my own, as I would need regular testing of various blood levels. Just to note, my rheumatologist is also is aware of and supports my use of helminthic therapy.

[soapbox]
Helminths have been present in humans throughout our evolution, for hundreds of thousands of years. Even today, over one billion people carry helminths, mainly in countries with low incidences of autoimmune diseases. In addition, my therapeutic dose is lower than the number of worms generally carried throughout history. I feel quite confident that I know the risks and potential side effects. Most people avoid the treatment due to an aversion to the idea of worms, but HT has been with us for far longer than modern pharmaceutical treatments, as doesn't have nearly the risks of current treatments (retinal damage from Plaquenil for example).

Taking 200,000 IUs of vitamin D, which is about 100 times the recommended daily dose, is a very new idea with limited (though growing) evidence to support it. I already take a 5,000 IU vitamin D supplement, which I know keeps my levels well into the normal range. However, vitamin D toxicity is a known and documented side effect of large vitamin D doses. As a result, I am at least as cautious, if not more, about the Coimbra Protocol than HT.
[/soapbox]

I know you were probably just making a lighthearted joke, and my post wasn't pointed at anyone in particular. I have personally found HT to be very helpful, and I'm surprised sometimes at the level of resistance to it when compared to other drugs (e.g. biologics) which are far more dangerous. But back to the Coimbra Protocol - it may well be helpful, but I want to make sure I have the support of my doctor before trying it. I am certainly interested to hear your results if you try it though

[Sharon]

I was kinda joking. 
I do understand why you're going the helminthic route and find it very brave.
Of course nobody should go full Coimbra without appropriate doctor's care.
That would be dangerous.
I do however think the basic idea behind it may be implemented modestly on our own
by at least raising D3 dosages while remaining below 10,000 IU which I understand is a "safe" dosage
while adhering to some basic guidelines.
Where did you read 200,000 IU on Coimbra??? 
I've read of about 50,000 IU for AI issues, tailored to each person's unique situation and weight.

Vit. D3 has also been found to be helpful in many other ailments:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/vitamin-d/evidence/hrb-20060400

After only a few days on less than 5,000IU my severe muscle and joint pains have subsided! 
(Hope I'm not speaking prematurely though....)
I'd like to point out that I do suffer from Vit. D deficiency from the get go.

[WhatYouSjo]

Where did you read 200,000 IU on Coimbra??? 

From the book that was linked earlier, "Multiple Sclerosis and (lots of) Vitamin D: My Eight-Year Treatment with The Coimbra Protocol for Autoimmune Diseases". The first line of the summary states "The Coimbra Protocol relies on doses of vitamin D that range from 40,000 IU to 200,000 IU per day." I assume that most people start far lower, but the 200,000 IU number caught my attention.

Glad to hear that 5,000 IU is helping you! I started supplementing after blood work showed that my vitamin D level was borderline low when my symptoms first hit. I can't say exactly how much it has helped my symptoms, but my last round of blood work showed that the level was comfortably in the normal range.

[Linda196]

The dosage of Vitamin D is based on 1000 IU per kg of body weight, so the 200,000 UI dose would have to be for a 200kg person, roughly 440 lbs. Most weight based therapies are regulated as weight changes, so I would have to guess the 200,000 would be an initial dose, and as weight loss occurred, the dose would be lowered.

[alwaysimproving]

I notice the article seems to refer to MS exclusively?

[Sharon]

Thanks for clearing that issue up Linda.

WhatYouSjo- According to the protocol, even those with AI with normal levels of Vit. D may have trouble utilizing that vitamin correctly, that's why they strive for higher levels overall. I think the dosage is according to both weight and the condition treated.

Alwaysimproving- watch the video I attached (with translation on) and you'll see he mentions success with all other AI illnesses as well. 

[jazzlover]

You need to have both tests for Vit D ..

The storage and the active ...

[Sharon]

Here is more extensive information in English on the Coimbra Protocol:

http://www.thisisms.com/forum/coimbra-high-dose-vitamin-d-protocol-f57/topic27182.html

Short video with english subtitles and voiceover:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soKM6z1cdiM&app=desktop

Seems promising to me.

[Sharon]

Yet more evidence of Vitamin D's role in AI disease (as well as in other illnesses):

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23527013

[Sharon]

Adding another study which concludes that vitamin D is the environmental factor that most strongly influences autoimmune disease development:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4364365/