Afib trigger

Since the diagnosis of my Afib, I noticed that I would have an Afib episode a few hours later after I take the Vitamin D supplement (1000 IU). I'm vitamin D deficient less than 20 ng/mL. Reportedly, low and high levels of Vitamin D are associated with increased risk of Afib. Puzzled by this trigger of Vitamin D . Any suggestion/advice for my Afib diagnosis and treatment in light of my unique Afib trigger? Thanks!

I had a similar issue last year. I spent all summer in the sun as much as I could without my shirt. I got tested in October with a level of 42 ng/mL. I decided to supplement to get to around 60 ng/mL. I started at 1000 IU and on the second day developed palpitations and on the third evening got AFIB. I quit the vitamin D and the palpitations stopped. I was skeptical of vitamin D causing it, so a month later I tried the experiment again with the same result. Because of COVID I really wanted to get my D levels up so I tried the experiment again a third time, and again with the same result of palpitations but luckily no AFIB.

So I did not supplement at all last year. Note that I have been eating Natto every other day for the last three years so I think I am getting enough vitamin K2. I also keep my calcium low, i.e., no dairy or anything with added calcium and take 600 mg magnesium. My magnesium RBC is at 5.8 which I think is pretty good.

Flash forward to this year. Again spent all summer in the sun and got tested in September with a level of 44 ng/mL (very consistent with last years). I decided to try supplementing again. Started with 1000 IU only this time no palpitations at all. Increased to 2000 IU after a week, then 3000 IU for a week, and finally 4000 IU. I have been on 4000 IUs now for about a month and a half and feel great, no palpitations no AFIB. I will get tested in another month to see what my level is.

I can not explain the change from last year to this year.

Afibber 20... There are numerous past posts on the benefits of supplementing with Vitamin K2 in the Menaquinone 7 form... or K2 MK7.... and some have found natto (food) consumption helps boost the MK7 levels. The focus of this practice centers around the extensive research offered by University of Maastricht ... specifically two PhD researchers mentioned here also in previous posts... ie, Leon Schurgers, PhD and Cees Vermeer, PhD.

You mentioned your low level of Vitamin D....at 20/ng/ml. When mine was 18 ng/ml, I was suffering from extreme muscle pain and weakness. Long story that I won't 'rehash'...but back then, doctors weren't testing for vitamin D levels routinely and I was passed from specialist to specialist to try to find a cause of the pain and weakness. Finally, I connected with an Integrative Medicine MD (Harvard grad), new to our area and he did the test. Then, the supplementing with the vitamin D plus the K2 MK7 was the order of the day and my muscle pain was resolved.... however, the residual effect was muscle damage to leg and calf muscles. (I often thought probably some cardiac issues as well).

So... I have been striving to keep my vitamin D levels about 60 or 65... as recommended by my FM MD... by taking 10,000IU daily from Oct to late March... when I'm not able to get sun exposure... (I live in NE Ohio). The other months, I take 5,000IU of Vit D... daily and 90 mcg of K2 MK7 (Jarrow brand). I double that to 180 mcg when I increase the Vitamin D levels for the winter. Now, that said... when I was tested last Spring for 25 OHD levels... and it was 103.... so I had to stop the Vitamin D totally... and wait for the levels to drop down to the safe range. With the Vitamin K2 MK7 helping to manage or direct circulating calcium into my bones... (and not imbalancing my magnesium stores)... that has also helped me maintain NSR after my last ablation for flutter in 2015.)

The good news is that all my years of remedial Vitamin D and MK7 dosing resulted in good health. I have not had a significant cold or the flu in over 20 years. Of course, I take other nutritional supplements based on various tests including Genova Diagnostics.. .NutrEval to be sure all my systems are well nourished and functioning properly.

Jackie

MikeN, do you have less Afib burden this year than last year? I wonder if the tolerance to the Vitamin D supplementation is indicative of the Afib condition.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/20/2021 08:44PM by Afibber20.

Jackie, I haven't felt any significant muscle pain or weakness, or other symptoms that I can connect with the low level of Vitamin D. I never tried the supplementation with K2 MK7. I'll look into that. Thank you for sharing.