Adequate vitamin D may offer relief from winter aches

Glenview, United States, November 2: The inadequate level of vitamin D, also known as “sunshine vitamin” can lead to depressiondefine, fatigue and even aches and pains during winter months when sunshine is low as people are not getting enough vitamin D.

It is a well documented fact that vitamin D plays a vital role in strengthening bones, fabricating healthy teeth, and upholding the immune systemdefine.

According to an extensive research report from Pain Treatment Topics, the low level of sunshine vitamin has been linked with the osteoarthritis, bone and joint pain, aches, fibromyalgia syndrome and rheumatic disorders.

Stewart B. Leavitt, MA, PhD, author of the comprehensive research report titled “Vitamin D – A Neglected ‘Analgesic’ for Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain” feels that for many people sunlight is not sufficient source of vitamin D during most of the year and the few foods containing the vitamin do not provide enough of it.

Leavitt said, "In our review of 22 clinical research studies persons with various pain and fatigue syndromes almost always lacked vitamin D, especially during winter months. When sufficient vitamin D supplementation was provided, the aches, pains, weakness, and related problems in most sufferers either vanished or were at least helped to a significant degree."

Sunlight is essential for the production of vitamin D in the body which makes skin healthy. Putting up sunscreen though interferes with this process and as we age, body’s ability to produce the vitamin decreases. A recent Harvard study found that approximately 60 percent of the people in the United States may be vitamin D deficient.

Vitamin D is found in food items such as eggs, liver, vitamin D fortified margarine, fish (tuna, salmon, sardines, herring and mackerel) and fortified milk. A cup of fortified cow or soymilk contains about 100IU. Another good source is vitamin fortified cereals as the nutrient can also be taken as a dietary supplement.

Generally people get enough vitamin D through exposure to sunlight during normal day-to-day outdoor activities but some people have very low levels of daily sun exposure such as elderly people whose condition limits the amount of time they spend outdoors.

The current recommendation is 200 IU of Vitamin D per day for adults up to 50 years, 400 IU per day for people in between 51 to seventy years and 600IU a day for those over 70s. The latest research says that children and adults need at least 1000 IU per day and persons with bone or muscle aches and pains could benefit from 2000 IU or more per day of supplemental vitamin D3, also called cholecalciferol, particularly in winters.

The report also said Vitamin D supplements are safe, if taken as directed and easy to take and are quite cheap (7 to 10 cents per day). An extra dose of the vitamin D may provide relief from pain.

Leavitt stressed that people should not think vitamin D as a cure for all painful conditions such as back pain and it is not necessarily a replacement for other pain relief treatments.

Adding further he said, “While further research would be helpful, extra vitamin D should be considered for all persons in late fall or early winter, and especially for those who have developed aches and pains, or fatigue and mood disorders.”