Fibromyalgia is a chronic, debilitating condition characterized by widespread musculosketelal pain, muscle weakness, chronic fatigue, depression, memory loss and sleep problems. Although the etiology of this disorder remains elusive in the medical community, studies reveal a direct link with vitamin D deficiency to the muscular pain, weakness and depression associated with the condition. Speak to your physician about testing your vitamin D level to ensure a deficiency is not the cause of fibromyalgia symptoms.
Cause and Symptoms
Fibromyalgia patients report muscular pain and tender points in the soft tissue of the neck, sternum, shoulders, legs and lower back. These areas are painful when touched, and the pain is typically radiating and deep aching. The musculoskeletal pain is also accompanied by chronic fatigue, muscle weakness, anxiety, migraine headaches and cognitive problems such as thinking and memory loss. Since the causative agent for this disorder remains unknown and highly debated, the treatment options are limited since therapeutic interventions can only target the symptoms. Based on studies, as of 2011, physicians are exploring the role of vitamin D or lack thereof in fibromyalgia patients.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin endogenously produced upon exposure to sunlight. According to the Mayo Clinic, 10 minutes of direct exposure to sunlight prevents vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D can also be obtained from dietary sources such as eggs, fish, fortified cereals and milk. Vitamin D promotes calcium absorption in the gut, cellular growth, immune health and neuromuscular function. It maintains optimal concentrations of calcium and phosphate for normal mineralization of the bone, thereby preventing brittle bones and osteoporosis in older adults. It also facilitates the synthesis of parathyroid hormone, which extracts calcium phosphate from the bones.
Vitamin D Deficiency
Vitamin D deficiency is mostly due to lack of exposure to sunlight. Vitamin D deficiency is manifested in muscular pain and weakness, and osteomalacia or soft bones. Osteomalacia is caused by inadequate amounts of calcium and phosphate in the blood. It is similar to the tender points experienced by fibromyalgia patients in that they experience a radiating pain when pressure is applied to the skin. This radiating pain is also accompanied by muscular weakness and bone pain. Inadequate concentrations of vitamin D synthesis results in decreased calcium absorption in the gut, brittle bones and increased risk of bone fracture in older adults and osteoporosis patients. Chronic fatigue, depression and mood disorders are other symptoms experienced with vitamin D deficiency.
Vitamin D Deficiency and Fibromyalgia
Symptoms of vitamin D deficiency are almost identical to the symptoms exhibited by fibromyalgia patients. According to Merck Manual, vitamin D supplements usually lead to the complete resolution of muscular pain and weakness caused by lack of exposure to sunlight. A study led by Michael K. Turner, M.D., and published in the November 2008 issue of "Pain Medicine" showed that vitamin D deficiency was the underlying cause of musculoskeletal pain and neuromuscular dysfunction in 26 percent of 267 chronic pain patients. The myopathies evident in individuals suffering from vitamin D deficiency are also identical to those seen in fibromyalgia in that the muscle weakness is generalized throughout the body, is often debilitating and can lead to severe disability. Patients suffering from muscular weakness make a complete recovery when they take vitamin D supplements by mouth. Depression and anxiety are symptoms common in fibromyalgia and vitamin D deficiency. A study published in the 2007 issue of "Clinical Rheumatology" with 75 fibromyalgia patients revealed that 13.3 percent of these patients had inadequate levels of vitamin D, 56 percent had insufficient levels of vitamin D and only 36 percent had normal levels of vitamin D. Vitamin D supplements taken by mouth have been successful in treating seasonal depression, anxiety and other mood disorders.
References
- Easy Immune Health; Fibromyalgia and Vitamin D; Kerri Knox, R.N
- Mayo Clinic; Fibromyalgia; January 2011
- Mayo Clinic; Vitamin D; April 2011
- National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements: Vitamin D
- Merck Manuals; Vitamin D; Larry E. Johnson, M.D., Ph.D.; August 2007
- "Pain Medicine"; Prevalence and Clinical Correlates of Vitamin D Inadequacy Among Patients With Chronic Pain; Michael K. Turner M.D., et al.; December 2008
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