One form of vitamin D is formed by the body in a chemical reaction fueled by ultraviolet light we get through exposure to the sun, while foods like fortified milk, butter and fish also provide another form of the vitamin. Vitamin D deficiencies are usually associated with bone problems, though burning muscles might signal deficiencies of the vitamin.
Vitamin D in Your Body
Your skin synthesizes vitamin B with contact to the ultraviolet B light you receive outdoors in normal exposure to the sun. Once it's synthesized in your body, it's used to the metabolize calcium you eat by monitoring the absorption of calcium in your kidneys and intestines. Because calcium is essential for proper functioning of your nervous system, your body leeches it from your bones when you don't have adequate amounts of vitamin D to process it.
Weakness and Muscle Pain
Improper levels of vitamin D can affect your muscle performance. Low levels are linked to muscle pain, which is more common in the arms than in the legs, according to the University of Washington in St. Louis. This mild to moderate pain usually affects both sides of the body equally and is also frequently accompanied by weakness and delayed relaxation of your muscles. If you experience vitamin D deficiency you could also suffer from muscle wasting in addition to pain and weakness.
Other Symptoms of Deficiency
Beyond muscular issues, vitamin D deficiency can cause softening of your bones that can lead to rickets in children and adolescents whose bones are still growing. In adults, vitamin D deficiencies don't lead to the bone deformations of rickets, though reduced calcium levels caused by vitamin deficiencies led to bone pain known and softness known as osteomalacia.
Who's At Risk
Anyone with little exposure to sunlight may consider vitamin D deficiencies as a potential source of burning and aching muscles. People who are particularly at risk include those in northern latitudes in the winter, people with dark skin, those who work night shifts and people who use sunscreen or remain completely clothed when they're outdoors.
Supplements and RDA
Adults under the age of 50 should receive 5 mcg of vitamin D each day, either through dietary sources or through sunlight-driven synthesis. Those between 51 and 70 years old require 10 mcg, and anyone older than 71 should receive 15 mcg each day. Vitamin D supplements that contain vitamin D3 are more effective than those with D2, and usually provide 10 mcg of the vitamin per dose.
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