Vitamin D is a nutrient essential for bone growth and development and plays a role in autoimmune disease prevention, certain cancer prevention, obesity, and cardiovascular issues. A vitamin D deficiency can cause symptoms such as bone weakness and pain as well as muscle pain and weakness. It has been connected with chronic pain disorders, and according to leading vitamin D specialist Michael Horlick, M.D., from Boston University Medical Center, many patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia may be experiencing a vitamin D deficiency.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble nutrient that can be found in a limited selection of dietary foods such as fortified milk and oily fish such as salmon. Maintaining an adequate level of vitamin D by diet alone is near impossible; however, your body is equipped to make vitamin D all on its own. When your skin is exposed to the ultra-violet B rays from the sun, the body produces vitamin D naturally. But with the fear of skin cancer and push for sunscreen and sun avoidance, many people in the United States are not receiving enough sunlight to make the vitamin D they need; supplementation with vitamin D may be required.
Chronic Pain
Pain is something that just about everyone experiences at some point, however, while this acute pain is usually the result of an injury or infection, chronic pain is very different. Acute pain happens when an injury occurs and is your body's way of letting you know of an injury. Chronic pain can begin without the presence of an injury and can remain for weeks, months or even years. Typical chronic pain conditions can include neurogenic pain related to the central nervous system, fibromyalgia, arthritis pain and pain associated with cancer.
Vitamin D Deficiency Studies
Chronic leg pain and vitamin D deficiency have been linked in many recent studies over the last few years. A 2010 study published in the "International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases" looked at the connection between nonspecific skeletal pain and a vitamin D deficiency and concluded that there is a connection to this unexplained bone pain and vitamin D deficiency, especially in female patients. The researchers believe that treating vitamin D deficiencies diminishes bone pain. Another study published in May 2011 in the "Journal of College Physicians and Surgeons -- Pakistan" looked at the link between vitamin D levels and the occurrence of growing pains in children. They discovered that vitamin D deficiencies may play a role in unexplained growing pains of the legs and arms in children and that all children suffering from unexplained limb pain should be tested for vitamin D levels.
Considerations
If you experience chronic leg pain that cannot be explained by another illness or disease, consult with your physician and have your vitamin D levels tested. If the results show that you are vitamin D deficient, your physician will treat the deficiency. Once the vitamin D deficiency is treated, you may find that your chronic pain will lessen and, if a vitamin D deficiency was the cause, it may disappear completely.
References
- Office of Dietary Supplements: Vitamin D
- University of California Television; D-Lightful Vitamin D: Bone & Muscle Health and Prevention of Autoimmune and Chronic Diseases
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke; NINDA Chronic Pain Information Page; June 15, 2011
- "International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases"; Association Between Nonspecific Skeletal Pain and Vitamin D Deficiency; B. Heidari et al.; October 2010
- "Journal of College Physicians and Surgeons -- Pakistan"; Vitamin D Levels in Children With Growing Pains; S. Qamar et el.; May 2011
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