Many different pain and joint issues are now being connected to vitamin D deficiency. Leg pain that cannot be explained by an injury or underlying condition may be the result of a deficiency in your vitamin D levels. A 2009 study published in the "Archives of Internal Medicine" showed that as many as 77 percent of Americans are vitamin D deficient, and given that symptoms may not show up right away, you could be vitamin D deficient and not even know it. Because of the connection between vitamin D deficiency and pain, it is important to know all you can about vitamin D and your risk factors.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is a fat soluble nutrient responsible for the balance of calcium in your body and is essential for bone growth. It can be produced naturally through your skin's exposure to the ultraviolet B rays from the sun, though the recent skin cancer concerns and recommendations for using sunscreen have limited the exposure you might get and has also contributed to the rising incidence of vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D can also be found in some foods like fortified milk and salmon, though receiving enough vitamin D from your diet is not likely. Vitamin D is measured in the blood, and the optimal level is 30 to 80ng/ml. A vitamin D level between 20 and 30 ng/ml is considered insufficient and at risk for deficiency. If your level is is below 20 ng/ml, you are considered to be vitamin D deficient.
Osteomalacia
Vitamin D deficiency can cause a condition known as osteomalacia, which causes a softening of the bones. In a 2010 study published in the "Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinics of America," vitamin D deficiency has shown to be a cause of osteomalacia, which can cause bone pain, tenderness and muscle weakness in the legs as well as other parts of the body. It can also cause difficulty walking. Treatment with high doses of vitamin D and returning your levels to within optimal range can cure osteomalacia and in most cases reverse the pain and damage that resulted.
Leg Pain and Vitamin D Deficiency
Numerous studies have linked vitamin D deficiency with widespread, otherwise unexplained pain. In a 2009 study published in the "Annals of Rheumatic Diseases," vitamin D deficiency was linked to chronic widespread pain in women, and it's believed that treating the vitamin D deficiency would reduce the pain and the risk of development. A 2001 study published in "Maturitas" showed a connection between vitamin D deficiency and joint pain, such as in the knee, in postmenopausal woman. The lower a woman's vitamin D levels were, the higher the pain level.
Considerations
If you have been treated for leg pain that does not get relief from treatment, this could also be a result of a vitamin D deficiency as well. A 2009 study by the Mayo Clinic showed a connection between vitamin D deficiency and treatment for chronic pain. Patients with low levels of vitamin D were taking as much as twice the pain medication levels as patients with adequate vitamin D. The researchers believe that by correcting the vitamin D deficiency, patients will see a reduction in leg and body pain as well as less need for pain medication. If you suffer from unexplained leg pain, consult with your physician about having your vitamin D levels tested. If your results show you are vitamin D deficient, your doctor will treat you with high doses of vitamin D until your levels are stabilized and then continue with a supplement plan to avoid deficiency.
References
- "Archives of Internal Medicine"; Demographic Differences and Trends of Vitamin D Insufficiency in the US Population, 1988-2004; Adit A. Ginde, MD et al.; March 23, 2009
- "Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinics of America"; Osteomalacia as a Result of Vitamin D Deficiency; A Bhan et el.; June 2010
- MedlinePlus; Osteomalacia; August 31, 2010
- "Annals of Rheumatic Diseases"; Vitamin D and Chronic Widespread Pain in a White Middle-aged British Population: Evidence from a Cross-sectional Population Survey; K Atherton et al.; June 2009
- "Maturitas"; 25-hydroxyvitamin D Concentration, Vitamin D Intake and Joint Symptoms in Postmenopausal Women; RT Chlebowski et al.; January 2011
- Mayo Clinic; Mayo Clinic Researchers Link Vitamin D and Chronic Pain Relief; Bryan Anderson; March 20, 2009
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