Vitamin D plays many important roles in the body, including helping your bones absorb calcium and regulating the levels of phosphorus. A deficiency of vitamin D can contribute to osteoporosis, rickets, increased risk of heart disease and cognitive problems. Vitamin D can also play a role in some forms of muscle weakness. There are many causes of muscle weakness so if you are concerned about your symptoms and vitamin D intake, it is best to speak with your physician who can make a proper diagnosis and decide on the best dosage of vitamin D.
Muscle Weakness
Muscle weakness is a general term that can be used to describe a variety of symptoms. Sometimes muscle weakness is subjective such as feeling weak due to fatigue or a short term illness and in other cases there is an actual loss of muscle strength from an injury or underlying medical condition, says MedlinePlus. An actual loss of strength can have many causes including damage to your nerves, muscles or tissues, an underlying metabolic, neurological or muscular disease, or as a response to toxic substances. The first step in treating muscle weakness is to have the underlying cause properly diagnosed so that you and your doctor can determine if taking vitamin D will help.
Vitamin D Deficiency
Getting adequate levels of vitamin D does more than keep your bones strong. It also plays a role in cell growth and proper functioning of your immune, nervous and muscular system. A vitamin D deficiency can occur due to a poor diet, lack of sunlight or an underlying condition that inhibits your body from digesting it properly. While weak bones or osteomalacia is the main complication of not enough vitamin D, muscle weakness can also be a warning sign and it may accompany bone loss, reports the Office of Dietary Supplements. Bone loss, however, can occur without causing any symptoms. Since muscle weakness can be due to many factors, muscle weakness may not be always be automatically connected with a deficiency of vitamin D. Getting regular bone density tests is the best way to know if your bones are losing strength.
Vitamin D Recommended Intake
To prevent complications, most infants need 400 IU, or 10 micrograms, of vitamin D each day. Children 1 year of age and older and all adults require between 600 IU, or 15 micrograms, to 800 IU, or 20 micrograms, daily. While there are very few foods that naturally contain vitamin D, you can meet your needs by consuming a wide variety of foods that are fortified and getting about 45 minutes of sunlight each week.
The amount of vitamin D you need to treat bone loss or muscle weakness depends on the cause and severity of your condition. In cases in which you are not meeting your daily needs, ensuring that you get 400 IU to 800 IU will help, while in more serious cases dosing can go as high as 5,000 to 10,000 IU or more, notes MayoClinic.com. Consult a physician before supplementing with vitamin D. He will need to run blood tests, review your medical history and monitor your progress in order to find the right dosage.
Side Effects
If your physician prescribes vitamin D supplementation, you will need to be monitored, because too much vitamin D can cause health problems. The University of Maryland Medical Center cites excessive thirst; a metallic taste in the mouth; loss of appetite; weight loss; fatigue; bone and muscle pain; eye soreness, itchy skin; vomiting; diarrhea; constipation and frequent urination as symptoms of excessive vitamin D. Vitamin D supplements need to be used with caution by those with heart conditions, kidney disease or high levels of calcium or phosphorus. Vitamin D supplements can interact with herbal, over-the-counter and prescription medications, so they should only be used under medical supervision.
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