Traumatic injury can occur for a number of reasons. An automobile accident, a physical assault, an unfortunate fall or a sport-related incident can all cause injuries ranging from mild to debilitating. Certain groups of people are at a higher risk of injury than others, but regardless of the victim's age or cause of injury, vitamin D status appears to influence the incidence of injury as well as the rate of recovery.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is manufactured in the human body when bare skin is exposed to sunlight. Your body needs vitamin D to absorb calcium, a mineral essential to bone structure, muscle function and cardiovascular health. According to the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University, vitamin D deficiency can cause muscle weakness and pain and low bone-mineral density in both adults and children. Studies have revealed a correlation between the incidence of traumatic injuries and vitamin D status.
Traumatic Muscle Injury
Traumatic injury is an inherent risk in an active lifestyle. A report by the Children's Hospital at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center revealed that 3.5 million American children aged 14 and under sustain some form of traumatic injury each year while participating in sports or recreational activities. A 2010 study of 90 NFL football players found that vitamin D deficiency in some players correlated with a higher rate of muscle injuries over the course of the playing season. A 2011 study published in "Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise" found college athletes to exhibit seasonal deficiencies of vitamin D in winter months, leading to a higher risk of illness.
Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic injuries to muscles and bones are often accompanied by traumatic brain injury, or TBI, resulting in a concussion or worse. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, upward of 1.7 million Americans suffer traumatic brain injury each year. Children younger than 4, teenagers ages 15 to 19 and adults over age 65 are most at risk for TBI. A 2010 study conducted in the Netherlands found vitamin D therapy to be effective in treating the chronic fatigue suffered by about two-thirds of post-TBI victims.
Vitamin D and the Elderly
In the elderly, insufficient vitamin D can lead to muscle weakness, bone demineralization and osteoporosis. Fragile bones coupled with poor balance and vision issues can be a recipe for debilitating fractures consequent to traumatic falls. For many seniors, a fracture means less independence, a diminished quality of life and the beginning of a gradual decline in health due to reduced physical activity. Inadequate exposure to sunlight, poor nutrition and pharmaceutical drugs may all be factors contributing to vitamin D deficiency in senior citizens.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Traumatic Brain Injury in the United States: Emergency Department Visits, Hospitalizations and Deaths 2002-2006
- Science Daily; Vitamin D Deficiency Associated With Chronic Fatigue in Brain Injured Patients; April 2010
- Dr. David Geier; Vitamin D Deficiency in Athletes May Be Associated with Muscle Injuries; July 2011
- "Medical Science in Sports and Exercise"; Vitamin D Status Relative to Diet, Lifestyle, Injury, and Illness in College Athletes; T.M. Halliday, et al.; February 2011
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Children's Hospital: Sports Injury Statistics
- Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Information Center: Vitamin D
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