Vitamin D is a key nutrient that you produce naturally in your body and obtain from your diet. Because this vitamin is necessary for strong bones, supplementing may help alleviate certain neck pain symptoms in some people. Consult a physician or health care professional before taking any dietary supplement to treat a medical condition.
Vitamin D
Your body uses vitamin D to help maintain your skeletal system by aiding in the absorption of calcium and phosphorous, according to Colorado State University. You get vitamin D by eating foods such as oily fish and dairy products, but also by getting sun exposure. Your body naturally synthesizes the vitamin once your skin is exposed to the sun. About 15 to 20 minutes daily is all that's needed.
Neck Pain
Neck pain is typically caused by muscles in the neck and can result from common activities such as bad posture or arthritis. Mayo Clinic.com reports that neck pain accompanied by other symptoms such as shooting pain in your shoulder or arm, numbness in your hands or arms or an inability to touch your chin to your chest can indicate a more significant medical problem, one for which you should seek immediate medical care.
Vitamin D and Neck Pain
Vitamin D's key role in your body comes in relation to your body's bones. If you don't get enough vitamin D as a child, you can develop rickets, a medical condition in which your bones do not form correctly. As an adult, a lack of vitamin D can lead you to develop osteomalacia, a bone condition in which your bones and muscled are weakened. A severe vitamin D deficiency may lead to pain in your bones and muscles, including those in your neck.
Vitamin D and Breast Cancer
If you have breast cancer and are experiencing neck pain, you may benefit from high doses of vitamin D. According to a 2011 study from the Siteman Cancer Center and Washington University School of Medicine, breast cancer patients using drugs known as aromatase inhibitors experienced a decrease in muscle pain symptoms when they took weekly doses of vitamin D. The participants took vitamin D-2 supplements, a form of the vitamin that is produced by plants.
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