Vitamin D - More than just the sunshine vitamin
Did you know that people with vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency were 2.3x more likely to have low back pain than people with normal levels of serum 25-hydroxivitamin D3 concentration?
Vitamin D is one of the most talked about vitamins, but do we really understand why it is so awesome? A little background on Vitamin D first. Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin so that means it is stored in our body fat and absorbs similar to fats that we eat. That is important for people who may have malabsorption issues and could possibly become deficient. Vitamin D has many functions including: gene expression, calcium metabolism, cell growth (immune function), muscle activity, insulin secretion, etc. Vitamin D deficiency can result in rickets, osteomalacia (softening of bones), cancer, autoimmune disease, cardiovascular disease, and fibromyalgia. Some of the symptoms of deficiency include: muscle weakness, low back pain, fatigue, depression, and sensitivity. Some of the risk factors for developing Vitamin D deficiency are dark skin, elderly, fat malabsorption, obesity, etc.
There are plenty of foods that are rich in vitamin D which are pink salmon, sardines, fortified orange juice, and egg yolks to name a few. Other ways to increase your Vitamin D is to spend time in the sunlight, BUT it is important to be mindful when doing this to avoid getting sunburnt. There are also so many different types of supplements on the shelf for Vitamin D, but it is important to make sure that you are buying a supplement from a credible source and it is not filled with additives.
Malady Monday - Vitamin D Edition. Here we chat about what Vitamin D is, health benefits, and what can happen with Vitamin D deficiency.
Bio-DK-Mulsion Supplement
Here in the office we carry Biotics Research which is a pharmaceutical grade supplement line. Stop on it and buy yours today!
Treat Yourself Thursday - Vitamin D edition. Today we talk about different food sources and highlight a Vitamin D rich recipe!
Sources used:
Alghamdi, Shareefa, et al. “Vitamin D Supplementation Ameliorates Severity of Major Depressive Disorder.” Journal of Molecular Neuroscience : MN, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Feb. 2020, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31836995.
“Calcium/Vitamin D Requirements, Recommended Foods & Supplements.” National Osteoporosis Foundation, 26 Feb. 2018, www.nof.org/patients/treatment/calciumvitamin-d/.
Chiang, Chien-Ming, et al. “Effects of Vitamin D Supplementation on Muscle Strength in Athletes: A Systematic Review.” Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Feb. 2017, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27379960.
Cranney, Ann, et al. “Effectiveness and Safety of Vitamin D in Relation to Bone Health.” Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, United States. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Aug. 2007, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18088161.
Martineau, Adrian R, et al. “Vitamin D Supplementation to Prevent Acute Respiratory Tract Infections: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Individual Participant Data.” The BMJ, British Medical Journal Publishing Group, 15 Feb. 2017, www.bmj.com/content/356/bmj.i6583.
Pishgahi A, Dolatkhah N, Shakouri SK, Hashemian M, Amiri A, Reihany MD, Jahanjou F. Lower serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 concentration is associated with higher pain and disability in subjects with low back pain: a case–control study. BMC Research Notes. 2019 Dec 1;12(1):738. Link