Posted on 08/31/2008 8:31:16 PM PDT by neverdem
Low levels of the sunshine vitamin, vitamin D, may contribute to chronic pain among women, scientists believe.
The link does not apply to men, suggesting hormones may be involved, according to a study published in the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases said.
The team from the Institute of Child Health in London said studies were now needed to see if vitamin D supplements can guard against chronic pain.
About one in 10 people are affected by chronic pain at any one time in the UK.
The causes are not well understood and much of the focus to date has been on emotional factors.
Dr Elina Hyppönen and colleagues believe, at least in women, vitamin D levels could play a role in some cases of chronic pain.
Sunshine vitamin
The nutrient, essential for healthy bones, is produced in the body when exposed to sunlight and is also found in oily fish, egg yolks and margarine.
Among the 7,000 men and women aged 45 from across England, Scotland and Wales that they studied, those who were smokers, non-drinkers, the overweight and the underweight all reported higher rates of chronic pain.
Among the women, vitamin D levels also appeared to be important.
This finding was not explained by gender differences in lifestyle or social factors, such as levels of physical activity and time spent outdoors, say the authors.
Women with vitamin D levels between 75 and 99 mmol/litre - a level deemed necessary for bone health - had the lowest rates of this type of pain, at just over 8%.
Women with levels of less than 25 mmol/litre had the highest rates, at 14.4%.
Severe lack of vitamin D in adults can lead to the painful bone disease osteomalacia.
But the researchers said osteomalacia did not account for their findings.
Dr Hyppönen said work...
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...
Vitamin D 400 IU equals 10 mcg (micrograms)
Cholecalciferol is vitamin D3. It has the most activity of the vitamin D supplements according to what I've read. P.S. 1000 micrograms equals 1 milligram.
I take 800 IU of Vitamin D (D3) daily.
With all the Palin news lately, I thought the headline said “Palin linked with low vitamin D”... :)
That will be tomorrows headline on the Kos.
Very true, especially in the Great Lakes region. If your doctor hasn’t tested you, ask him/her to do it. I know of someone who had to take a couple of pharmacy-dispensed large dose Vitamin D treatments - the first round barely brought the level up.
After mom died of pancreatic cancer I read articles saying take 400 IU per day to help prevent this type of cancer. Then the doc on Fox said take 800 to help ward off several types of cancer. I saw my internist a few days ago and she said it’s now 800-1000. I upped from 400 to 800 and just bought a bottle of 1000. BTW, my knees have hurt for years, perhaps due to all the stairs in my apartment when I lived in LA. I hired a personal trainer and they haven’t gotten better. It sucks.
Me, too. Heeheehee
I figure they’re blaming her for everything else...
Palin Derangement Syndrome is on the rise.
My doctor has me taking vitamin D supplements. She is gung-ho on it’s healing properties. My levels were low and I’ve had several health problems in the last couple of years, mostly related to arthritis and chronic pain. I’m a 35 year old male. So far I haven’t noticed any difference since taking it (about 4 months).
My doc diagnosed me with low vit-D in my blood and she put me on 50,000 IU (!) pills, once a week... seems high, but it gives me a crazy burst of energy that I didn’t have before.
At first glance I thought the same thing.
Have you tried Carlson’s Lemon flavored Cod Liver Oil? We take 2 TBSP per day. Has more than Vit D, like DHA that your joints need.
Yep, take it every day. It’s good stuff, I get it on vitacost.com cheaper than I can find it anywhere.
bump
Another happy vitacost customer. Go vitacost!
I too read it as ‘Palin’. Time for me to go see the inside of my eyelids.
There have been so many Vice President threads I thought you were talking about the governor of Alaska, and did a double-take.
Thanks for the info, will pass it on to Mrs. Whiskers!
Cheers!
Ester C can cure arthritis. I know. I did it. Use the Ester C as you would pain medication. It makes you healthier, too.
I’m a big fan of Vitamin D, but with Cod Liver Oil, be careful of Vitamin A toxicity.
Yes, I know...but, I’m fully informed.....I’m a patient of Dr. Jonathan Wright....
I’m glad I wasn’t the only one.
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