The connection between fibromyalgia and
vitamin D deficiency is becoming stronger
as more research studies are linking the
muscular pain and weakness, experienced
by fibromyalgia patients, to an insufficient
intake or poor absorption of vitamin D
in the body. Studies have also shown that
Vitamin D can help reduce fibro-fog, improve
immune function, and support healthy bone
formation. All necessary for those suffering
from fibromyalgia.
Vitamin D: Aches and Pains
Fibromyalgia, as well as generalized aches and pains
not meeting the diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia
have been attributed by some researchers to vitamin
D deficiency. For example, a large German study examined
994 people and found a strong correlation between
low vitamin D levels and higher rates and longer duration
of generalized bone and/or muscle aches and pains.
A study published in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings
examined 150 people with persistent, non-specific
musculoskeletal pain in Minnesota. The researchers
found that 93% of them had deficient levels of vitamin
D.
Furthermore, in another study, vitamin D levels
were assessed in 75 people who fulfilled the American
College of Rheumatology criteria for fibromyalgia.
Although there was no relationship between vitamin
D levels and musculoskeletal symptoms, vitamin D deficiency
was linked to anxiety and depression in people with
fibromyalgia.
Vitamin D3, Fibromyalgia and Cognition
Fibromyalgia sufferers frequently complain of cognitive
problems or "fibrofog." The existence of
these symptoms has been confirmed by studies of the
incidence of cognitive problems in fibromyalgia patients
and by the results of objective tests of metamemory,
working memory, semantic memory, everyday attention,
task switching, and selective attention.
The results of these tests show that fibromyalgia
patients have impairments in working, episodic, and
semantic memory that mimic about 20 years of aging.
These patients have particular difficulty with memory
when tasks are complex and their attention is divided.
Cognitive symptoms in these patients may be exacerbated
by the presence of depression, anxiety, sleep problems,
endocrine disturbances, and pain, but the relationship
of these factors to cognitive problems in fibromyalgia
patients is unclear.
According to a study published in the Journal of
Neurology,
Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry:
Thinking or cognitive impairments in elderly men
are shown in new research to be associated with low
Vitamin D levels. A study of three thousand European
men, 40-79 yrs. old, demonstrated that people with
reduced amounts of Vitamin D in their body did not
score as well on a cognitive ability standardized
test (assessment of individual’s attention and
speed of information processing) as others did with
standard levels of Vitamin D.
Their average level of Vitamin D among the elderly
men was 63 nanomoles per liter. However, 90-140 nanomoles
per liter is usually deemed as optimal. Men over age
60 with Vitamin D levels below 35 nanomoles per liter
strongly illustrated less cognitive presentation.
Research is still being conducted to see if Vitamin
D supplementation can definitely improve cognition.
SOURCE: Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry,
May 21, 2009 online issue
Vitamin D3 and Immunity
Some researchers believe that there is an autoimmune
component involved in fibromyalgia conditions. Vitamin
D is a nutrient that helps regulate hundreds of genes,
including those involving the body’s immunity.
A study that appeared in the Archives of Internal
Medicine, found that people with the lowest blood
levels of this nutrient reported a significant increase
in recent cases of colds and flu.
Until the 1980’s no one understood the role
that Vitamin D played in the functioning of the immune
system. However, current studies are beginning to
show the link between low vitamin D levels during
the winter months and one’s decreased immunity
and susceptibility to colds and flu.
According to Michael Holick, a vitamin D researcher
at Boston University School of Medicine, “immune
cells have a vitamin D receptor, and that the cells
activate vitamin D as a response to infection…First
it is used by immune cells to fight a virus. Then,
it helps temper the overall immune response and limit
inflammation.”
Vitamin D3 Contraindications, Interactions, and
Side-Effects
Before taking any high-potency vitamin D product,
if you have any heart or kidney disease, or if you
are taking Digitalis, Orlistat (Xenical), Cholestyramine
(Questran), or antacids with aluminum, please check
with your health care provider before taking this
product.
While vitamin D toxicity is much rarer than vitamin
D deficiency, you should be aware of symptoms that
may happen if you are taking too much vitamin D. These
would include breathing problems, tightness in throat
or chest, skin hives, rash, or itchy or swollen skin.
If you experience any of these symptoms stop taking
this product for several days. If symptoms do not
stop, then it probably isn’t the vitamin D that
is causing these symptoms and other possible causes
need to be investigated. If symptoms stop, reintroduce
the product by taking half of what you were previously
taking. If you are not sure if these symptoms are
related to your vitamin D intake, please consult with
a health care professional, especially when it comes
to tightness in the chest.
Supplement Facts
Capsules per Container: 200 Tablets - 1,000 IU
Serving Size: Two (2) Tablets
Servings per Container: 100
Suggested Use: One to two tablets daily with a meal,
or as directed by your health care professional.
Supplement Facts for 1000 1,000
IU Tablet
Serving Size: Two tablets |
Amount per Serving |
% Daily Value |
| Vitamin D-3 (as
cholecalciferol) |
|
|
|
Other Ingredients: microcrystalline
cellulose and stearic acid.
Contains no yeast, dairy, egg, gluten,
soy, wheat, sugar, starch, salt, preservatives, or
artificial color, flavor, or fragrance.
WARNING:
If you are pregnant, may become pregnant, breastfeeding,
have kidney, parathyroid, or any lung disease, cancer,
and/or are taking any prescription medication, consult
your physician before taking this product. Do not
exceed a total of 2,000 IU of vitamin D per day from
all sources, including multivitamins and fortified
milk. Do not use if either tamper-evident seal is
broken or missing. Keep out of the reach of children.
The Benefits of Vitamin D3
Sunlight is the source of life on Earth,
but we may not be aware of all the ways it benefits
us. Our bodies manufacture vitamin D-3 when the skin
is exposed to UV radiation from sunlight, but the
ability to do so decreases as we age.
Vitamin D-3 maintains healthy calcium
and phosphorus levels in the body for strong bones;
it increases muscle strength in older adults; and
it also plays an active role in a healthy immune response.
Vitamin D-3 (cholecalciferol) is the optimal form
of vitamin D. It is the form of vitamin D that the
body manufactures in sunlight, and the form most efficient
for the body’s needs.
Why We Need Vitamin
D
New research indicates that our modern indoor lifestyles
may lead to a widespread increase in vitamin D deficiency.
Nicknamed the “sunshine vitamin” because
the body makes it naturally when exposed to the sun,
scientists are discovering that vitamin D-3 is an
important hormone precursor that helps support the
immune system and helps regulate the health of at
least 20 different tissues, including the brain and
joints.
Vitamin D-3 also plays an important role in regulating
cell growth, insulin levels, and bone formation. Researchers
are finding that the current recommended daily allowances
of vitamin D — ranging from 200 international
units for infants, children and adults up to age 50
years; 400 IU for men and women from 50 to 70; and
600 IU for people older than 70 — may be far
lower than what is necessary for optimum health.
Vitamin D-3 addresses seven of the twelve
metabolic systems of the body, systems crucial
to vibrant health. For example:
- Cells/DNA
- Inflammation Response
- Metabolism
- Hormones
- Cognition/Nerves
- Immunity
- Structure/Connective
Deficiency Is Widespread
Vitamin D insufficiency may be quite common in places
far from the equator and researchers estimate that
50% of Americans may have less vitamin D than they
need. Today’s teens also have less exposure
to direct sunlight and have switched from drinking
vitamin D fortified milk to soda. Puberty is a very
critical time when up to half of a person’s
adult bone mass is being deposited, and vitamin D
helps ensure that people have normal blood levels
of calcium for this important process. New research
estimates that 30 percent of adolescents nationwide
may be vitamin D deficient.
Deficiency Risk for African Americans
People of African descent require up to 30 minutes
sun exposure three times weekly during summer on the
face, arms, and hands, while very fair-skinned Caucasian
people require 5-10 minutes. African-Americans have
the highest risk for vitamin D deficiency because
dark skin needs 5 to 10 times more sunlight than Caucasian
skin to produce the same amount of the vitamin. One
study found that 42 percent of African-American women
in the U.S. were vitamin D deficient.
While the use of sunscreen is imperative for skin
health, sunscreen that is sun protection factor 8
(SPF 8) or greater blocks 95% of the UVB light needed
for the skin to synthesize vitamin D.
Deficiency Risk for Older Adults
Older adults may also be at particularly high risk:
After age 50 the requirement for vitamin D doubles
because the body is less able to make its own vitamin
D. In a report in the Journal of the American Geriatrics
Society in February 2004, researchers at the University
of Basel in Switzerland showed that elderly women
who took a vitamin D supplement plus calcium for three
months reduced their risk of falling by 49% compared
with consuming calcium alone. Those women who had
fallen repeatedly in the past seemed to gain the most
benefit from vitamin D.
Healthy Cell
Proliferation
Vitamin D research is an emerging area of interest
for scientists, who have yet to understand the many
roles of this important vitamin in the body. While
vitamin D’s main function is to maintain normal
levels of calcium and phosphorus in the blood, vitamin
D also serves as a hormone precursor. Once it has
been converted into its active form, it can enter
a cell, cross the nuclear membrane, attach to specific
receptors on the DNA or its protein wrapping, and
promote cell differentiation. Vitamin D is one of
the body’s many control systems, acting like
an emergency brake to stop cells from perilously misbehaving.
Important Immune Booster
Against Colds and Flu
Vitamin D is a nutrient that helps regulate hundreds
of genes, including those involving the body’s
innate immunity and its defenses against viruses,
especially those affecting the respiratory system.
Until the 1980’s no one understood the role
that Vitamin D played in the functioning of the immune
system. However, current studies are beginning to
show the link between low vitamin D levels during
the winter months and one’s decreased immunity
and susceptibility to colds and flu.
According to Michael Holick, a vitamin D researcher
at Boston University School of Medicine, “immune
cells have a vitamin D receptor, and that the cells
activate vitamin D as a response to infection…First
it is used by immune cells to fight a virus. Then,
it helps temper the overall immune response and limit
inflammation.”
A report of the largest study regarding the association
between vitamin D and respiratory infections appeared
in the Archives of Internal Medicine. This study found
that people with the lowest blood levels of this nutrient
reported a significant increase in recent cases of
colds and flu.
Vitamin D and Bone Health
It is estimated that over 25 million adults in the
United States have, or are at risk of developing,
weakened bones as they age. Having normal storage
levels of vitamin D in the body helps keep bones strong,
especially in elderly, non-ambulatory individuals,
and post-menopausal women.
Vitamin D and Blood
Pressure
Vitamin D may also support healthy blood pressure.
Scientists noticed that blood pressure levels vary
with the season—they tend to be highest during
autumn and lower during the warmer months of spring
and summer.
Researchers studied people’s blood pressure
and the levels of vitamin D in their blood and discovered
a connection between higher vitamin D levels and decreased
blood pressure. The body controls blood pressure through
the renin-angiotensin system, with high renin levels
leading to increased blood pressure. Cutting edge
research has shown that vitamin D regulates renin
levels through genetics, which may be the critical
way in which this vitamin supports cardiovascular
health.
Further Reading
Am
I Vitamin D Deficient?
Nutritional
Aspects of Vitamin D
Vitamin
D Research
Phys
Ed: Can Vitamin D Improve Your Athletic Performance?
Vitamin
D Pills May Prevent Fractures in Older Adults
Aging:
Vitamin D Levels Tied to Dementia Risk
American
Children Vitamin D Deficient
Contraindications,
Interactions, and Side-Effects for Vitamin D
Before taking any high-potency vitamin D product,
if you have any heart or kidney disease, or if you
are taking Digitalis, Orlistat (Xenical), Cholestyramine
(Questran), or antacids with aluminum, please check
with your health care provider before taking this
product.
While vitamin D toxicity is much rarer than vitamin
D deficiency, you should be aware of symptoms that
may happen if you are taking too much vitamin D. These
would include breathing problems, tightness in throat
or chest, skin hives, rash, or itchy or swollen skin.
If you experience any of these symptoms stop taking
this product for several days. If symptoms do not
stop, then it probably isn’t the vitamin D that
is causing these symptoms and other possible causes
need to be investigated. If symptoms stop, reintroduce
the product by taking half of what you were previously
taking. If you are not sure if these symptoms are
related to your vitamin D intake, please consult with
a health care professional, especially when it come
to tightness in the chest.
Manufactured by Source Naturals
References
Argiles, A. 2002. Blood pressure is correlated with
vitamin D3 serum levels in dialysis
patients. Blood Purif: 20(4):370-5.
Borissova, A-M. The effect of vitamin D3 on insulin
secretion and peripheral insulin
sensitivity in type 2 diabetic patients. IJCP 2003:57(4):
258-261.
Hung, M. Higher Vitamin D Intake Associated With
Lower Risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis. Medscape Medical
News Jan. 9, 2004 Li YC. 2003.
Vitamin D regulation of the rennin-angiotensin system.
J Cell Biochem 2003:88(2):327-31.
Wiley Interscience. Merlino, L. Vitamin D intake
is inversely associated with rheumatoid arthritis:
results from the Iowa women’s health study.
Arthritis and Rheumatism 2004(1):72-77.
American College of Rheumatology, 2004. Monger, KL.
Vitamin D intake and incidence
of multiple sclerosis. Neurology 2004:62(1):60-65.
AAN Enterprises, Inc. Rucker, D. Vitamin D insufficiency
in a population of healthy western Canadians. CMAJ
2002: 166(12): 1517-1524.
