What’s The Connection between Vitamin D and Joint Pain?

by Roshan Jamal Flying digitally

Introduction

Most people will know that vitamin D is a nutrient vital for bone health. Although there have been various studies that show the connection between vitamin D and bone health, a recent one conducted by orthopaedic doctors in Gurgaon at an orthopaedic hospital there shows that low levels of vitamin D can cause muscle and joint pain. In this article, we’ll discuss vitamin D deficiency, its consequences and what the daily intake of vitamin D should be.

Symptoms

Vitamin D deficiency mainly causes bones to soften and become weak. Experts at the orthopaedic hospital in Gurgaon suggest that symptoms of vitamin D deficiency vary from person to person, but common symptoms include:

· Fatigue

· Joint pain

· Muscle pain and weakness

· Bone pain

· Respiratory issues

· Neurological concerns including numbness

· Low mood, specifically seasonal affective disorder (SAD)

Why Does Vitamin D deficiency cause joint pain?

Orthopaedics in Gurgaon explain that vitamin D helps regulate the amount of calcium in the body. This vitamin is crucial for bone health. Thus its deficiency causes bones to become weak and cause conditions such as osteomalacia and osteoporosis in adults and rickets in children. Vitamin D has anti-inflammatory effects and thus plays a role in relieving joint pain, particularly those caused by inflammation.

What Is The Recommended Daily Intake Of Vitamin D and How To Get It?

Recommended Vitamin D intake is 400–800 IU/day, or 10–20 micrograms. However, some studies suggest that a higher daily intake of 1000–4000 IU (25–100 micrograms) is needed to maintain optimal blood levels. Here are some good sources of vitamin D to get your recommended daily intake:

· Sunlight

When exposing bare skin to the sun, the body can make vitamin D from ultraviolet B (UVB) light.

· Food

The following foods are rich in vitamin D and thus should be included in diet.

o Oily fish, such as salmon, mackerel, and tuna

o Fortified milk

o Beef Liver

o Egg yolks

o Mushrooms

o Fortified breakfast cereals

· Supplements

Vegetarians or older adults may struggle to get enough vitamin D through sunlight or diet, especially in winters. They can get their recommended daily intake through vitamin D supplements. These can be found in any drugstore. Too much vitamin D can cause toxicity, so it is best to take supplements only after consulting a doctor.

Looking for orthopaedic treatment for yourself or your loved ones? The best orthopaedic doctor in Gurgaon can be found at the hospital in Gurgaon mentioned above, which is located at C-1, Sushant Lok- 1, Sector-43, Phase- I in Gurgaon (now Gurugram).