Vitamin D Reduces Back Pain and Osteoporosis

by
Melanie Grimes
See all articles by this
author
Email
this author

(NaturalNews) Vitamin D is known to build strong
bones. Research has now shown its effectiveness in reducing back pain as well as
in preventing osteoporosis. Vitamin D is important in maintaining the healthy
calcium and phosphorus levels that are needed to build healthy bones and teeth.
Known as “the sunshine vitamin” because it is produced in the body when exposed
to sun, new evidence shows that vitamin D has an analgesic effect on chronic
musculoskeletal pain, functioning as a hormone in various
tissues.

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble micronutrient. It is available in
some foods, but one of the best ways to obtain vitamin D is via exposure to
ultraviolet rays (UVB) in sunlight, absorbed through the skin. Many people are
deficient in this nutrient. Sun exposure north of New York and San Francisco,
even in the summer months, is not effective in producing vitamin D in the skin
because the rays are not strong enough, so supplementation is
required.

Though it is called a vitamin, its function is actually a
prohormone. Food sources of vitamin D are small boned fish and grains.
Deficiency of vitamin D causes rickets.

In 22 studies of vitamin D,
conducted with 3,670 participants, 48% to 100% of those with musculoskeletal
pain displayed vitamin D deficiencies. With supplementation, almost all reported
a lessening or complete elimination of bone and muscle pain. Another study of
360 participants with back pain showed that all had insufficient levels of
vitamin D, and 95% showed relief after three months of supplementation, assuming
there was no injury, such as a slipped disc. A study at the University of
Minnesota noted that the majority of those with severe deficiency were under the
age of 30. Studies of over 40,000 participants taking vitamin D showed a
reduction in hip fractures by 18%.

Most researches agree that the current
guideline for vitamin D consumption (600 IU) is insufficient. New guidelines
suggest 2400 IU to 2800 IU daily. Others suggest intake of up to 4,000 IU a day
along with 1,000 mg of calcium, to help build bones. There are few drug
interactions, and few instances of overdosing. Dosages of 50,000 over an
extended period of time are not recommended.

Vitamin D supplementation is
inexpensive, costing pennies a day. With eight out of ten people reporting back
pain in their lifetimes, vitamin D supplementation is a must. This simple
nutritional supplement can inexpensively prevent and maintain healthy bones and
muscle tone.

www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/re…. html –
www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/1…
http://pain-topics.org/pdf/vitamind…

About the author

Melanie Grimes is a writer, award-winning screenwriter,
medical journal editor, and adjunct faculty member at Bastyr University. She
also teaches homeopathy at the Seattle School of Homeopathy and the American
Homeopathic Medical College.
A trained homeopath, she is the editor of the
homeopathic journal, Simillimum, and has edited alternative and integrative
medical journals for 15 years. She has taught creative writing, founded the
first Birkenstock store in the USA and authored medical textbooks.
Her ebook
on Natural Remedies for the Flu is available at:
http://melanie-grimes.blogspot.com/…
Follow her blog
at
http://melanie-grimes.blogspot.com/
www.melaniegrimes.com