I have been checking Vitamin D Levels on select patients for about 1 year now. I was surprised to find that more than 75% of those that I checked were moderately to severely deficient in Vitamin D, and this is in Southern California where we have sunshine 340 days a year.
(visit www.vitamind-prescription.com for more about vitamin D. Also, read the new book:
I noticed that my patients with fibromyalgia were deficient of Vitamin D, 100% of the time. The more severe the fibromyalgia, the lower the Vitamin D levels. I then looked up Vitamin D Deficiency in my Merck Manual. The signs of Vitamin D Deficiency were muscle aches (myalgias), joint pains (arthralgias) and generalized fatigue. Could this be a cause of their fibromyalgia? I started treating my patients with about 2000 IU of Vitamin D daily. A few patients have reported feeling better, others have not. I am still collecting data and will keep you posted. Many other studies have shown that vitamin D deficiency has also been associated with osteoporosis, colon cancer, breast cancer and other maladies.
So how do you get Vitamin D? Increase your sunlight exposure! Everyone is too afraid of skin cancer so they are avoiding the sun. Are we contributing to more colon and breast cancers than preventing skin cancers? If you choose to supplement, most will need 1000-2000 IU. The recommended 400 IU of Vitamin D is too low.
To check your Vitamin D levels, have your doctor order a Vitamin D 25-OH Level.
addendum: May 13th, 2008- It is important that you take Vitamin D3, not regular Vitamin D as its not as potent. I have seen favorable results in patients, including a drug rep whose pains have diminished significantly..
Below is an article from NewsTarget
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(NewsTarget) Insufficient intake of vitamin D may lead to decreased physical strength, increased muscle weakness and increased risk of disability in older women and men, according to a new study published in the Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences.
Because vitamin D deficiency is widespread, the researchers have suggested that increasing vitamin D intake may help older adults decrease their risk of disability and maintain better muscle strength and physical performance.
Researchers measured the serum levels of 25-hydroxy-vitamin D for 976 adults over the age of 64. They also took measures of grip strength — which is a good predictor of the risk of future disability — and physical performance.
Twenty-nine percent of the women and 14 percent of the men participating were found to be vitamin D deficient, as measured by their blood levels. Compared to the participants with normal vitamin D levels, these people scored 5 to 10 percent lower on measures of grip strength and physical performance. This correlation was found to be independent of other factors, including the participant’s activity level, mental function, weight and overall health.
Vitamin D is an essential nutrient that the body produces upon exposure to sunlight — as little as 15 to 30 minutes, depending on skin color, latitude and time of year. It is known to be essential for bone health, but recent studies have suggested that it also plays an important role in protecting against cancer, diabetes, tuberculosis and even the common cold.
The current recommended daily allowance for vitamin D, however, is based upon the levels needed to merely maintain healthy bones — a level that many researchers believe may be lower than that needed for other health benefits.
According to researcher Denise K. Houston of the Wake Forest University of Medicine in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, “Higher amounts of vitamin D may be needed for the preservation of muscle strength and physical function as well as other conditions such as cancer prevention.”
Because of this, many scientists are now recommending a daily intake of 2000 IU, rather than the currently recommended 400 IU.
BOOK: Vitamin D Prescription: The Healing Power of the Sun & How It Can Save Your Life-
Reference: Vitamin D deficiency accelerates aging in the elderly,
19 responses so far ↓
Edward Hutchinson // December 10, 2007 at 1:50 pm |
You do not say the form of Vitamin D you are using. http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/full/84/4/694
The case against ergocalciferol (vitamin D2) as a vitamin supplement explains why the form most often prescribed may not be utilised by some people and is generally only a quarter to a third as effective as Cholecalciferol.
You do not also say the skin colour of those not responding to vitamin D. If they have darker skin maybe the amount of vitamin d3 provided is insufficient. See Higher Vitamin D Supplements Advised for Older Black Women http://www.medpagetoday.com/Endocrinology/GeneralEndocrinology/tb/7619 where you will see 100 μg/d (4000 IU) may be needed for those with a low concentration.
A reminder that 5minutes full body (or as near to as possible) when your shadow is shorter than your height enables your body to store about 1000iu. So 4000iu could be made given 20minutes sun exposure. Our bodies can store roughly 10,000iu/daily given sensible NON BURNING sun exposure. Sunscreen sunblock sunprotection factor cosmetics will of course prevent UVB creating Vitamin D3.
Eric // December 10, 2007 at 3:23 pm |
Good point, I have been recommending “regular” Vitamin D but perhaps I will change to Vitamin D3. The patients I have with the deficiency are mostly caucasian while a few are Latinas/African-American.
Vitamin D Deficiency and Fibromyalgia « Fibro Spot // August 24, 2008 at 5:26 pm |
[...] Sure enough, when the results came back my Vitamin D level was incredibly low*. Less than half of the low-end of normal. Eek. My doctor prescribed some heavy-duty Vitamin D supplements. Two months in, and I feel a difference. I don’t think I’m into the normal levels just yet, but I’ve noticed I can go longer between taking pain medication and I have more energy. My doctor has reported similar affects for her other patients. Other physicians have noted similar results. [...]
Daryl Saari // October 6, 2008 at 8:03 pm |
I found this info very useful, and will tell my wife about this and everything that Vitamin D offers that i cannot provide here at this time . Thank you!
Jarret Morrow // October 22, 2008 at 12:59 pm |
Hi, interesting post on Vitamin D deficiency and Fibromyalgia. I did a blog post in April citing a recent research study that suggests that Vitamin D deficiency is common in both hospitalized patients as well as outpatients. I look forward to seeing the results of your work.
Cheers,
Jarret Morrow, MD
Tabitha // October 27, 2008 at 12:48 pm |
I am absolutly shocked!!! My whole family has dealt with degenerative diseases and fibromyalgia for many years! OUr doctors have has many of us on narcotics and all sorts of other meds. to mask this pain we have. I am going to get my Vitamin D levels checked. My aunt, who has been dealing with pain for 15 plus years went to her doc and her doc sent her to her husband who is a reumitoligist(i am pretty sure i spelled that wrong)and he tested her Vitamin D level and she was severly deficient of this vitamin. My family is so hopeful at this discovery! If this is what we have been missing in our life. I believe we have been done a HUGE injustice for many years. I myself along with all of my aunts, my mother and grandmother have been suffering for a combined time span of 60 plus years. I pray that this new discovery will help all of us. My aunt is now taking 50,000 IU of Vitamin D every week for 20 weeks. PLease oif you have fibromyalgia go get your Vitamin D levels checked and see what happens. I will update after I go to the doctor!
Tabitha
Fibromyalgia and Vitamin D, Is there a connection? « Vitamin D REVOLUTION // January 27, 2009 at 11:26 pm |
[...] addendum: May 13th, 2008- It is important that you take Vitamin D3, not regular Vitamin D as its not as potent. I have seen favorable results in patients, including a drug rep whose pains have diminished significantly…read more here…. [...]
jk // July 1, 2009 at 9:58 am |
at the end of your article it says to “read more here…[...] So, how is where to I go to read more? If I click at the top of your article, it takes me to further links about drug companies. ‘Not interested in that! Thanks.
Andrew // April 11, 2009 at 11:58 am |
I am very interested in your continued findings with your patients with fibromyalgia symptoms and the use of Vit D. I have FMS myself and am not even 30. Do you still recommend Vit D3 form? Have you continued to get good results treating FMS patients with Vit D3? Thanks for your posting and being open to supplements.
Indrani // May 13, 2009 at 11:56 am |
I have been suffering with fibromyalgia for about 16 yrs. Got diagnosed only 4 years ago. My vitamin D levels are low and my doctor has started me on 2000IU of vitamin D. Not sure why this was not tested earlier. I think as more and more doctors accept Fibromyalgia as a disease, they are looking more into it. Hopefully this will help me.
Janette // May 22, 2009 at 6:49 pm |
I”ve had fibromyalgia for about 35 yrs, or longer. I have never been tested for Vitamin D ever. As I got older,, my pain got, gets, worse,,so now I”m taking a narcotic and have been for 8 yrs. To think all these yearss,, if Iam low on Vit. D,,which I probably am,,and will find out the next time I go to the dr. I could’ve been taking the supplement,,and maybe less pain killers.
I cannot wait to get checked,,,and I”m so happy I came across this!!! Thankyou ever so much!!
healthandsurvival // May 24, 2009 at 8:58 pm |
Please let me know how your testing comes out. Also, after you supplement, let me know what benefit, if any, you get-
I have written a book about vitamin D entitled Vitamin D Prescription…. visit amazon.com for more information.
Eric Madrid
Vitamin D Deficiency // June 30, 2009 at 10:08 am |
I think the best source of vitamin D is a combination of ample sunlight, vitamins, and a little bit of milk. Too much of one source can be a detriment to one’s health with potential skin and stomach problems
Pansy // August 15, 2009 at 3:37 am |
I have suffered from muscle, etc. pain for about 30 years. After many years, I discovered the connection between phosphates and fibromyalgia pain. At the time I was drinking AT LEAST 1 bottle of Diet Coke daily. At that point, it was painful just to turn my head around. Ibuprofen did not stop the pain, although I was taking it daily. I stopped drinking Diet Coke, which made a dramatic improvement in the amount of pain I had. I tried to avoid phosphates, but when I didn’t, the pain came back with a vengeance. Also, I discovered the benefits of magnesium. I continued have some pain, when I would indulge in phosphates or not take my magnesium on a regular basis. I continued to need OTC and, sometimes, RX pain meds intermittently.
For the past couple of months, I have noticed that I rarely have “the pain” and rarely take pain meds. When I do, it’s for my sore knees (I had double knee replacement surgeries, and, although it has made an unbelievable difference in my lifestyle and quality of life, I still have a little soreness occasionally), or for sinus headaches. I have not taken magnesium on a regular basis, because I have not had “the pain” to remind me that I needed it. I have tried to figure out what I have been doing differently. This morning, while putting my pills in my weekly pill box, I realized what it was. Everyday, I take 4000 U of Vitamin D3, plus a prescription folate, (which was added to make my antidepressant work better). I had been tested for vitamin D levels several months ago, and found that I was severely deficient (my level was 10.)
I got on the internet to see if there was a connection between vitamin D and fibromyalgia, and found your website. I thought you might find this helpful. I am not sure what role the folate has played in my improvement, but I understand there might be a connection with it and fibromyalgia, also. Sorry to be so long winded.
Hillary // October 22, 2009 at 2:04 pm |
Pansy,
I just want to thank you for your information reference to Vitamin D3 and folate. I have fibromyalgia and chronic fatique and there are days I hardly can get out of the bed. I’ve been to many Dr’s and homeopathic people and nothing seems to work. I will definitely try the Vitamin D3.
Thanks so much again,
Hillary
Lynn // November 30, 2009 at 9:57 pm |
Your symptoms sound like mine. I’ve had fibro type symptoms for over 20 years. Dx finally a couple of years ago. Dr. wanted to put me on an antidepressant for it as it can be effective, but I declined. Recently, fibro pain and fatigue was getting much worse, and my sinuses were killing me. I quit all dairy (I love all dairy), started taking a decongestant twice a day, and started sitting in the sun and taking Vit D3, 2,000 IU daily. In the first two days I noticed a huge difference in my pain level. My pain is about 1/2 or less already (five days in), strength has increased, energy has increased, and I feel SO much better overall. I am reading all I can about the connection between fibromyalgia and Vit D/sunlight. I live in Florida but get no real sun because it’s hot a lot, and my fatigue and pain made me want to not walk or get outdoors much. My diet is good, but I can’t get enough Vit D that way. We really need to be spreading the word. I am, but some people just turn it off. Thanks for listening. Lynn
wileaspelex // November 9, 2009 at 10:41 pm |
Hi,
Just new to here, just want to say hellow to every one.
jenn // December 6, 2009 at 9:12 am |
Make sure that you take D3 and not the prescription 50,000 IU that a doctor might prescribe. The 50,000 IU one is D2, which will not be helpful in the long term. Also if you have a deficiency, taking 10,000 D3 is a good way to get back in the normal range, at least above 50 ng/ml. Once you are in the normal range, you can see what will keep you there–it might be 2000 IU a day or 5000.
Chelsea Reed // January 10, 2010 at 5:38 pm |
About a month ago I asked my doctor about Vitamin D after a friend told me his wife was trying it for her FMS. Like all of us with this terrible chronic disease, the pain and emotional turmoil has left me feeling extremely helpless. Nothing consistently works! Although I have suffered from fatigue and pain since a child (I am now 34) my parents were continually told those symptoms were likely due to having Hepatitis A at age 5 followed by a head injury at age 7. I have been called a hypochondriac for as long as I can remember. Now that I am an adult and was officially diagnosed with depression I can say with certainty I’ve been depressed for almost 30 years.
I could write a novel here about my journey with FMS, but I will spare you the frustration of hearing about one doctor after another saying either “I don’t know” or “you have to learn how to deal with the pain.” In summary, I am a single mother of two young daughters and currently disabled for the 2nd time since 2007. A year ago I was working on a Master’s Degree and started an amazing job. After 3 months I became too sick to work again. I’ve been under the care of two excellent medical professionals for almost 2 years. Two rheumatologists have separately diagnosed me with Fibromyalgia since 2006. The reality is that the lack of medical research and knowledge in the area of chronic pain & fatigue denies its patients a quality life. The GREAT NEWS is we have hope for proper treatment.
My doctor started me on 50,000 IU of Vitamin D twice a week in mid-December. I misread the dose & took 2 per day until I had taken 6 capsules. Other than a bad stomach ache I had more energy the following 3 days than in a long, long time. After reading this blog I plan to ask him to consider Vitamin D3 instead. HOPE!! If you haven’t heard about The Whittemore Peterson Institute in Reno, NV I highly recommend checking out their website. http://www.wpinstitute.org
I’m so grateful to have stumbled upon this blog & look forward to keeping up with everyone’s progress taking Vitamin D3!