By Frankie Brogan
Senior Nutritionist
Vitamin D, sleep and pain
It’s well known that vitamin D plays many beneficial roles around the body including immunity support and calcium regulation. What’s less known is its role in assisting sleep and pain management. A new review study demonstrates that low vitamin D levels are associated with elevated pain (in rheumatic disorders and fibromyalgia) as well as irregular sleep patterns.
The mechanism of vitamin D, in this case, is suggested to be related to the regulation of neurotransmitters in the body. The study author concludes that vitamin D supplementation is associated with the therapeutic improvement of sleep and the prevention and treatment of chronic pain conditions.
Vitamin D, Calcium and early menopause
Early menopause (i.e. before the age of 45) affects approximately 10% of woman and is associated with elevated cardiovascular disease risk and osteoporosis. New research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has identified a link with early menopause and insufficient vitamin D.
The study involving over 2000+ women demonstrated that those with high intakes of vitamin D (and calcium) were at 17% reduced risk of developing early menopause than those with lower intakes. Calcium is readily obtained from the diet, but vitamin D which is typically synthesized via sunlight is a common insufficiency in the UK.
Vitamin D deficiency
A clinical review published in the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association (May 2017) found that almost 1 billion individuals worldwide may have insufficient or deficient levels of vitamin D. The cause for this is multifaceted, though the main reason cited is that people are spending more time indoors and applying sunscreen when they go outside, to protect from skin cancer.
While this is a healthy skin habit, SPF use does limit vitamin D biosynthesis. Chronic diseases such as kidney disease and even type 2 diabetes greatly reduce vitamin D synthesis as well. Ongoing research is linking vitamin D deficiency with multiple sclerosis, autoimmune disorders, infections, respiratory disease and cancer.
Pharma Nord Vitamin D3 Supplements
Manufactured to pharmaceutical standards, Bio-Vitamin D3 provides D3 (the more stable and well utilized form by the body) in small and easy to swallow ‘pearl’ capsules. The oil in the capsules helps to ensure that the fat-soluble vitamin absorbs well from the gut and into the bloodstream.
READ MORE ABOUT BIO-VITAMIN D3
References:
1. de Oliveira D, Hirotsu C, Tufik S, Andersen M. The interfaces between vitamin D, sleep and pain. Journal of Endocrinology. 2017; JOE-16-0514.
2. Purdue-Smithe A, Whitcomb B, Szegda K, Boutot M, Manson J, Hankinson S et al. Vitamin D and calcium intake and risk of early menopause. 2017.
3. Pfotenhauer K, Shubrook J. Vitamin D Deficiency, Its Role in Health and Disease, and Current Supplementation Recommendations. The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association. 2017;117(5):301.
