Fibromyalgia is a very painful ailment that causes the body to ache all over. It can happen to anyone and at anytime. To make matters even worse, medical professionals do not know everything there is to know about it, including how it is caused. This makes it harder to diagnose and treat properly, needlessly prolonging the suffering of patients.
New medical research is shedding light on possible root causes of Fibromyalgia. Some of this new evidence is showing that a lack of Vitamin D may be a culprit in this disease. This is not all that surprising, as the lack of this vitamin plays a role in other diseases, such as a few different types of cancers. Participant studies have shown a direct correlation between unexplained pain in both the muscles and bone and low levels of Vitamin D in the body.
One of the best ways for the body to receive the much coveted vitamin is through the way nature intended: exposure to sunlight. Many people have become scared of the sun. They want to avoid skin cancers and skin damage. While this is quite understandable, it is important to remember that the body really does need some sun in order to function at its best. This is not to say that basking in the sun all day is a great idea. Eight minutes a day in the sun sans sun protection will help immensely.
Study participants that were extremely low in Vitamin D had higher rates of unexplained pain. This was regardless of their age. But it is worth noting that all every participant 30 years old or younger was deficient, as were all of the African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans and East Africans. This finding shocked researchers. It is natural to think of younger age groups as being more active and outdoors at a higher rate.
It is very likely a good idea that all Fibromyalgia sufferers get tested for Vitamin D deficiency. While there is no definitive proof yet that this vitamin is directly related to Fibromyalgia, evidence is pointing very strongly in that direction.
If a deficiency is verified, the patient needs to up his or her Vitamin D intake. The easiest and most efficient way is through sunlight. Food and supplements do provide some Vitamin D, but hardly ever in a large enough quantity to be sufficient. The average person should have a daily intake of around 500 IU. The actually amount is in between 200 IU and 600 IU. It is dependent upon the person’s age, sex and any medical conditions that may exist.
One glass of fortified milk will only provide 100 IU of the vitamin. The same goes for one glass of fortified orange juice. The typical multivitamin supplement only provides somewhere between 100 IU and 400 IU of Vitamin D. At this rate of consumption, the average person would really have to make it a point to consume the right food and supplements to ensure proper intake.
