United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

All you pasty Brits get some sunshine or drink your milk!

http://www.ivanhoe.com/channels/p_chann ... ryid=17302
====================================
October 16, 2007



Lack of Vitamin D may Worsen Chronic Pain

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Getting enough vitamin D may help control chronic pain.

Researchers from Mayo Comprehensive Pain Rehabilitation Center in Rochester, Minn. report about one in four patients who have chronic pain also have inadequate blood levels of vitamin D, which might contribute to their pain. Patients who did not have enough vitamin D also needed higher doses of morphine for a longer period of time.

The study kept track of the serum vitamin D levels of 267 adults getting outpatient treatment for chronic pain. It also looked at the dose and duration of the morphine they took for pain relief.

In patients with a vitamin D deficiency, the morphine dose was nearly twice that of the group with adequate levels of vitamin D. They also used the pain medication for an average of 71.1 months, compared to 43.8 months, and had lower levels of physical functioning as well as a poorer view of their overall health.

Researchers report it has been known for a long time inadequate levels of vitamin D can cause pain and muscle weakness. But “this is the first time that we have established the prevalence of vitamin D inadequacy among a diverse group of chronic pain patients,” study author W. Michael Hooten, M.D., Medical Director at the Mayo Comprehensive Pain Rehabilitation Center, was quoted as saying. “The implications are that in chronic pain patients, vitamin D inadequacy is not the principal cause of pain and muscle weakness, however, it could be a contributing but unrecognized factor.”

Dr. Hooten reports vitamin D inadequacy can be treated easily, inexpensively, and with virtually no side effects by taking a prescription supplement once or twice a week for four to six weeks.

More studies are needed to determine whether treating the low vitamin D levels will improve the overall general health of chronic pain patients.

This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, which offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, click on: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.

SOURCE: American Society of Anesthesiologists 2007 Annual Meeting in San Francisco, California, October 13-17, 2007

More reasons to take Vitamin D

http://www.tjols.com/weekly_brief-2-301.html#vit
======================================================
VITAMIN D: LOW LEVELS ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASED RISK OF DEATH
Individuals with low levels of vitamin D appear to have a higher risk of death from all causes, according to researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. In a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, the researchers analyzed vitamin D levels in 13,331 individuals who participated in the Third National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey, conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Vitamin D levels were collected between 1988 and 1994, and participants were tracked through 2000. Several studies have suggested that vitamin D deficiency contributes to cardiovascular disease, cancer and death. Over a median of 8.7 years of follow-up, 1,806 of the participants died. When they were divided into four groups based on their vitamin D levels, those in the group with the lowest level had a 26 percent increased rate of death from any cause compared with those in the group with the highest vitamin D levels. No significant associations were found when the researchers assessed vitamin D levels and risk of death from cardiovascular disease or cancer alone. The researchers said low vitamin D levels may be associated with death through their effect on blood pressure, the body’s ability to respond to insulin, obesity, and diabetes risk.

The best source of vit D is sunlight, make sure you get out without lotion at least once a day. I smother the bpi arm if the sun's not too bad but leave the rest uncovered. People smearing their kids in lotion from first thing is causing lack of vitamin D absorption. The good news for pasty Brits is that very fair skins absorb vit D much more quickly than darker skins, you don't need to be out long.
Jen NZ

Low Vitamin D also can cause depression.

My naturopath tested my blood levels, and found I was extremely low, even in the summer when I was outside training for a marathon 1-3 hours most days.

She put me on a supplement, and my energy levels increased, while my depression went away.

It's worth checking into!

I have been having chronic fatigue that is starting to cause issues at work and getting to and from work. I know part of this is my current lack of exercise (which i am working on), but i was wondering if anyone new or has noticed is a Lack of vitamin D can cause this as well. My doctor ran a bunch of blood work, specifically looking for low testosterone levels from the narcotics, but all they found to be low is my vitamin D levels. I really need to figure out a way to get some energy back. Any suggestions please.

Low Vitamin D can definitely cause low energy. I've used both capsules and drops, and found the drops (taken under the tongue) to be most effective.

My naturopath warned me that you can overdose. If you start to feel giddy right after taking it you should cut back. But I take 20-40 drops per day (I think the bottle recommends 20) and have never had a problem.

Jen
I'm glad this Irish American girl does not have to be in the sun! I burn so fast it's not funny. I've always been so careful. I've never had my D level checked but I have high bone density and use to walk at least 4 miles day as a youngster and well into my early twenties.

Christopher
I'm looking for a study on the relationship between MS and Vitamin D. My oldest daughter has MS and was telling me they think there is a relationship between MS and lack of Vitamin D as a child. I took my kids out every morning and we did not have sun screens when they were small. So I would really like to read about it.

Kath robpi/adult

http://www.emaxhealth.com/1020/82/30025 ... icine.html
======================================

Lack of Vitamin D Doubles Use of Narcotic Pain Medicine

Submitted by Kathleen Blanchard RN on Mar 21st, 2009


A new study from Mayo Clinic suggests that narcotic pain medicine use can be cut in half in chronic pain sufferers by checking for adequate levels of vitamin D. Chronic pain is a difficult problem to treat, and the study hopes to lend insight into chronic pain management.

The study showed that people who did not have adequate levels of vitamin D required more narcotic pain medication compared to those with sufficient levels of vitamin D. Chronic pain sufferers took twice as much pain medication when vitamin D levels were low.

Other consequences found in the study from too little vitamin D included increased body mass index (BMI) among those with decreasing levels of vitamin D. Health perceptions and level of function was also found to be lower in the presence of low levels of vitamin D. Those without enough vitamin D also reported poorer perceptions of overall health.

Michael Turner, M.D., a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician at Mayo Clinic and lead author of the study says, "This is an important finding as we continue to investigate the causes of chronic pain. Vitamin D is known to promote both bone and muscle strength. Conversely, deficiency is an under-recognized source of diffuse pain and impaired neuromuscular functioning. By recognizing it, physicians can significantly improve their patients' pain, function and quality of life."

The study authors suggest that anyone suffering from chronic pain should have their levels of vitamin D checked. They also suggest that anyone with fibromyalgia or diffuse pain on muscle palpation may be suffering from low levels of vitamin D.

Lack of sunshine, obesity, and dark skin pigment are risk factors for vitamin D deficiency. A simple blood test can check vitamin D levels. The good news is correcting vitamin D deficiency is inexpensive and simple. Vitamin D supplements are available at any drugstore.

Vitamin D is important for reducing inflammation, and is now linked to double the use of narcotic medication among those suffering from chronic pain.

Physicians are encouraged to consider checking vitamin D levels in anyone at high risk, or complaining of diffuse pain, a symptom of vitamin D deficiency. Chronic pain is a leading cause of disability in the United States.

The study shows that a simple blood test for vitamin D levels may identify a missed source of chronic pain, and help chronic pain sufferers limit narcotic use by ensuring adequate levels of Vitamin D.

==============================================

same story... different article

http://sev.prnewswire.com/health-care-h ... 009-1.html