Fibromyalgia, one of the most common joint and muscle diseases, afflicting millions of Americans, is characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, often accompanied by other symptoms, such as fatigue.
Six studies, 4 of which had best-quality evidence, reported that vitamin D supplementation was beneficial for patients with 25OHD deficiency, and 8 studies, 6 of which had best-quality evidence, showed results in pain reduction in patients receiving vitamin D.
Fibromyalgia is associated with low levels of many vitamins and minerals, including B vitamins like vitamin B12, vitamin D, magnesium, selenium, and zinc. Many people are also deficient in vitamins A, C, E, and K. Many dietitians recommend getting all your vitamins and minerals through your diet.
It is estimated that 50 – 80% percent of women will have fibroids during their lifetime. Vitamin D deficiency is one of the many risk factors for developing fibroids.
Recommend a daily 2000 IU vitamin D3 supplement, bringing total supplement intake to 2400 to 2800 IU/day (incl. from multivitamin). Extra calcium may not be necessary unless diet is insufficient and/or there are concerns about osteoporosis (e.g., in postmenopausal women or the elderly).
It can take anywhere from four weeks to four months of daily vitamin D supplements to notice a difference, says Jamie Lee McIntyre, RDN, a nutrition communications consultant based in Florida. Many factors affect the efficiency and efficacy of supplements.
So, when it comes to vitamin d deficiency treatments, how long till you start to feel better? Those with the lowest levels should feel an improvement after just a few days, while those who only need to top up their levels may have to wait a week or two before they begin to feel healthier and more energised.
Fibromyalgia, one of the most common joint and muscle diseases, afflicting millions of Americans, is characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, often accompanied by other symptoms, such as fatigue.
The central nervous system (brain, spinal cord and nerves) transmits information all over your body through a network of specialised cells. Changes in the way this system works may explain why fibromyalgia results in constant feelings of, and extreme sensitivity to, pain.
This antioxidant, used to convert food into energy, has shown some promise in treating fibromyalgia symptoms. One small study of people who took 300 mg daily of coenzyme Q10—also called CoQ10—for 40 days showed a marked easing of fatigue, morning tiredness, and pain.
Well-known for supporting bone strength and bone health, vitamin D is also being studied for its use in treating other conditions, including fibromyalgia. Some studies have shown that people with fibromyalgia who have low vitamin D levels will have less pain when using a vitamin D supplement.
Duloxetine (Cymbalta) and milnacipran (Savella) may help ease the pain and fatigue associated with fibromyalgia. Your doctor may prescribe amitriptyline or the muscle relaxant cyclobenzaprine to help promote sleep.
Diet. Some experts say what you eat may play a role in fibromyalgia -- just not the same role for everyone. Certain foods and ingredients -- such as aspartame, MSG, caffeine, and tomatoes -- seem to worsen symptoms for some people.
The drugs amitriptyline, duloxetine, milnacipran and pregabalin can relieve fibromyalgia pain in some people. They may cause side effects such as a dry mouth or nausea.
It is important to note that Vitamin D is not a cure for pain, but if you have a vitamin D deficiency, this could be contributing to increased pain and hindering your recovery. A simple blood test via your GP can determine if you have a vitamin D deficiency.
Fibromyalgia tends to run in families, so genetic factors are likely to contribute to the disorder, but little is known for sure about the specific genes involved. Researchers believe that environmental (nongenetic) factors also play a role in a person's risk of developing the disorder.
Any new pain in your body is often the first sign of fibromyalgia — especially in your muscles. Trust your instincts and listen to your body. Visit a healthcare provider if you're experiencing new pain, fatigue and other symptoms — even if it feels like they come and go.
Individual experiences vary, but magnesium, melatonin, and probiotics are among supplements that have shown promise in the medical literature: Magnesium. People with fibromyalgia are more likely than others to have low magnesium, and many doctors advise fibromyalgia patients to take this supplement.
Very high levels of vitamin D in your blood (greater than 375 nmol/L or 150 ng/mL) can cause nausea, vomiting, muscle weakness, confusion, pain, loss of appetite, dehydration, excessive urination and thirst, and kidney stones.
When to take vitamin D. It just plain doesn't matter, as long as you take it with food, says Dr. Manson. Her advice: Take it when you'll remember to take it — morning, noon or night — and take it with a meal, she says.
In summary, long-term supplementation with vitamin D3 in doses ranging from 5000 to 50,000 IUs/day appears to be safe.
tl;dr. There's no set time of day that's best to take vitamin D supplements. Some people say taking vitamin D supplements at night is an insomnia risk. There's no research to confirm this, but you might want to take your supplement earlier in the day if you think it's screwing with your sleep.