Taking vitamin D for tired aching legs muscles can really help your overall health and wellbeing. In fact, vitamin D supplementation can sometimes ease aches and pains all over your body. Here's why.
Vitamin D for Tired Aching Legs Muscles
There are many reasons why you might be experiencing aching leg muscles. Pulling a muscle or spending too much time on your feet are two good explanations for this. However, if you've ruled out the obvious, it may be wise to consider your vitamin D intake.
The Role of Vitamin D
Vitamin D has a variety of roles in the body. One of the most important functions of vitamin D is the regulation of two minerals: calcium and phosphorus. Both are important for both health. Due to this, vitamin D has an indirect responsibility to help maintain your bones. It also may help prevent the development of certain cancers, diabetes, and other medical conditions.
The body obtains vitamin D in a few different ways.
- Your body makes it with the help of ultraviolet rays from sunlight. Most healthy people can make all the vitamin D they need by getting enough sun exposure.
- Many foods contain vitamin D, both naturally and through fortification.
- Vitamin D supplements can also provide the body with the recommended dosage of the mineral.
For those that do not get enough sun exposure, it can be somewhat difficult to meet their vitamin D needs. As a result, these individuals may experience symptoms, such as tired, aching leg muscles.
Vitamin D Deficiency
Lack of vitamin D can cause many serious problems, including rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. Less severe symptoms of a vitamin D deficiency include body aches, especially in the legs, muscle weakness, a weakened immune system, fatigue, and even depression.
When it comes to vitamin D, it can be very easy to become deficient. Additionally, several sectors of the population have a higher susceptibility to becoming vitamin D deficient. These include the following:
- Seniors
- Obese Individuals
- Gastric Bypass Patients
- Ethnicities with Dark Skin Pigment, such as African Americans
Treatment for Aching Legs
If you've been diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency, your doctor can prescribe a recommended dosage that will help ease your leg pains and other symptoms. Additionally, he or she may suggested other vitamin supplements.
Warning About Supplementation
If you are not under a doctor's care, you can purchase vitamin D tablets or other supplements over the counter. It is highly recommended that you follow the instructions on the bottle or package in order not to consume too much vitamin D.
Vitamin D through sun exposure and foods generally does not reach toxic levels. However, it is possible to reach toxicity through supplementation. Too much vitamin D through supplements can cause a serious condition called hypervitaminosis D, which forces the body to overabsorb calcium, elevating blood calcium levels.
For more information about vitamin D for tired aching legs muscles, consult a doctor or registered dietician. He or she can provide information about how you can get vitamin D naturally or advice about how to address your leg pains through diet, exercise, and supplements.
