Studies Show Vitamin Deficiency Leads to Muscle Injury
Written by on January 9, 2012 in Chiropractic News, Health News, Health Tips, Local News, Natural Remedies, Office News
Many people do not realize that lack of the proper vitamins can lead to more than just a cold every winter. In the following report by Singer Health Reports, vitamin deficiency and its effects are explored through a study of 89 NFL players. Read on to see how the link between a insufficient supply of vitamin D and prolonged muscle injuries was made..
New Evidence Links Common Muscle Injuries to Vitamin D Deficiency
Deficiencies in Vitamin D have been linked to numerous health problems, some very serious. According to a new study, we can now add increased chance of muscle injury to the already long list.
These findings are significant for everyone: Numerous studies have already shown a widespread Vitamin D deficiency among most Americans, and muscle injuries are among the most common of all complaints.
The new study of the relationship of between Vitamin D and muscle injuries was conducted among 89 National Football League players. During routine pre-season evaluations, in the spring 2010, researchers tested the Vitamin D levels of all the players from a single NFL team.
The study then correlated the Vitamin D levels with each players’ race – white, African American, Asian, and so on – with with the number of muscle injuries and their severity. Severity was measured as the amount of time lost due to the injury.
In every case, the lower the vitamin D level found, the greater the chances of muscle injury and of increased severity. Also, the Vitamin D level in the majority of the athletes in the study, regardless of whether or not they were injured, was insufficient to sustain optimal health – roughly the same as the general population.
“Eighty percent of the football team we studied had vitamin D insufficiency,” said Michael Shindle, MD, lead researcher and member of Summit Medical Group.
The body makes Vitamin D from exposure of skin to sunlight, which is why Vitamin D is often called “the sunshine vitamin”. Vitamin D levels have dropped significantly among urban populations who spend less time out of doors than their hunting and farming forefathers.
This fat-soluble vitamin is also found in liver, eggs, oily fish, fortified milk and dairy products, and dietary supplements. It is an essential part of our ability to absorb calcium and phosphorus from our food, so we can build strong bones. It is helps regulate hormones, reduces inflammation, and helps regulate the nervous system and the immune system.
Vitamin D deficiency can cause rickets, osteoporosis and thyroid problems, and is linked to some cancers, multiple sclerosis, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, depression, fatigue, obesity, diabetes, possibly even autism – and the list goes on.
Up-to-date nutritional experts urge Americans who spend most of their lives indoors to get out and spend a little more time in the sun. They say the risk of skin cancer from brief exposure is far less significant than the health benefit of raising Vitamin D levels.
Also, ask your chiropractor or other healthcare practitioner about the possibility of taking Vitamin D supplements to prevent muscle injury.
SOURCE: ScienceDaily, July 18, 2011, http://www.sciencedaily.com /releases/2011/07/110710132807.htm


