Vitamin D and chronic pain

[sam5935]

Hello everyone--

Just wanted to summarize a short article in the San Francisco Post today. It was very short, and didn't give much detail. However, it stated that a meta-analysis of 22 clinical trials of people experiencing various chronic pain syndromes showed that a huge percent (something like 89%) were vitamin D deficient. It also said, that of the people that were vitamin D deficient, almost all had either substantial or complete relief when they supplemented with vitamin D. The amount recommended in the article was 1000 IU's daily.

Obviously, there is a need for more information here. The article didn't give what pain syndromes, sample sizes, nor types of studies were looked at.

I know vitamin D has been mentioned on here before, but I believe that post was referring to one study in particular. That study also gave higher recommended amounts of vitamin D, I believe. My understanding is that there is plenty of room upward before toxic levels are reached, so I may try higher amounts for a while.

It is interesting to note that vitamin D is a precursor to serotonin.....and so many of us seem to be dealing with depression as well.

Anyway, thought some of you might find this interesting.

Hope everyone is well!

S-

[webslave]

I agree that supplementing Vit D (take D3) is a good idea. There are numerous recent studies touting the anti-cancer effects of D3.

I take it daily. [2018 edit: I no longer use it because it is dangerous and ineffective. Google The sun goes down on Vitamin D. Sun exposure should give you all you need]

Another way to get D3 is by exposing yourself to sun daily. Why? -

There is in fact a scientific answer. The sun stimulates production of a hormone in your skin. Ultraviolet B rays, the kind of rays that give you sunburns, interact with a special cholesterol in unblocked skin. Once stimulated, this cholesterol triggers your liver and kidney to make vitamin D3. Vitamin D3 isn't exactly a vitamin, but rather a type of steroid hormone that can drastically improve your immune system function.

Vitamin D3 also controls cellular growth and helps you absorb calcium from your digestive tract. Most importantly, this hormone/vitamin inhibits the growth of cancer cells. In laboratory tests performed on animals, vitamin D3 inhibited the growth of malignant melanoma, breast cancer, leukemia and mammary tumors. Vitamin D3 also slowed down angiogenesis, which aids the growth of cancer cells. Vitamin D3 stops cancer-aiding blood vessels from being formed, curbing the tumor's ability to spread and disrupt other functions in the body. Donald R. Yance Jr. writes that vitamin D3 may also inhibit the activity of hormones such as estrogen in breast cancer, thereby decreasing its spread.

[sam5935]

Might this explain part of the correlation between increased chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome incidence in people living in northern latitudes?

Also, the nurse in me, and as someone who has a relative that had melanoma, wants to point out that you only need 10-15 minutes of sun exposure to get the needed D3. (double check this, but it's not long, and it obviously depends on latitude, season, cloud cover, etc....) I don't want to send anyone out there to start roasting themselves!

S-

[webslave]

Might this explain part of the correlation between increased chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome incidence in people living in northern latitudes?

That's an interesting question. Until now the theory was that the cold temperatures were at fault, leading to more muscle tonus and tension, but it may also be the lower Vit D levels at work.

[ramana]

I have been taking vitamin D 1000 IU Vitamin Shoppe brand daily since Feb 2008 when my vitamin D level was 15. Note that Lyrica(anti convulsants) lower vitamin D. Maybe my vitamin D levels were lower because of it. In April 2008 the vitmain D level was 30. The vitamin D cure book recommends 50 I think

[2travelers]

I don't know if this is a good source but you might check it out. www.pamelaegan.com/articles/vitamind3.htm . The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition is calling for raising UL for vitamin d to 250ug(10,000IU) per day from it's current UL of 50ug(2000IU) per day.

Can anybody tell me the difference between vitamin D3 and just vitamin d ? I've been taking just vitamin d for about 6 months. Maybe I should get some D3 ????

Thanks
2travelers

[calman]

What you want is Vitamin D3. See this web-site:
http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/

[calman]

Can anybody point me to a website with the research that shows a correlation between chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome and living in northern latitudes? I am very interested in this. I think there is a lot to the D deficiency as being a causal factor.

[benzo]

I just picked up some Vitamin D3 from my pharmacist and it's just 4 little ampules containing 25.000 IU each that need to be taken monthly.
Will this work just as well or do we need a daily dosis?

He had those as well but in smaller doses and specifically for infants.

[blasteen]

Sorry for adding to an old post. I experimented with D3 and magnesium prior to the point my prostatitis started, it did make feel very good and happy. My doctor got me to check my vit - D levels sometime after taking the supplements and everything was fine. I guess it should had been done before taking the supplements though.

I tried taking some skin absorbed magnesium supplements last year while in a major flare up, but my symptoms aggravated severely after this for weeks. These two surely impact CPPS

[blasteen]

An update to this post... My doctor checked my vit D levels few weeks ago and in summer it was to low and was asked to take supps for it. Last time I checked my vit D levels it was after few days of taking vit D supps.... in general for me my flares tend to decrease in summer months don't know if this is a ramp in D3 levels or something else.