Vitamin D Muscles

Samantha Hutchins
10/27/15
Vitamin D Deficiency Regarding Muscles

Vitamin D deficiency has been tied to mainly bone pathologies. Recent research shows that the effects of Vitamin D span further than just affecting bones and particularly cause muscle weakness. Vitamin D is responsible for aiding in the absorption of other minerals, such as calcium. Calcium is a key ligand in muscle contractions, thus, Vitamin D indirectly can effect muscle contractions. An article published in Nutrition Reviews, Vitamin D: an overview of its role in skeletal muscle physiology in children and adolescents, analyzes the effect of Vitamin D deficiencies in youth on muscle activity. The researchers honed in on children and adolescents because of the large
Youth and adults are recommended to receive 600 IU daily. Vitamin D can be synthesized in the body in response to sunlight or it can be consumed from a limited range of foods. The rampant deficiency can be attributed to the underexposure to sunlight. In North America and lateral areas, the UV rays from the sun are only adequate for half of the year. Those with darkly pigmented skin are also at a disadvantage in the north because they are not able to absorb as much light as those with lighter skin. The indoor lifestyle of many also limits sun exposure as well as the increased use of sunscreens to suppress the threat of other ailments. The limited foods containing Vitamin D also contribute to the
It was suggested that perhaps there is a maximum threshold for Vitamin D, and beyond that limit the effects of the vitamin are negligible. This would explain why the teenage girls receiving lower dosages of Vitamin D saw similar results to the girls receiving higher dosages, the girls receiving higher dosages must have exceeded the necessary dosage. Toxicity due to Vitamin D is very difficult to reach based off of studies done, but further research could be done to define the level leading to toxicity and also the potential threshold level. Other future research prompted by the paper would lead to studies of amount of sun exposure needed to sustain adequate levels throughout the year. Also other ventures could examine the effects of Vitamin D deficiency on other functions.

Works Cited
Hazell, Tom J, Jason R DeGuire, and Hope A Weiler. "Vitamin D: An Overview Of Its Role In Skeletal Muscle Physiology In Children And Adolescents." Nutrition Reviews 70.9 (2012): 520-533 14p. CINAHL Plus with Full Text. Web. 27 Oct. 2015.
USDA. "Vitamin D." Health Professional Fact Sheet. National Institutes of Health. 10 Nov. 2014. Web. 27 Oct.