Can Low Vitamin D Cause Swollen Lymph Nodes? | Exercise.com Learn: Your Fitness Business Resource

Can Low Vitamin D Cause Swollen Lymph Nodes?

Tyler Spraul is the director of UX and the head trainer for Exercise.com. He has his Bachelor of Science degree in pre-medicine and is an NSCA-certified strength and conditioning specialist. He is a former All-American soccer player and still coaches soccer today. In his free time, he enjoys reading, learning, and living the dad life. He has been featured in Shape, Healthline, HuffPost, Women's...

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UPDATED: Aug 25, 2020

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  • The foremost purpose of vitamin D is to help your body absorb calcium.
  • The connection between vitamin D and lymph nodes has been inconclusive.
  • There are several reasons why your lymph nodes could be swollen.

There is a reason that vitamin D is called the sunshine vitamin. Most of the vitamin D your body receives comes in the form of sun exposure.

There have been many published reports about the dangers of not having enough vitamin D, so you may wonder if low levels of vitamin D can cause swollen lymph nodes. Deficiencies of vitamin D have been linked to everything from cancer to kidney stones, but the connection between vitamin D and lymph nodes has been inconclusive.

Fortunately, a good vitamin D supplement can easily correct a deficiency.

When supplementing with vitamin D, you need a workout routine that works. Sign up for PRO today for access to personal trainers, workout creators, workout plans, and more.

What Is Vitamin D?

Vitamin D is perhaps the most misunderstood vitamin because folks are often confused about where it comes from or how to get it.

Simply put, vitamin D enters the skin through the UVB rays of the sun. You can also get it from supplements and a few types of foods.

The foremost purpose of vitamin D is to help your body absorb calcium. If you don’t get enough vitamin D, your bones can become weak and frail. Vitamin D also aids in muscle performance and cellular growth.

Foods containing vitamin D include certain fish that are high in fat such as sardines and tuna. You can find it in egg yolks and liver as well. It can also be found in some dairy products like Swiss cheese.

Since vitamin D is so important to growth and bone health, the American government has mandated its addition to a variety of foods such as milk and cereal. This has helped to prevent several illnesses, including rickets and osteoporosis.

What Causes Low Vitamin D Levels?

Although we know the significance of getting lots of vitamin D, many people are still vitamin D deficient because of modern-day lifestyles. Due to school, work schedules, and technology, we spend most of our time indoors. We have also been warned of the dangers from too much sun, which can cause melanomas and cancers of the skin.

Additionally, your food intake may also be a cause for low levels of vitamin D. While weight training or dieting, you might cut out fatty foods or dairy items in favor of lean meats and vegetables.

These issues can contribute to a lack of vitamin D. Absorption of vitamin D is blocked by glass windows and sunscreen. Furthermore, the eating habits you have adopted for weight loss or muscle building may completely eliminate the very foods you need for extra vitamin D, even those that have been fortified.

You can increase your level of vitamin D by including more fortified foods to your food plan. There is a wide selection of products now that have added vitamin D where you don’t expect it, such as juice and margarine.

Vitamin D supplements can also help, as can a daily dose of cod liver oil, which was once very popular and is now making a comeback.

You can find more information about vitamin D foods and supplements at the USDA’s nutrition website.

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What Are Lymph Nodes?

Your immune system is a complex part of your body and lymph nodes play a big role in it. Lymph nodes act as an indicator that there is something unusual or alien in your system such as bacteria and viruses. They are sometimes referred to as glands and when more than one is inflamed or bloated, this is commonly called swollen lymph nodes.

Lymph nodes are sort of like your body’s way of saying “pay attention to this area.” They can be felt easily on some points like your groin, underarms, or neck.

Can Low Vitamin D Levels Cause Swollen Lymph Nodes?

There are several reasons why your lymph nodes could be swollen. These range from an infection to a tumor. Other sources include the flu, infections of the skin and ears, or diseases of the mouth like gingivitis.

Lack of vitamin D can also result in diseases of the autoimmune system such as multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. Some of these afflictions are characterized by inflammation and swelling, occasionally in the lymph nodes.

Researchers have found that a majority of people who have cancer also have low levels of vitamin D. Since lymph nodes can be an indication of cancers, researchers have studied the link between vitamin D and cancer. The results have been inconclusive because more time is needed to find out if there is a direct correlation between vitamin D and cancer development.

Don’t forget that supplementing your diet with a vitamin d supplement is just part of a healthy lifestyle. Make sure you are also managing your fitness and staying active. Check out our PRO Plan to see how we can help you today!

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