Can low vitamin D cause fatigue? | Exercise.com Learn: Your Fitness Business Resource

Can low vitamin D cause fatigue?

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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  • If you are suffering from chronic fatigue, it may be the early warning signs of low vitamin D or vitamin D deficiency.
  • Low vitamin D or vitamin D deficiency is associated with an incredible number of diseases.
  • Vitamin D supplements may slow or prevent all forms of arthritis, relieve you of depression associated with seasonal affective disorder (SAD), and help prevent colon cancer and diabetes.

If you are suffering from chronic fatigue, it may be the early warning signs of low vitamin D or vitamin D deficiency.

Working indoors during daylight hours, with little or no exposure to the sun, increases your chances of having a low vitamin D level.

Has your mood sunk to the level of depression? Is it difficult to get through the day without feeling fatigued?

If you do not enjoy doing the things you normally enjoy doing, there is a high likelihood that you are suffering from vitamin D deficiency, and it may be time to consider a vitamin D supplement.

Remember that supplementation is pointless if you don’t have a well-designed workout and nutrition plan to pair it with. Go PRO today for access to certified personal trainers, workout plans, nutrition trackers, and more.

Why Is Vitamin D so Important?

An incredible number of people begin to become aware of these symptoms in the winter months. The onset of this condition begins with low energy levels after sleeping and increased tiredness or fatigue throughout the day.

Seasonal affective disorder, often appropriately called SAD (seasonal depression), is on the upswing. A surprising number of people suffer from this condition and it is directly related to low vitamin D levels.

Countless studies have been carried out globally by professionals studying vitamin D deficiency and how it links directly to other diseases.

Balz Frei, Ph.D. at Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University, along with two other co-investigators, carried out a study with 896 elementary school children from three different schools in Oregon. With strong evidence that revealed an increased severity of vitamin D deficiency has spread throughout the United States population, especially in children, the decision was made to do the study.

Lack of exposure to the sun to absorb vitamin D, lack of vitamin D-fortified milk, and lack of fruits and vegetables enriched with vitamin D all contribute to severe vitamin D deficiency. Due to the findings of the study, the Linus Pauling Institute strongly recommended that the children should include 600 – 1000 IU of vitamin D, from both their diet and supplements, in order to reach the minimum recommended level for optimum health.

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Why Are People so Concerned About Vitamin D?

Dr. Michael Holick of Finland reported on an African American woman who was admitted to the hospital with muscle aches, weakness, and global bone pain. She was unable to rise up out of her bed and could no longer walk.

Dr. Holick, who happened to be on call that weekend, immediately understood what he was seeing in the patient. Dr. Holick signed her out of the hospital and put her on a supplement of vitamin D. He also told her to get outside and let herself be exposed to some sunlight daily for a couple of months.

Four months later, the woman was using a walker and had no pain or weakness. After a further three months, she was fully able to walk on her own without any assistance. The culprit of her dilemma was vitamin D deficiency.

Low vitamin D or vitamin D deficiency is associated with an incredible number of diseases such as SAD (seasonal affective disorder), fibromyalgia, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, tendinitis, bursitis, osteoarthritis, pseudogout, gout, gum disease, tooth loss, obesity, and diabetes.

The list continues with heart disease, metabolic syndrome, multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, chronic musculoskeletal pain syndromes, cancer, high blood pressure, poor glucose control, and a decrease in serotonin and magnesium. Needless to say, the link to diseases and low vitamin D levels is quite shocking.

How Will Taking Vitamin D Help?

Taking vitamin D supplements on a regular basis will help reduce the potential for stroke or heart attack. You should consult your doctor about an increased dosage to begin with.

Vitamin D supplements may slow or prevent all forms of arthritis, relieve you of depression associated with seasonal affective disorder (SAD), and help prevent colon cancer and diabetes.

It has been suggested by numerous researchers and doctors, that vitamin D can help or prevent gingivitis, tooth decay and loss, Type I diabetes, muscle pain, rickets, schizophrenia, and multiple sclerosis.

Many doctors recommend that you should take 1000 IU/day of vitamin D. The RDA or recommended dietary allowance is typically 200-600 IU/day. Dr. Holick states that the RDA is inadequate and endorses 1000 IU/day at the very minimum.

As you can see, the importance of vitamin D is astronomically astounding in the diseases it is linked to, as well as depression, chronic fatigue, and disturbed sleeping patterns.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Do I have to take vitamin D supplements?

Unless your doctor has instructed you to take certain supplements, you do not have to take them.

Are vitamin D supplements safe?

Whether or not dietary supplements are safe to take depends on a number of factors. Learn more about the safety of supplements here.

What supplements do I need to take?

No one can answer that aside from your doctor. To learn more about the various supplements that doctors commonly recommend, check out this article.

Remember that supplementing with vitamin D is only one part of a healthy lifestyle. Make sure you’re moving, too! Sign up for an Exercise.com PRO plan today for access to certified personal trainers, workout plans, and more.

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