š¦“ The Vitamin Your Body May Lack When Your Legs and Bones Hurt
When someone has bone pain or muscle aches and weakness, one possible nutritional cause is vitamin D deficiency. In adults, significant vitamin-D deficiency can cause osteomalacia, which may produce bone pain and muscle weakness. (Office of Dietary Supplements)
But pain doesn’t automatically mean vitamin-D deficiency
Painful legs or bones can also have many other causes, including arthritis, nerve problems, circulation problems, medication effects, injuries, and other nutritional or medical conditions.
A blood test measuring 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] can determine whether your vitamin-D level is low. (Office of Dietary Supplements)
āļø Where vitamin D comes from
Vitamin D comes from foods such as fatty fish and fortified foods, supplements, and production in the skin after sun exposure. Adults generally need 600 IU (15 mcg) daily through age 70 and 800 IU (20 mcg) after 70. (Office of Dietary Supplements)
Don’t take large doses just because your legs hurt. Excessive vitamin D from supplements can cause high calcium levels, nausea, weakness, excessive thirst/urination, kidney stones, and potentially serious complications. (Office of Dietary Supplements)
Bottom line: Vitamin D deficiency can cause bone pain and muscle weakness, but persistent leg or bone pain deserves an evaluation rather than assuming vitamin D is the answer.
