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Low Vitamin D Linked to Mobility Problems
Mobility Problems? Researchers say older Americans with the lowest levels of vitamin D have the highest risk for mobility problems... while those with the highest levels of the sunshine vitamin had the lowest risk. Which category are you in? If you answered "highest," you're probably wrong. Most Americans are badly deficient, and it's getting worse every year. Just look at this new study: The researchers tested 2,641 golden oldies with an average age of 75, and found two-thirds of them had insufficient D levels. All of these seniors were evaluated for potential mobility problems. Specifically, they were asked to perform basic mobility tasks, such as walking 400 meters quickly, rising from a chair without using their arms, and some balance tests similar to what a cop might ask a DWI suspect to do. The seniors were given the tests again two years later, and two years after that... and those with the highest D levels from the start had the fewest mobility problems and did the best all the way through, according to the study presented at the Experimental Biology 2010 meeting. The researchers say now they want to study whether D supplements can keep you out of the wheelchair, but let's call that what it is: An easy play for another research grant. I can tell you right now what they'll find if they use high levels of genuine, natural vitamin D3: Healthy, active seniors. Vitamin D won't just boost your mobility, it will also lower your risk for diabetes, heart disease, bone breaks, cancer, colds, flu and more.
Muscle pain and weakness were a prominent symptoms of vitamin D deficiency in a study of Arab and Danish Moslem women living in Denmark. In a cross-sectional study of 150 consecutive patients referred to a clinic in Minnesota for the evaluation of persistent, nonspecific musculoskeletal pain, 93% had serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels indicative of vitamin D deficiency. A randomized controlled trial found that supplementation of elderly women with 800 IU/day of vitamin D and 1,200 mg/day of calcium for three months decreased mobility problems through increased muscle strength. It also decreased the risk of falling by almost 50% compared to supplementation with calcium alone. More recently, a randomized controlled trial in 124 nursing home residents (average age, 89 years) found that those taking 800 IU/day of supplemental vitamin D had a 72% lower fall rate than those taking a placebo.
You can get your own quality supplement easily enough, but the best way to take in the D is to soak up the sun. Parkinson’s disease doesn’t follow the rules. There’s no known cause. And everyone is at risk. Including you. This disease affects the brain and muscle control. It messes with nerve cells that produce dopamine. Dopamine is like a messenger that runs to different parts of your body to tell it how and when to move. When your body doesn’t produce enough “messengers,” parts of your body won’t know what to do. This causes the tremors and spasms associated with Parkinson’s. But, there’s something you can do right now to lower your risk of getting Parkinson’s disease. It’s right outside your door! This non-drug has no side effects. And you can get all you want for free. I’m talking about vitamin D. Vitamin D is the only vitamin you get from sunshine. This vitamin is well-known to dramatically reduce mobility problems, risks of cancer and heart disease. And a study I recently read suggests that it can also reduce the chances of Parkinson’s disease by up to 65%.
Vitamin D is important for good health and long-life. Here are some of the articles we've added to our website to give you a full picture of this important subject. Like other parts of this website, these articles summarize the important facts and include useful advice. If Vitamin D Were a Drug It Would Win the Nobel Prize Vitamin D Deficiency: Causes and Risk Factors Learn to recognize the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency, especially in women and children Testing Your Vitamin D Levels: (know what to ask your doctor, or order a home testing kit) Getting Vitamin D from Sunshine What you need to know when choosing a Vitamin D supplement Vitamin D Deficiency is linked to 2/3rds of the medical problems in the US along with poor diet Vitamin D helps prevent 3 out 4 cancers Vitamin D is Important for Good Heart Health Vitamin D and Calcium: You Need Them Both
The information contained in this section of our web site is for educational purposes and is not intended as medical advice. While the publishers of this website believe that people have the right to understand their own bodies and to take care of their bodies as they see fit, we also respect the knowledge and experience of trained nutritionists, scientists, researchers, medical practioners, and others who can help you achieve the optimum health you are entitled to, and suggest you seek out and work with health specialists you can trust.
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