Vitamin D is crucial to the overall health of the body, as it helps to keep muscles, bones and teeth healthy, said the NHS. The vitamin is needed to regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body. A lack of vitamin D can lead to serious complications, including osteomalacia, rickets, or some deformities. You could be at risk of a vitamin D deficiency if you start developing aches and pains in your muscles, according to registered dietitian Franziska Spritzler.

There is some evidence that vitamin D deficiency may be a potential cause of muscle pain

Franziska Spritzler

While the cause of muscle pain can be difficult to find, one common cause is a vitamin D deficiency, she said.

More than 70 per cent of all people with muscle pain are deficient in vitamin D.

That’s because a deficiency can lead to a sensitivity of receptors in your muscles, said Spritzler.

“Vitamin D is an extremely important vitamin that has powerful effects on several systems throughout your body,” the dietitian wrote on medical website Healthline.

“Most people don’t realise that they’re deficient, as symptoms are generally subtle.

“You may not recognise them easily, even if they’re having a significant negative effect on your quality of life.

“There is some evidence that vitamin D deficiency may be a potential cause of muscle pain in children and adults.

“There is a link between chronic pain and low blood levels of vitamin D, which may be due to the interaction between the vitamin and pain-sensing nerve cells.”

But the most common cause of muscle pain is stress or tension, revealed the Mayo Clinic.

Systemic muscle pain, which is a pain that filters through your entire body, is usually a result of an infection.

Other causes of muscle pain include fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, muscle cramp, flu, and even lyme disease.

Good sources of vitamin D

Vitamin D: The best supplement to take during cold winter months is vitamin D due to the lack of sunshine. Here are the best sources of the sunshine vitamin.

Good sources of vitamin D

The most common vitamin D deficiency symptoms include feeling very tired, getting sick more often than normal, and having a number of aches and pains.

But you could top up on vitamin D by taking supplements. During the winter months, it’s recommended that everyone takes a 10mcg supplement every day.

That’s because the sun isn’t strong enough for the body to naturally make enough vitamin D.

Alternatively, you could try adding more vitamin D-rich foods to your diet. The best food sources of vitamin D include oily fish, eggs, mushrooms, and some fortified products.

Speak to a doctor if you’re worried about the signs or symptoms of a vitamin D deficiency.

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