Q. I have been struggling with joint pain and just found out that my vitamin D level is really low. My doctor put me on a megadose of 50,000 IU (international units) each week for 8 weeks. Then I will switch to 800 IU daily.
I took the first 50,000 IU pill yesterday and today I can't believe how good my joints feel. My wife thinks I'm crazy. I just returned from a 6-mile walk and then did my weights. I have no pain and wonder if the vitamin D is responsible.
Shouldn't a vitamin D check be part of a physical? After reading about the problems low vitamin D causes, it seems it should be.
A. You may be right. Rheumatologists have reported that low vitamin D levels often contribute to joint and soft tissue pain. Vitamin D deficiency is linked to an increased risk of hypertension, diabetes, heart disease and cancer.
Insufficient vitamin D can mimic other serious problems, too, as this reader reported: “I was diagnosed with MS until the doctor found that my vitamin D level was 8.3 (dangerously low). I'm on 50,000 IU twice weekly, and I can tell you it makes a huge difference!”
