Higher Vitamin D Levels May Be Associated With Improved Mobility for Obese People

Osteoarthritis is one of the most common forms of arthritis, and causes pain, swelling and reduced motion in the joints. A recent study suggests that adequate vitamin D levels may be associated with better movement in obese individuals with osteoarthritis when compared with obese people who are vitamin D deficient.

Participants in the study included 256 people with an average age of 56.8. The researchers measured vitamin D levels via blood samples.  They measured knee pain using lower extremity functional performance tests.

The researchers found that having adequate vitamin D levels was associated with improved walking, balancing, and rising from sitting to standing when compared to having low vitamin D levels. They also noted lower pain scores in the people with higher vitamin D levels when compared to those with low vitamin D levels.

Researchers from the University of Florida conducted the study. It was published online ahead of print on January 7, 2015, in The Journal of Clinical Pain.

Previous studies have found that vitamin D deficiency may increase the risk of osteoporosis, type-1 diabetes and muscle and bone pain. Adequate levels of vitamin D have been associated with reducing the risk of skin damage, reducing the risk of osteoporosis, combating diabetes, and improving age related macular degeneration.

Vitamin D can be found in milk, fortified cereals, fish, and eggs. Your body also processes vitamin D from the sun but it becomes harder for our bodies to process it as we age.