Vitamin D can be one of the most difficult nutrients to consume without dietary supplements – particularly for those who don't live in perennially sunny climates. Though it can be derived from sunlight, vitamin D is not found in the foods we eat on a regular basis. However, seeking out this compound is essential, as it has been linked to everything from bone strength (via calcium absorption) to brain health, and researchers have recently unearthed another vital function.
According to a study published in the scientific journal Nutrients, professionals from various medical facilities in Utah have found that vitamin D supplementation may help our muscles heal faster after suffering an injury.
To establish this connection, the researchers enlisted 14 participants – all of whom led active lifestyles. Each individual had to complete an extensive exercise protocol with one leg, with the other serving as a control. Vitamin D levels reportedly increased after this procedure, but people with lower levels of the nutrient recorded more pronounced muscle weakness after the fact, as their bodies recovered from the exertion.
Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that vitamin D may be used to counter muscle weakness, whether due to aging, exercise, disease or inactivity.
"Future research investigating the influence of diverse vitamin D interventions on the alleviation of muscular weakness after muscular insult are encouraged in humans," said lead author Tyler Barker, the Vitamin D Council reports.
Vitamin D has also been shown to improve overall mood, and as such, is occasionally recommended to individuals who experience bouts of depression during darker seasons of the year.
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