It’s no secret that vitamin D is an essential nutrient that has many beneficial biological effects on the body. Vitamin D is necessary for our body to absorb calcium and thus it plays a large role in our bone health. Additionally, vitamin D supports the immune system, muscular health, and fights inflammation.
Vitamin D deficiency has been found to be highly associated with patients suffering from degenerative spine disease.1 Degenerative spine disease is a condition that is characterized by gradual loss of proper functioning and organization of the spine. This usually develops with age but can also result from other conditions such as arthritis, tumors, and infection.
The spine becomes degenerative due to inflammation, oxidative stress, and premature cell death. Vitamin D works on a signaling pathway to reduce inflammation levels and oxidative stress in the intervertebral discs. Additionally, it delays cell aging and reduces cell death within the spine.2 Thus vitamin D can significantly improve degenerative spine disease.
You can increase your vitamin D levels by taking the following actions:
- Get some sun
Did you know that a majority of our vitamin D is sourced from sunlight? Spending some extra time in the sun during the day is an excellent way to boost your natural vitamin D levels. - Nutrition
Plenty of foods and drinks are naturally rich in vitamin D including salmon, eggs, and mushrooms. In addition to this, vitamin D is added to certain foods such as milk, orange juice, and cereals. - Supplements
If you still feel your natural vitamin D levels are not sufficient, supplements are an easy and fast way to boost the recommended daily amount of 600-800 IU.
Vitamin D is one of the most readily available vitamins in one’s day to day life. In addition to this, it is clear that it has beneficial effects on degenerative spine disease so take the right steps to protect your spine today!
If you need more tips on how to combat degenerative spine disease, contact Dr. Moazzaz for a consultation!
Dr. Payam Moazzaz is a board-certified orthopedic spine surgeon in California specializing in robotic-assisted minimally invasive spine surgery.