A new study suggests that increasing vitamin D levels eases muscle pain and sensitivity associated with fibromyalgia, a condition that affects 1 in 25 adults, according to Natural News.

Women with clinically documented fibromyalgia and deficient vitamin D levels raised their levels to between 32 and 48 ng/ml via supplementation and experienced “dramatic reductions” in pain. Then, pain began to increase again after supplementation ceased. Those taking placebo experienced no change.

“We believe that the data presented in the present study are promising. FMS is a very extensive symptom complex that cannot be explained by a vitamin D deficiency alone. However, vitamin D supplementation may be regarded as a relatively safe and economical treatment for FMS patients and an extremely cost-effective alternative or adjunct to expensive pharmacological treatment as well as physical, behavioral, and multimodal therapies,” lead researcher Dr. Florian Wepner said. “Vitamin D levels should be monitored regularly in FMS patients, especially in the winter season, and raised appropriately.”

Previous research had shown similar results on fibromyalgia sufferers using tanning beds rather than vitamin D supplementation. The 2009 study included 19 fibromyalgia patients who were exposed to both UV and non-UV rays in tanning beds for two weeks. UV exposure resulted in limited improvement in pain, well-being and relaxation compared with the non-UV group.

Click here to read the Natural News report on the study.

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