30th August 2018
Vitamin D is one of the oldest hormones on earth and is vital to many different organisms.
It is common knowledge that vitamin D deficiency contributes to osteoporosis, fractures, and muscle pain and weakness, but what is the role of vitamin D in the overall health of the female pelvic floor?
Is vitamin D supplementation something we need to discuss?
The importance of vitamin D in muscle function, and how vitamin D deficiency may play a role in the function of the female pelvic floor?
Vitamin D affects skeletal muscle strength and function, and insufficiency is associated with notable muscle weakness. Vitamin D has been shown to increase skeletal muscle efficiency at adequate levels. Vitamin D receptors are present in our muscles and therefore may have a direct effect on the pelvic floor muscles, so this is important information for those with incontinence. The levator ani muscles and coccygeus pelvic floor muscles are the skeletal muscle that are crucial supporting structures to the pelvic floor. Pelvic floor musculature weakness can contribute to pelvic floor disorders such as urinary or faecal incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse.
Pelvic floor muscle training for reactive, endurance, and coordination, are the first-line treatment for both stress and urge urinary incontinence, faecal incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse and overactive bladder syndrome. The pelvic floor muscles are thought to be affected by vitamin D nutrition status. Additionally, as women age, they are more prone to vitamin D deficiency and pelvic floor disorders. Vitamin D helps regulate the immune system and the neuromuscular system. Vitamin D also plays major roles in the life cycle of human cells. Vitamin D is so important that your body makes it by itself — but only after skin exposure to sufficient sunlight.
Foods that provide Vitamin D include – Fatty fish, like tuna, mackerel, and salmon ·Foods fortified with vitamin D, like some dairy products, orange juice, soy milk, and cereals ·Beef liver ·Cheese ·Egg yolks
Free and Natural Vitamin D – Well its mainly free and available in the summertime, so get the most of it, make sure you are out in the direct sunlight for at least 15 minutes per day. Vitamin D for daylight or sunlight is essential for our health and well being. As we all know, how much better we feel when the sun shines! Vitamin D when gained in balance…. too much sun and lead to skin damage and to skin cancer, but just as important to know, too little sunlight or a deficiency in Vitamin D can create inflammation, disrupt the immune system and research shows it may create “disease progression”.
Vitamin D is being used with certain cancer treatments and certain preventative health. It helps balance the circadian rhythm that promotes natural sleep patterns and cycles, notice that we should all be getting up earlier as the sun rises, and possibly we are staying up later as the sun sets.
Vitamin D is essential for calcium metabolism, and for communicating with our Gut Bacteria (Microbiome). A recent research study evaluated the association of vitamin D deficiency and pelvic floor disorders (PFD) including pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and stress urinary incontinence in postmenopausal women. Out of 120 women, the conclusion of the study findings suggests an association of vitamin D deficiency and PFD in postmenopausal women. In addition, postmenopausal women have a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency indicating a need to evaluate vitamin D levels in these women. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4481742/
Author – Gill Bauer – Adore Your Floor Coach Brentwood
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