Vitamin D may help reduce pain in diabetes patients

A new US study suggests that a high-dose vitamin D supplementation may help alleviate pain and depression in women with type 2 diabetes.

In the study, female diabetes type 2 patients with depressive symptoms and pains received a vitamin D supplement of 50,000 IU weekly for six months (1). Prior to the study, 61% of the women reported pain in their legs and feet, while 74% reported numbness and tingling in their hands, fingers and legs. At the end of the trial, the symptoms of depression had significantly improved with vitamin D supplementation. Additio- nally, they found a significant decrease in all reported areas of pain at both three and six months into the study.

The researchers concluded that vitamin D supplementation may be a promising treatment for both pain and depression in type 2 diabetes patients. People with type 2 diabetes typically experience some level of pain and depression. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to type 2 diabetes, pain and depression, possibly ex- plaining a link between the three to some degree.

1. Doyle T. et al. Vitamin D Decreases Pain in Women with Type 2 Diabetes and Depression. Loyola Health Sciences. Published online December 2013.