The Vitamin You Need If You're Always Sore

Muscle soreness may be the result of a physical health condition, or it may be influenced by situational factors. Stress, dehydration, injury, or lack of sleep are all situational factors that can cause our muscles to ache, while Lyme disease, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and the flu are some examples of physical health conditions in which muscle soreness is a common symptom (via Medical News Today).

It's not unusual to experience muscle soreness after overworking muscles that are not accustomed to a greater-than-usual level of physical intensity, such as when trying out a new exercise (via Medical News Today). "Muscle pain that occurs after exercise is pretty normal in most people," states neurologist Dr. David Dickoff via SingleCare. This kind of muscle soreness generally eases on its own after a few days. If you find that you're always sore without working out or engaging in atypical strenuous activity, and you've ruled out the situational factors and health conditions mentioned above, you might be lacking a much-needed vitamin. 

According to experts at Vous Vitamin, vitamin D deficiency has been linked with weakness and muscle soreness. Vitamin D is a crucial nutrient that plays a key role in calcium absorption, immunity, and brain cell activity (per Mayo Clinic). While it's best known for its bone health benefits, vitamin D has been shown to influence muscle health, as well (via Therapeutic Advances in Musculoskeletal Disease). In fact, according to research published in The Journal of Neuroscience, "[Skeletal muscle] pain affects nearly half of all adults, most of whom are vitamin D deficient."

For those experiencing chronic soreness, vitamin D may prove helpful. A 2018 study examined a 51-year-old woman diagnosed with type 2 diabetes who experienced ongoing muscle tenderness and weakness. After undergoing vitamin D supplementation treatment, the woman no longer experienced muscle pain and was able to comfortably move about in ways she couldn't before.

Experts at Vous Vitamin point out that vitamin D supplements, which are fat-soluble, need several months to sufficiently build up in the body before results are felt. If you suspect you may be vitamin D deficient, speak with your doctor. A physician can conduct a blood test to help determine if supplements would be right for you (per Cleveland Clinic). Do not exceed the recommended doses of vitamin D, as over-supplementation can cause calcium to build up in the blood and may lead to nausea, vomiting, and in more severe cases, kidney problems (via Mayo Clinic).