What causes a fibromyalgia rash? How can it be treated? Discover the facts about this lesser-known symptom of fibromyalgia and learn effective management strategies.

Understanding Fibromyalgia Rashes

Fibromyalgia is a complex chronic condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and other debilitating symptoms. While the hallmark symptoms of fibromyalgia typically include muscle pain, digestive issues, sleep disturbances, and cognitive difficulties, some individuals diagnosed with this condition may also develop a skin rash.

Identifying a Fibromyalgia Rash

Fibromyalgia-related rashes can vary in appearance and may present as red, raised, or bumpy patches on the skin. Individuals may experience skin sensitivity, tenderness, or a crawling sensation with the rash. Dry skin can also exacerbate itchiness and worsen the rash. While the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) has included questions about rashes and itching in their diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia, the presence of a rash is not a necessary criterion for a diagnosis.

Potential Causes of Fibromyalgia Rashes

The exact cause of fibromyalgia rashes is not fully understood, but several factors are believed to play a role:

Immune System Response

Heightened immune system activity underneath the skin may trigger a rash, as the immune system perceives certain proteins as foreign invaders and releases histamine, leading to increased skin sensitivity.

Central Nervous System Signals

In individuals with fibromyalgia, the central nervous system (brain, spinal cord, and nerves) may send “itch” signals to the skin, leading to oversensitivity and a rash-like sensation.

Chemical Imbalance

Abnormal levels of neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and dopamine, in the brain may contribute to increased itchiness and the development of a rash.

Medication Side Effects

Certain medications prescribed to manage fibromyalgia symptoms, including duloxetine (Cymbalta), milnacipran (Savella), and gabapentin (Neurontin), can occasionally cause a rash as a side effect. Allergic reactions to over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen can also lead to a rash.

Light Sensitivity

Some individuals with fibromyalgia may experience increased sensitivity to light, which can result in skin soreness and the development of a rash with sun exposure.

Managing Fibromyalgia Rashes

If you suspect your rash is related to your fibromyalgia, it’s important to consult your healthcare provider. They can help identify the underlying cause and develop an appropriate treatment plan. In the meantime, here are some tips to manage a fibromyalgia rash at home:

Hydrate and Moisturize

Drinking plenty of water and applying moisturizer can help prevent dry skin, which can exacerbate itchiness and the rash. Be sure to stay hydrated and use fragrance-free, gentle moisturizers.

Soothe with Lukewarm Baths

Taking a lukewarm bath or shower can help calm the skin and ease itchiness associated with the rash. Be sure to apply a moisturizer immediately after to lock in hydration.

Use Topical Creams

Over-the-counter anti-itch creams containing hydrocortisone can provide short-term relief by blocking the histamine reaction that leads to itchiness and redness.

Protect from Sun Exposure

If you experience light sensitivity, be sure to apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen and wear protective clothing when going outdoors to avoid exacerbating the rash.

Seeking Medical Attention

If your fibromyalgia rash persists or worsens, it’s important to consult your healthcare provider. They can help determine the underlying cause and provide appropriate treatment, which may include adjusting your medication or prescribing a stronger topical or oral medication to manage the rash.

Conclusion

While a rash may not be one of the primary symptoms associated with fibromyalgia, it is a condition that some individuals with this chronic pain disorder may experience. Understanding the potential causes and effective management strategies can help provide relief and improve your overall quality of life.

Fibromyalgia Rash: Pictures and Treatment

Overview

If you’re living with fibromyalgia, you may expect widespread muscle pain and other symptoms like digestive problems, sleepiness, and brain fog. These, however, aren’t the only symptoms linked with this condition. Some people diagnosed with fibromyalgia also develop a skin rash.

These rashes can vary in size and appear anywhere on the body. They’re most often due to medication side effects and can worsen with scratching. Some fibromyalgia rashes are so sensitive that it becomes difficult to wear certain clothes or sleep. But relief is possible.

Here’s what you need to know, including how to identify a rash and how to manage symptoms.

Typically, a rash is red, raised, or bumpy. You may develop skin sensitivity or tenderness with the rash, or you may have itchiness without pain.

In addition, a rash in fibromyalgia can cause a crawling sensation on the skin. If you also have dry skin, this can worsen itchiness and the rash.

When developing its diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia, the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) asked study participants about rashes and itching, as well as many other symptoms.

However, a rash is not considered in a diagnosis of fibromyalgia. You must present other symptoms of the condition. These include widespread pain that occurs on both sides of the body, digestive problems, and chronic fatigue.

The exact cause of a fibromyalgia rash is unknown, but certain factors are believed to trigger this skin condition.

Immune system response

Immune system activity beneath the surface of your skin may cause a rash, although there is no research to confirm this in fibromyalgia. In this case, your immune system believes that proteins underneath the skin are foreign invaders. This can prompt your immune system to release histamine, which increases skin sensitivity. This can cause the appearance of a rash and itchiness.

Signals from central nervous system

The central nervous system consists of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. It’s responsible for sending information to different parts of your body. If you have fibromyalgia, your brain may send “itch” signals to the nerves in your skin. This can cause your skin to become oversensitive, triggering a sensation of itchiness. While this is not proven to occur with fibromyalgia, repeatedly scratching your skin can cause a rash.

Chemical imbalance

Neurotransmitters are responsible for controlling communication between your brain and body. If you have fibromyalgia, abnormal levels of neurotransmitters (dopamine and serotonin) in your brain may contribute to itchiness. One study found that the release of serotonin intensified itching in mice. The study was not conducted on humans, but it’s suspected that higher levels of serotonin may also cause itchiness in humans, which can lead to a skin rash.

Medication

A fibromyalgia rash is most often caused by medication. Different medications can be prescribed to help reduce symptoms of fibromyalgia. These include duloxetine (Cymbalta) and milnacipran (Savella), and anti-seizure medications like gabapentin (Neurontin). Occasionally, a rash can develop as a reaction to these drugs.

You can also develop a rash if you’re allergic to over-the-counter pain medications like ibuprofen (Motrin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol). Consult your doctor if you suspect an allergic reaction.

Light sensitivity

Fibromyalgia can sometimes increase sensitivity to light. If you have this symptom, sun exposure could cause skin soreness and a skin rash.

Understanding the cause of a fibromyalgia rash can help you manage and treat this condition. If you believe your rash is caused by medication, let your doctor know. They’ll likely discuss a number of possibilities with you, including changing your medication or lowering the dose.

Here are tips to manage the rash at home:

• Drink plenty of water. Dry skin can cause itching, which can lead to a skin rash. Increase your fluid intake to keep your body and skin hydrated. If your urine is dark yellow, this means you’re not drinking enough. Here’s how much water you should be drinking.
• Apply sunscreen. If you’re sensitive to light, apply sunscreen before heading outdoors, even on overcast days. Wear protective covering to avoid sunburn and a skin rash. Here are some guidelines for choosing a sunscreen.
• Take a lukewarm bath or shower. Take a lukewarm bath or shower to soothe your skin and ease itchiness associated with a rash. Apply a skin moisturizer immediately after a shower or bath to keep your skin hydrated.
• Apply topical cream. Apply an over-the-counter topical anti-itch cream like hydrocortisone as directed several times a day for short-term relief. This helps block a histamine reaction, which can reduce itchiness and clear up a rash. These creams can also treat rashes caused by an allergic reaction to medication. If you find yourself needing to continue use for more than one week, discuss with your doctor. Long-term use of topical steroids can have side effects.
• Don’t scratch a rash. The more you scratch, the more the rash may itch. This can damage your skin and worsen a rash.
• Apply a cold compress to the skin. Wrap an ice pack in a towel and apply the cool compress to your skin for 10 to 20 minutes several times a day. This helps stop inflammation and pain. Learn more about making a cool compress at home.
• Avoid perfumed soaps and lotions. Scented products can irritate your skin and worsen a rash.

A skin rash doesn’t always occur with fibromyalgia. But if one develops, home remedies can usually ease itching and improve the appearance of a rash.

Never ignore a rash that worsens, doesn’t improve with treatment, or is accompanied by other symptoms like a fever or difficulty breathing. Most rashes are caused by an allergic reaction, which could be a medical emergency. A persistent rash can also be a symptom of another disease, such as lupus. Discuss your symptoms with your doctor. They can order further tests if needed.

Fibromyalgia Rash: Pictures and Treatment

Overview

If you’re living with fibromyalgia, you may expect widespread muscle pain and other symptoms like digestive problems, sleepiness, and brain fog. These, however, aren’t the only symptoms linked with this condition. Some people diagnosed with fibromyalgia also develop a skin rash.

These rashes can vary in size and appear anywhere on the body. They’re most often due to medication side effects and can worsen with scratching. Some fibromyalgia rashes are so sensitive that it becomes difficult to wear certain clothes or sleep. But relief is possible.

Here’s what you need to know, including how to identify a rash and how to manage symptoms.

Typically, a rash is red, raised, or bumpy. You may develop skin sensitivity or tenderness with the rash, or you may have itchiness without pain.

In addition, a rash in fibromyalgia can cause a crawling sensation on the skin. If you also have dry skin, this can worsen itchiness and the rash.

When developing its diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia, the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) asked study participants about rashes and itching, as well as many other symptoms.

However, a rash is not considered in a diagnosis of fibromyalgia. You must present other symptoms of the condition. These include widespread pain that occurs on both sides of the body, digestive problems, and chronic fatigue.

The exact cause of a fibromyalgia rash is unknown, but certain factors are believed to trigger this skin condition.

Immune system response

Immune system activity beneath the surface of your skin may cause a rash, although there is no research to confirm this in fibromyalgia. In this case, your immune system believes that proteins underneath the skin are foreign invaders. This can prompt your immune system to release histamine, which increases skin sensitivity. This can cause the appearance of a rash and itchiness.

Signals from central nervous system

The central nervous system consists of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. It’s responsible for sending information to different parts of your body. If you have fibromyalgia, your brain may send “itch” signals to the nerves in your skin. This can cause your skin to become oversensitive, triggering a sensation of itchiness. While this is not proven to occur with fibromyalgia, repeatedly scratching your skin can cause a rash.

Chemical imbalance

Neurotransmitters are responsible for controlling communication between your brain and body. If you have fibromyalgia, abnormal levels of neurotransmitters (dopamine and serotonin) in your brain may contribute to itchiness. One study found that the release of serotonin intensified itching in mice. The study was not conducted on humans, but it’s suspected that higher levels of serotonin may also cause itchiness in humans, which can lead to a skin rash.

Medication

A fibromyalgia rash is most often caused by medication. Different medications can be prescribed to help reduce symptoms of fibromyalgia. These include duloxetine (Cymbalta) and milnacipran (Savella), and anti-seizure medications like gabapentin (Neurontin). Occasionally, a rash can develop as a reaction to these drugs.

You can also develop a rash if you’re allergic to over-the-counter pain medications like ibuprofen (Motrin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol). Consult your doctor if you suspect an allergic reaction.

Light sensitivity

Fibromyalgia can sometimes increase sensitivity to light. If you have this symptom, sun exposure could cause skin soreness and a skin rash.

Understanding the cause of a fibromyalgia rash can help you manage and treat this condition. If you believe your rash is caused by medication, let your doctor know. They’ll likely discuss a number of possibilities with you, including changing your medication or lowering the dose.

Here are tips to manage the rash at home:

• Drink plenty of water. Dry skin can cause itching, which can lead to a skin rash. Increase your fluid intake to keep your body and skin hydrated. If your urine is dark yellow, this means you’re not drinking enough. Here’s how much water you should be drinking.
• Apply sunscreen. If you’re sensitive to light, apply sunscreen before heading outdoors, even on overcast days. Wear protective covering to avoid sunburn and a skin rash. Here are some guidelines for choosing a sunscreen.
• Take a lukewarm bath or shower. Take a lukewarm bath or shower to soothe your skin and ease itchiness associated with a rash. Apply a skin moisturizer immediately after a shower or bath to keep your skin hydrated.
• Apply topical cream. Apply an over-the-counter topical anti-itch cream like hydrocortisone as directed several times a day for short-term relief. This helps block a histamine reaction, which can reduce itchiness and clear up a rash. These creams can also treat rashes caused by an allergic reaction to medication. If you find yourself needing to continue use for more than one week, discuss with your doctor. Long-term use of topical steroids can have side effects.
• Don’t scratch a rash. The more you scratch, the more the rash may itch. This can damage your skin and worsen a rash.
• Apply a cold compress to the skin. Wrap an ice pack in a towel and apply the cool compress to your skin for 10 to 20 minutes several times a day. This helps stop inflammation and pain. Learn more about making a cool compress at home.
• Avoid perfumed soaps and lotions. Scented products can irritate your skin and worsen a rash.

A skin rash doesn’t always occur with fibromyalgia. But if one develops, home remedies can usually ease itching and improve the appearance of a rash.

Never ignore a rash that worsens, doesn’t improve with treatment, or is accompanied by other symptoms like a fever or difficulty breathing. Most rashes are caused by an allergic reaction, which could be a medical emergency. A persistent rash can also be a symptom of another disease, such as lupus. Discuss your symptoms with your doctor. They can order further tests if needed.

Fibromyalgia is an elusive disease: “everything hurts”, it is difficult to diagnose

There are patients who have been going around doctors for years complaining of chronic pain in different parts of the body – constant or “wandering”. However, they are either not believed, or they are treated with anything except for a disease that is carefully hidden from laboratory examinations.

What is the insidiousness of fibromyalgia, how to identify and treat it, tells a neurosurgeon, algologist, MD, co-founder and medical director of the SPRAVNO Pain Medicine Center (Kyiv) Vadim BELOSHITSKY.

Photo: Vadim Beloshitsky

Muscle and joint pain is just the tip of the iceberg

Fibromyalgia is based on changes in the central nervous system – an imbalance in the pain and analgesic systems of the brain. Quite often this happens after severe stress.

How common is this disease and who is at risk?

– Fibromyalgia is estimated to affect 2-4% of people worldwide. But the level of prevalence of this disease in Ukraine is still unknown, since it is underdiagnosed, our doctors are little aware of it, so they do not make such a diagnosis.

Women suffer from fibromyalgia 7-9 times more often than men. As a rule, this disease is diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, although it can develop in childhood.

What are the symptoms of fibromyalgia?

– First of all, it is pain, it is spasmodic, localized mainly in the muscles, as well as in the joints. The patient feels it in all four quadrants of the body (we conditionally divide the body into four zones – quadrants – with two lines, horizontal and vertical, passing through the navel). Although often patients complain about the most noticeable pain in a particular part of the body, other pain areas are mentioned only during the interview.

The diagnosis of fibromyalgia requires tenderness in at least 11 of the 18 palpable points (all paired, left and right).

These points are located on the back of the head, at the bottom of the neck, on the trapezius and supraspinatus muscles, costochondral joints, elbows, knees, etc.

Such patients often have a certain appearance – they are exhausted, complain of fatigue that occurs already in the morning after waking up, insomnia, manifestations of depression, problems with concentration and memory.

In addition to the most typical signs, some patients experience irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhea or, conversely, constipation, nausea, heartburn, pain or cramps in the abdomen, especially in the lower part, numbness / tingling in the body, dizziness, muscle weakness, headache, nervousness, blurred vision, fever, dry mouth, itching, Raynaud’s syndrome, hives/rash, tinnitus, mouth ulcers, taste loss/change, dry eyes, shortness of breath, loss of appetite, sun sensitivity, tendency to bruise, hair loss, frequent or painful urination.

See also

Do not believe your eyes?

Muscle pain occurs in many diseases. How to distinguish fibromyalgia from them.

– There is a specific feature.

Unlike other “painful” muscle diseases in fibromyalgia, the results of various tests and studies will be within the patient’s age range.

That is, doctors do not find any pathology at all, unsuccessfully try to treat some kind of neuralgia, and if the patient comes to them again with strange complaints that “everything hurts” despite good examination results, they send him to another specialist until he will not come to a psychotherapist or psychiatrist over the years (especially considering that mood changes, depression, anxiety are very common in such patients).

Unfortunately, our physicians are reluctant to make diagnoses based on clinical criteria and not supported by additional testing.

See also

Unbalance can be caused by stress

How often does the patient experience pain and what causes it?

– There may be some fluctuation in the intensity of the pain (from barely perceptible to very severe), but it usually occurs daily. It can hurt mainly in one place, then in another. Although there are areas of the body where pain is felt constantly.

Fibromyalgia is based on changes in the central nervous system – an imbalance in the pain and analgesic systems of the brain (there is a deficiency of analgesic neurotransmitters and an excess of pain neurotransmitters). Quite often this happens after severe stress.

Unfortunately, in recent years, among the patients to whom we have made such a diagnosis, there have been more migrants from the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Therefore, it is expected that during the hostilities and for a long time after them, there will be even more such patients.

There is also an assumption that a genetic factor is to blame for the development of this disease – monozygotic twins have a chance of “paired” fibromyalgia in 15% of cases.

Fibromyalgia is generally thought to be influenced by psychological, genetic, neurobiological, environmental and lifestyle factors.

Scientists are working to unravel the mysteries of fibromyalgia. Unfortunately, there are many more.

Whom should the patient contact to diagnose and treat this disease?

– This is more of a parish of neurologists, if we talk about Ukraine. In the US, treatment protocols for fibromyalgia are being developed by the Association of Rheumatologists.

This diagnosis should be differentiated from polymyalgia rheumatica, so such patients should be examined by a rheumatologist and rule out “own” causes of pain.

In the ICD-11, fibromyalgia is coded as “chronic widespread pain”. And such a diagnosis is established if the pain bothers more than three months.

Three components of treatment

Can such a patient be cured?

– Unfortunately, this is a lifelong condition, but it can be corrected. The treatment strategy has three components.

1. Drug therapy. She plays a decisive role. Three drugs have been included in the international protocols for the treatment of fibromyalgia, two of which are included in the group of modern antidepressants – milnacipran and duloxetine increase the level of certain neurotransmitters, restore the balance of pain and analgesic systems). In addition, these drugs have antidepressant and anti-anxiety effects, which are also needed by patients with fibromyalgia. A third drug, pregabalin, was developed as an antiepileptic drug but is used primarily to treat chronic pain. I want to note right away that typical painkillers (analgesics, NSAIDs) do not help such patients.
2. Physical therapy . Such patients need to visit physiotherapy specialists, do massages, gymnastics. This is an important component of complex treatment. Exercise improves general well-being and may also reduce pain. Useful water procedures, swimming, but only in warm water.
3. Psychotherapy . Given that fibromyalgia often attacks after stress, psychological support is also very useful. It is also known that people prone to depression are more likely to suffer from a variety of pain syndromes.

Therefore, we consider the comorbidity of this condition and for the best result in the treatment of patients with chronic pain, we recommend assessing the presence of depression, anxiety and providing appropriate assistance – both medication and psychological. Children are shown music therapy and art therapy.

Once again I want to emphasize that the treatment of fibromyalgia is quite long: at least six months.

Gradual dose reduction is possible. In case of resumption of complaints, therapy should be intensified. In my practice, I have observed patients who, after the first course of treatment, experienced significant relief, and they stopped therapy. But there were also those who had to take medication for years, while their quality of life improved significantly.

See also

“Solnechny” – the best of vitamins? / Habr

In a previous publication, I cited data from recent medical studies that cast doubt on the benefits of taking antioxidants and a number of vitamins. Moreover, most of these studies conclude that there is a serious increase in risk as a result of taking such supplements. But, one of the vitamins (D) clearly falls out of the “dangerous” range. Here is the evidence given by the doctors.

VITAMIN AND PREGNANCY

There is growing evidence that vitamin D levels have fallen below what is considered healthy. Vitamin D deficiency early in life is associated with an increased risk of respiratory infections. Low levels in adults are associated with cardiovascular disease and certain types of cancer.
In the United States, 7 out of every 10 pregnant women don’t get enough vitamin D, according to a study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Adit Ginde, MD from the University of Colorado, lead author of the study, said: “We already know that vitamin D is important for maternal and child bone health, but we have only begun to understand the many potential benefits of vitamin D during pregnancy.”
“Multivitamins help boost vitamin D levels, but many women start taking them after they become pregnant. While research is ongoing, I think it’s best for a woman to start taking it a few months before pregnancy to increase the likelihood of health benefits,” Gingde said.
A research team from the University of Colorado School of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Children’s Hospital in Boston analyzed 928 pregnant and 5,173 non-pregnant women of childbearing age.

MUSCLES
Sarcopenia, or the gradual loss of muscle mass, is a consequence of aging and is a significant risk factor for disability in old age, leading to an increased risk of fractures and other injuries.
The International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) has published a new review that identifies nutritional factors that contribute to muscle loss and, conversely, have a beneficial effect on maintaining muscle mass. The experts analyzed data from worldwide studies on the role of nutrition in sarcopenia.
“The most obvious measures against sarcopenia are physical activity in the form of strength training,” said Jean-Philippe Bonjour, a professor at the University of Geneva. “However, adequate nutrient intake and biologically optimal acid-base balance are also very important elements of any strategy for maintaining muscle mass and strength during aging. ”
The review discusses and highlights the following important nutritional factors:
• Protein: plays an important role in muscle health. The authors suggest that an intake of 1.0-1.2 g/kg body weight per day is considered optimal for skeletal muscle and bone health in the elderly.
• Vitamin D: Vitamin D supplementation by the elderly, especially older adults, is recommended for optimal musculoskeletal health.
• Decreased intake of dietary acids: Excess consumption of meats and grains combined with low intake of (alkalinizing) fruits and vegetables can adversely affect musculoskeletal health. You need to include more fruits and vegetables in your diet.

LYMPHOMA

Researchers who studied 374 patients with diffuse large cell lymphoma found that 50% of them had low vitamin D levels. Patients with inadequate vitamin D levels had a 1.5 times greater risk of disease progression and twice the risk death than those with optimal vitamin D levels.
The study was conducted by a team of researchers from the Mayo Clinic and the University of Iowa.
“The researchers’ findings support the growing association between vitamin D and cancer risk and the results suggest that vitamin D supplementation may help even those patients who have already been diagnosed with some form of cancer,” says the study leader. “The precise role that vitamin D may play in the initiation or progression of cancer is unknown, but we do know that this vitamin plays an important role in regulating cell growth and death, among other processes important in cancer containment.”…
Professor Drake says: “It’s pretty easy to keep your vitamin D levels up with an inexpensive daily supplement or 15 minutes in the sun three times a week during the summer. Many doctors recommend 800-1,200 international units (IU) daily.”
Vitamin D is a steroid hormone that is obtained from sunlight and converted into its active form in the skin. It can also come from food or supplements. As you know, its best role is to increase the flow of calcium in the blood. Because of this role, vitamin D deficiency is a major risk factor for bone loss and bone fractures, especially in older people whose skin is less efficient at converting sunlight into vitamin D.

American cancer researchers have found that vitamin D regulates a number of genes in various cancers, including those of the prostate, colon, and breast. Recent studies have shown that vitamin D deficiency may play a role in causing some types of cancer, as well as affecting the outcome if someone gets cancer.
The researchers analyzed vitamin D levels in patients with lymphomas. It turned out that the incidence and mortality from this cancer increases the more the north a person lives (that is, the more sunlight is limited in winter). In addition, a number of studies have concluded that vitamin D deficiency is associated with poor outcomes in other cancers, including breast, colon, and head and neck cancers.

PROSTATE

Scientists at the University of Colorado Cancer Center recently published compelling evidence in the journal Prostate about the link between vitamin D and prostate cancer. In particular, the study showed that the GDP-15 gene, which is known to be activated by vitamin D, was often absent in human prostate cancer samples due to inflammation.

BLADDER CANCER

High vitamin D levels are associated with protection against bladder cancer. This is the conclusion of a study by molecular biologists and epidemiologists at the Spanish National Cancer Research Center (CNIO), whose findings were published on October 30 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (JNCI). The study is led by Nuria Malats, head of the CNIO Genetic and Molecular Epidemiology Group.
The authors of the study took blood samples from more than 2,000 people, including bladder cancer patients and disease-free controls, in 18 Spanish hospitals.
“These results indicate that high levels of the vitamin are associated with disease protection or, similarly, that low levels are associated with higher risk,” says Malats. “Using in vitro molecular analysis, we also showed that vitamin D regulates FGFR3 protein expression, which is involved in the development of bladder cancer.”
This protective effect is more evident in patients with more aggressive cancers, according to the study. “We see that high levels of vitamin D reduce, above all, the risk of developing low-FGFR3 invasive bladder cancer,” says André FS Amaral, first author of the study.
Research suggests that increasing the supplemental intake of this vitamin, or a controlled increase in sun exposure, may be beneficial for the patient in terms of prevention and treatment.
Bladder cancer is a major public health problem in many countries, especially in Spain, where 11,000 new cases are reported each year (one of the highest rates in the world). In fact, it is the 4th most common type of tumor among Spanish men, after prostate, lung and colorectal cancer.

OBESITY AND DIABETES

Childhood and adolescent obesity in the United States has increased dramatically over the past three decades. Obesity causes an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Now, University of Missouri researchers have found that vitamin D supplements can help obese children and teens manage their blood sugar levels and help them prevent disease.
“Increasing vitamin D intake has had a powerful effect,” said Katherine Peterson, assistant professor of nutrition and exercise physiology at the university. “We saw a decrease in insulin levels, and therefore better glucose control, despite no change in body weight, diet or physical activity.”
Peterson and colleagues studied 35 children and adolescents with pre-diabetic obesity who were hospitalized. All who participated in the study were deficient in vitamin D, had similar diets and activity levels. Study participants were randomly assigned to either high doses of vitamin D or a placebo, which they took daily for 6 months. Those who took vitamin D supplements had a decrease in the amount of insulin in their blood.
Peterson said: “For practitioners, the main message of this study is to check vitamin D levels in their obese patients, because they are likely not getting enough.”
“The reason vitamin D levels are deficient in obese individuals is that they absorb vitamin D at half the rate of normal-weight people,” Peterson said. “The vitamin is stored in adipose tissue, which keeps it from being used. This means that these people need to consume about twice as much vitamin D as their lean peers.”

RISK OF FALLS

Daily vitamin D supplementation of 700-1000 IU reduces the risk of falls by 19% among older adults, according to a study published in the British Medical Journal. However, doses of less than 700 IU per day have no effect (IU is an international unit of measure for vitamins). Every year, one in three people aged 65 years and over experience at least one fall. About 6% of them end up with a fracture.

Several trials have shown that vitamin D improves strength and balance in the elderly, while other studies have found no significant effect on the risk of falling.
Therefore, an international team of researchers analyzed the results of eight studies on fall prevention to evaluate the effectiveness of vitamin D in prevention. Differences in methods and quality of studies were taken into account to minimize possible errors. The pooled results showed that the benefit of vitamin D supplementation in preventing falls was dose dependent.
Vitamin D2 and D3 supplements have been investigated. It turned out that daily doses of 700-1000 IU of vitamin D2 or vitamin D3 reduced falls by 19% and 26% respectively.
This effect was independent of age and other parameters. The effect was significant within two to five months from the start of treatment and lasted for more than 12 months. However, vitamin D supplements do not reduce falls at doses less than 700 IU per day.
The use of active forms of vitamin D is no more effective. Active forms of vitamin D are more expensive and carry an increased risk of hypercalcemia (excessively high levels of calcium in the blood) compared to “regular” vitamin D.

urticaria

University of Nebraska study shows that vitamin D supplementation as adjunctive therapy may provide some relief from chronic urticaria, a condition with no effective treatment. An allergic skin condition called chronic hives creates red, itchy welts on the skin and sometimes swelling. They can occur daily and last for more than six weeks, and sometimes for several years.
For 12 weeks, 38 study participants took vitamin D3 daily in combination with three allergy medications. Half of the patients took 600 IU of vitamin D3 and the other half took 4000 IU.

The researchers found that after just one week, the severity of patients’ symptoms decreased by 33% for both groups. But after 3 months, in the group taking 4000 IU, there was a decrease in the severity of the disease by another 40%. There was no further improvement in the low-dose vitamin D3 group.
The patients who participated in the study suffered from urticaria from 5 to 20 years with severe symptoms. The cause of hives is usually unknown, but allergies and autoimmune reactions play a role. Treatment options for chronic urticaria are very limited. Standard therapy is antihistamines and other antiallergic drugs.

TUBERCULOSIS

Decades before antibiotics were widely available, sunlight was used to treat tuberculosis. Patients were often sent to Swiss clinics to soak up the sun under the healing rays. Now, for the first time, scientists have shown how and why heliotherapy works.
The work of researchers at the University of London, carried out in collaboration with the National Medical Research Institute, showed that high doses of vitamin D, supplementing antibiotic treatment, help TB patients recover faster.
The study, published in Proceedings of the US National Academy of Sciences, is the first to investigate the effect of vitamin D on immune response in patients being treated for an infectious disease. The results showed that high doses of the vitamin can dampen the body’s inflammatory response to infection, allowing patients to recover faster with less damage to their lungs. The authors say their results suggest that vitamin D may help patients recover better from other diseases, such as like pneumonia.
Dr Adrian Martino, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Respiratory Infection and Immunity at the University of London, who led the study, said: “These results are very significant. They indicate that vitamin D may play a role in accelerating the resolution of the inflammatory response in TB patients. This is important because sometimes these inflammatory reactions can cause tissue damage, leading to the development of cavities in the lungs. If we can help these cavities heal, patients will be contagious for a shorter period of time and less prone to lung damage.”
“Vitamin D’s ability to attenuate inflammatory responses without compromising the action of antibiotics increases the likelihood that supplements provide benefits to patients receiving antibiotic therapy for pneumonia, sepsis, and other lung infections.”

FIBROMIALGIA

have chronic pain and fatigue.For individuals with low vitamin D levels, vitamin supplements may reduce pain and may be a cost-effective alternative or addition to other treatments, the researchers say.
In addition to pain and fatigue, individuals diagnosed with FMS may experience sleep disturbances, morning stiffness, poor concentration, and (mild to severe) psychiatric symptoms such as anxiety or depression. The illness can have a significant impact on a patient’s quality of life and lead to job loss and/or withdrawal from social life. So far, there is no cure, but some symptoms can be relieved with physical therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, temporary drug therapy (amitriptyline, duloxetine), and multimodal therapy.
Calcifediol is a pre-hormone and is produced in the liver under the action of vitamin D3. Calcifediol is then converted to calcitriol, which is the active form of vitamin D. Blood levels of calcifediol are considered the best indicator of vitamin D levels. Researchers hypothesized that vitamin D supplementation would reduce the degree of chronic pain experienced by FMS patients with low levels of calcifediol,

“Low blood levels of calcifediol are especially common in patients with severe pain and fibromyalgia,” says lead researcher Florian Wepner, MD, Department of Orthopedics, Speising Orthopedic Hospital Vienna, Austria. “So we set out to determine if increasing calcifediol levels in these patients is a way to relieve pain and cause overall improvement.”
30 women with FMS participated in a randomized controlled trial. 24 weeks after vitamin supplementation, a marked reduction in the level of perceived pain occurred in patients of the main group. While in the placebo group the situation remained unchanged. In the main group, a significant reduction in the problem of “morning fatigue” was also recorded. However, there were no significant changes in depression or anxiety symptoms.
“We believe that the data presented in this study are promising. FMS is a very broad set of problems that cannot be explained by vitamin D deficiency alone. However, vitamin D supplementation can be considered a relatively safe and cost-effective treatment for FMS patients and an extremely cost-effective alternative or adjunct to expensive pharmacological treatments, as well as physical, behavioral and multimodal therapy,” says Wepner.

REPRODUCTIVE FUNCTIONS

It has long been known that vitamin D levels are important for reproductive function in various animals, but now researchers from the University of Copenhagen and the University Hospital of Copenhagen have shown that this is also important for humans.
A new study in 300 normal men showed a positive correlation between motile sperm and vitamin D levels. The study was published in the scientific journal Human Reproduction.
“Our study is not sufficient and should not be used to change existing treatment practices. However, it reveals some of the functions of vitamin D and generates new hypotheses. This is an intriguing finding as it suggests that vitamin D has an effect on sperm movement and function,” explains Martin Blomberg Jensen of Copenhagen University Hospital. “This study shows that vitamin D is essential for male reproduction.”

VISION, CHOLESTEROL, uterine fibroids

The main reason why our vision begins to “slip” after age 50 is because of what is called age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a slowly progressive blur that starts near the center eyes and hinders our ability to see clearly. Your chances of ending up with AMD depend largely on your age, race, and genes, which means it’s largely out of your control. However, a recent study suggests that maintaining optimal vitamin D levels can also help, even if the genetic cards are against you.

University of Buffalo researchers studied 913 postmenopausal women (as part of the Women’s Health Age-Related Eye Diseases “CAREDS” study). It turned out that women who had a vitamin deficiency had a 6.7 times higher risk of developing AMD if this was accompanied by an additional genetic risk.

In a 2014 study of 600 women, researchers found that after 2 years of taking 400 IU of vitamin D daily, their levels of “bad” cholesterol were about 4.5 mg/dl compared to women who were given a placebo. And the level of “good” cholesterol increased.

Uterine fibroids are not cancerous. However, they can grow to the size of a large grapefruit and may be painful and uncomfortable for some, while other women with smaller fibroids may not even notice them. They are associated with hormones and unhappy genetics.

But in 2013, doctors discovered that vitamin D may also play a role. Among 35-50 year olds, those who had adequate levels of vitamin D were 32% less likely to develop fibroids than those who were deficient in vitamin D.

OSTEOARTHRITIS

People who lack vitamin D can double their risk of osteoarthritis, cartilage erosion and joint disease. As we age, this leads to knee pain and mobility problems.

Fang Fang Zhang, assistant professor of epidemiology at the Friedman School, and her colleagues tracked 418 people who already had some signs of osteoarthritis of the knee, which affects nearly 50% of adults according to the Arthritis Foundation. They found a link between low vitamin D levels and osteoarthritis.

The observational study included patients who complained of knee pain, or whose X-ray showed the first signs of the disease. Zhang and her colleagues examined follow-up X-rays taken over four years to determine if the osteoarthritis had worsened. The researchers also examined patients and did tests to monitor their vitamin D levels.

The researchers saw “nearly double the risk of disease progression in people with low vitamin D levels compared to those with adequate vitamin D levels.”
She and her colleagues saw a doubling of risk in people who had less than a microgram of vitamin D per liter of blood. The researchers chose this value as a starting point because it is consistent with established dietary guidelines developed by the Institute of Medicine.

SUN VITAMIN

Sometimes it can be hard to weigh the benefits of vitamin D supplements versus sun exposure.

Dr. Anjali Mahto, MD, dermatologist and spokesperson for the British Skin Foundation notes: “Vitamin D is essential for bone health and low levels may be associated with rickets in children. Even though the sun is the main source of vitamin D, sun exposure should be balanced as the sun is also a major cause of skin cancer. Skin cancer rates continue to rise in UK since mid 1970s”.

There is consensus that the time it takes to produce vitamin D is short, and substantially less than the amount of time it takes for the skin to turn red. UK dermatologists recommend going outside regularly.

A few minutes in the sun during the spring and summer months with UV doses below that which would induce a tan should be sufficient to produce adequate amounts of the vitamin. In the UK, during the winter, there is not enough UV. However, if a sufficient supply is made in the summer, the amounts of the vitamin should be sufficient to get through the winter period.

People need to experiment a bit to get an idea of ​​how long they can be outdoors without visible skin redness. For most people, daily occasional summertime exposure to sunlight should be sufficient to produce adequate vitamin D.

Blood levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D are the best marker of vitamin D levels in the body. Values ​​below 25 nmol/l are considered insufficient.

It is important to practice “solar safety” measures to ensure skin protection. A broad spectrum sunscreen that provides both UVA and UVB protection (at least SPF 30) is recommended.

Sunburn is a sign of DNA damage in skin cells as a result of UV radiation. The young skin of children needs to be protected more carefully than the skin of adults. The data show that 5 or more sunburns in youth can increase the lifetime risk of melanoma by 80%, and this risk should not be taken lightly.

Recommended sun exposure at noon on 21 June for people living above 42.5 degrees north latitude is:
* for white-skinned, not tanned people – 4 minutes;
* for whites, mostly tanned – 6 minutes;
* for white, heavily tanned people – 8 minutes;
* for people with Mediterranean skin type – 12 minutes;
* for people with East Asian skin type – 15 minutes;
* for people with African skin type – 18 min.

NOTE: Moscow is located at 55.75 degrees north latitude)

HOW TO TAKE VITAMIN D

Foods containing vitamin D – salmon, sardines, char, sea trout.
If you are taking vitamin D capsules, you will be able to absorb more if you eat the capsule with a little fat. Fat stimulates the secretion of bile into the duodenum, which improves the absorption of this fat-soluble vitamin.

Bess Dawson-Hughes, director of the Bone Metabolism Laboratory at the Research Center for Aging Research (HNRCA), shows how important this recommendation is in her research report, published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

She monitored the intake of 50 healthy men and women for vitamin D3. Part of the subjects received a low-fat breakfast (egg white, toast, fruit and juice with vitamin D). Another part of the subjects ate a similar breakfast, but 30% of the calories of this breakfast came from corn or olive oil. Each group ate lunch and dinner at the same level of fat intake as during breakfast.

At the end of the day, blood tests showed that people who ate a diet high in fat absorbed 32% more vitamin D than the group that “ignored” fat.