Vitamin D and RLS

It may be worth RLS sufferers keeping vitamin D levels high. There is also a relationship between D and iron, but science doesn't understand it yet.

vitamindcouncil.org/blog/vi...

[beady3]

Do you realy think its worth buying any vit D tabs,I already eat vit D foods but would a tab help. I am on Tramodol and Co- Beneldopa I still get a lot of bad nights I am thinking of taking another Tramodol am on 2 at the minute taking 1 at 2.00 and 1at 9.00 and 2 of the others about 9.30. What does anyone think ,what about you Pete x

[Hidden in reply to beady3]

Hi beady3. Just a wee note on the tramadol. Although I was primarily prescribed it for pain it as you know has the benefits of helping RLS.

I found that when I started taking the tramadol regularly throughout the day, (instead of keeping it til evening and taking maximum allowed dose through the later part of the day), it had a much better all round effect on the pain and RLS - MIGHT be worth a try taking earlier doses.

Good luck.

[beady3 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Raffs will try today and let you know how I get on in a few days x

[Hidden in reply to beady3]

Best of luck - have a couple of fingers crossed for you.

[beady3 in reply to Hidden]

Hi Raffs thanks for news on Tramodol,I did what you said and started early in the day much better,things not to bad ,hope you are ok x

[Hidden in reply to beady3]

GREAT! Happy Days as they say around here. Very glad to have been of service.

Waiting to hear from GP about the increase in the Neupro patch.

My regular Dr is off so hopefully one of the other ones will have the ability to increase to the 2 mg one, (although since I have been investigated for CFS - my view of Drs - [which wasn't good due to their limited knowledge of RLS] - has drastically decreased!).

Fingers crossed!

[Sharon21 in reply to beady3]

I was diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency about a year ago and was prescribed supplements which I continue to take. Unfortunately, my RLS is as bad as ever!

[beady3 in reply to Sharon21]

Hi Sharon,do you take any other meds,so vit d didn't help you then

[Sharon21 in reply to beady3]

Wasn't prescribed Vitamin D for RLS specifically, GP just thought I might be deficient. I didn't realise it was connected to RLS until I read this post. So thought I would mention that it hadn't made any difference to my legs.

I take Ropinirole 4mg before I go to bed and 1mg in early hours. Have been taking this for awhile and it is best of meds I have been on. It at least helps me to get a reasonable night's sleep.

RLS is particularly bad late afternoon and all evening. Often have to eat my tea standing up and it's hard never being able to sit down and relax in evenings, but at least the ironing get's done! Still I can't complain because I know a lot of people are up all night, as I used to be before taking Ropinirole.

[Hidden in reply to Sharon21]

What's your serum ferritin level?

[Pete-1 in reply to beady3]

Sorry I am so tardy in my reply. Erm, I heard from somewhere, I think, that vitamin D is generated in the body as a result of sunshine. So make sure you have some exposure to sunlight. Don't go mad though folks. That is keep in mind all the wibble regarding sunlight and Melanoma.

In fact you need to give vitamin supplements a wide berth and only take supplements if a test shows a shortage. I believe that some vitamins can be quite injurious to your health when taken to excess. And some vitamins especially, I wish I could remember which, should not be taken as supplements, if you are pregnant.

[Hidden in reply to Pete-1]

Yes Pete, vitamin D (it is a pro hormone, not really a vitamin at all) can famously be made in the skin when exposed to sunshine. How easy this is depends on where you live. I am guessing you are from the States, where the sun is strong in summer. A short exposure of say - legs and arms - to strong sunshine, without burning, as you say, but without sun block, will give you plenty of D. The bright light will also help set your circadian clock. Sun shining through glass onto the skin doesn't do the trick.

However in Britain and Canada, for example, high latitude countries, the sun is not strong enough for the whole coldest six months in the year to generate Vit D in the skin. We have to take supplements then. There is massive Vit D deficiency in Britain, and those with coloured skins or who cover for religious reasons are hugely at risk, and this is a particular worry for their babies, who can be born with rickets, bent legs, as a result. Research is beginning to show that there are further significant advantages from keeping vitamin D levels up during pregnancy with supplemments. There is very good science on this. I know you are trying to help, but it is very dangerous for you to tell people, including pregnant women, "to give supplements a wide berth" without better knowledge of the subject.

Even in the summer here Vitamin D can only be made in the skin at lunch time when it is sunny. Often it is cloudy, and often here women are inside at lunchtime, working, doing chores.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I sort of agree with Pete-1, there is no point in taking any vitamins unless you are deficient in them. Some people can be low in some vitamins but in my opinion should be checked out first. If we eat a sensible diet, we should by rights get all what we need from food. As we get older, it can be harder to absorb some vitamins. Also pregnant women should only be taking what their doctor has told them is safe to you so. For us RLSers, our ferritin level is what should be checked to see if we need to take iron pills which can for some people help with RLS symptoms. It doesnt help everyone, iron pills never helped me. But as i said some it does.

[Kaarina Administrator]

Hi Beady

It is difficult to get enough Vit D purely from diet. It is got mainly from sunlight. Here in the UK there is not much of that in the winter months and if you always use sunscreen in the spring/summer months you will not build up any kind of store. The only sure way that I know, to find out if one is Vitamin D deficient is to have a blood test.

Kaarina

[beady3 in reply to Kaarina]

Thanks kaarina will leave the vit alone and change the way I have my tabs what do you suggest standing on my head xx

[Hidden in reply to Kaarina]

I agree Kaarina, having a blood test is the best way to see if you are deficient.

[Pat9]

I am convinced low iron makes RLS much worse.. I know with me it does any way.. thank you for the link x

[Hidden in reply to Pat9]

In early onset RLS at least low iron appears to be the leading cause - Johns Hopkins Hospital tries to get serum ferritin levels over 100. And I have just been reading a message from someone on the thyroid boards who didn't see her RLS go till she reached a serum ferritin of 130!!

[sandstone]

Just a quick comment, you can buy vitamin D and Calcium in bottles of 60 at asda for£1 worth trying for that price I'm sure...you can buy most vitamins there but some you need to check with doc first..,

I have started taking extra vitamins and currently take ...

vitamin D and Calcium, iron, magnesium , multi vitamins and tumeric.

Doc confirmed that I had a low iron count after recent blood test this was when I was already taking extra through vitamins and prescribed me folic acid too (not pregnant)

May help others just to try

i am unsure if any of these are having any affect as yet only been using this month