Ruth Ann Cooper, D.P.M

Shorter days and long cold nights during winter can limit your sun exposure and often lead to lower vitamin D levels in your body. Inadequate levels of vitamin D can in turn, increase your risk of suffering a stress fracture in your feet.

Calcium is often touted as the best nutrient for building bone density. However, vitamin D manages the calcium you intake and allows the body to absorb both calcium and phosphate. This is what builds your bones.

If your vitamin D levels are low, the weight bearing bones in your feet and ankles are easily affected because they are not strong enough to withstand the pressure of supporting your body.

Many patients who are treated for foot fractures and who also have low levels of vitamin D, are typically over age fifty, are overweight, have limited sun exposure or a darker skin complexion, or live with a medical condition that causes malabsorption.

To increase your vitamin D levels without increasing your sun exposure, eat fortified foods to reach the U. S. Food and Drug Administration’s recommended daily amount of 400 IUs of vitamin D.

If you are experiencing frequent foot fractures or unexplained foot pain and are concerned about your vitamin D levels, schedule an appointment with my office in Cincinnati, Ohio.