In fact, there are many reasons for the fatigue of ovarian cancer patients, in addition to disease activity, anemia, lack of sleep, mental stress, and it may also be because you are deficient in vitamin D!
Why do I feel tired due to vitamin D deficiency?
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In the latest research, it has been mentioned that a decrease in vitamin D leads to an increase in the level of oxidative stress and inflammatory factors in the body, and oxidative stress and inflammatory factors are one of the mechanisms leading to fatigue [1].
In other words, when we don't have enough vitamin D in our body, it's like the body's defense system becomes weaker, making oxidative stress and inflammatory factors more likely to mess up in the body, making our body feel more tired.
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At the same time, vitamin D is also involved in the control and release of the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin, when vitamin D is deficient, the levels of dopamine and serotonin in the body will also be unbalanced, resulting in the body experiencing symptoms of lack of vitality.
How can you tell if you are vitamin D deficient?
First of all, you can observe the symptoms, when vitamin D is deficient, the body may experience a range of symptoms, including but not limited to:
1. Bone problems:
Such as bone pain, muscle weakness, easy fractures, skeletal deformities (such as X-shaped legs, O-shaped legs, pectus excavatum, etc.).
2. Mood and behavior changes:
Vitamin D deficiency may cause mental symptoms such as irritability, irritability, mood swings, and difficulty concentrating.
3. Excessive sweating and night sweats:
Vitamin D deficiency may affect parathyroid hormone secretion, leading to abnormal calcium and phosphorus metabolism, which in turn can lead to excessive sweating or night sweats.
4. Fatigue and weakness:
Long-term vitamin D deficiency can lead to a decline in the body's overall functioning, which is manifested by a persistent feeling of fatigue and weakness.
In addition to observing symptoms, the most accurate way to determine vitamin D levels is to measure the level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-(OH)D) in the blood. This is the most straightforward and commonly used method of assessing vitamin D levels.
Vitamin D deficiency can be judged if the level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in the blood is lower than normal (less than 30 ng/mL is generally considered insufficient).
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Do I need to fasting for a blood test?
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If you just want to have this test, you usually don't need to have an empty stomach because diet usually doesn't affect the test results. However, any preparations containing vitamin D should be avoided before the blood test is taken, so as not to affect the accuracy of the test results. However, many people who go to the hospital for examination generally do not do only one examination alone, if you need to do other blood tests, it is best to consult a doctor in advance to see if you need to fast.
How to supplement vitamin D?
Having said all this, the most concerned thing should be how to supplement vitamin D. In fact, it can be summed up as nothing more than sun exposure, food supplements, drug supplements, etc.
01
Replenish by basking in the sun
Arrange your time in the sun:
Receiving the right amount of sunlight every day is an effective way to supplement with vitamin D. Patients are advised to engage in outdoor activities during non-intense sunlight periods (eg, before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m.) for 15 to 30 minutes at a time.
Patients with sun-sensitive skin can do appropriate outdoor activities after applying sunscreen to reduce the damage of ultraviolet rays to the skin.
02
Supplement with food
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1. Increase your intake of vitamin D-rich foods:
Animal foods: such as fatty marine fish (such as salmon, mackerel, tuna, etc.), animal liver (such as pork liver, chicken liver, etc.), egg yolks, etc., these foods are good sources of vitamin D.
Dark green vegetables: Although vegetables are relatively low in vitamin D, dark green leafy vegetables (such as spinach, broccoli, canola, mustard greens, etc.) still contain some amounts of vitamin D and can be used as a supplementary source.
Sun-exposed mushrooms: Mushrooms produce vitamin D2 when exposed to sunlight, which is also a good option.
2. Pay attention to food pairings:
When consuming foods rich in vitamin D, you can also combine them with some calcium-rich foods, such as milk, soy products, etc., because vitamin D helps the absorption and utilization of calcium.
03
Supplement with vitamin D preparations under the guidance of a doctor
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1. Choose the right vitamin D preparation:
For patients with severe ovarian cancer with vitamin D deficiency, they can choose the appropriate vitamin D preparation for supplementation under the guidance of a doctor. Common vitamin D preparations include vitamin D3 drops, vitamin D2 softgels, etc.
2. Pay attention to the dosage and time of taking:
The dosage and timing of vitamin D preparations should be tailored to the specific situation of the patient. In general, the recommended daily intake for adults is 400-800 IU, but the exact dose should be as directed by a doctor. At the same time, patients are advised to take vitamin D preparations after meals to increase their absorption.
Warm reminder: The information involved in this article is intended to convey the cutting-edge medical information and research progress, and does not involve the recommendation of diagnosis and treatment plans.
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Editor in charge: Mijian Kepujun
Reference Sources:
[1] Di Molfetta IV, Bordoni L, Gabbianelli R, Sagratini G, Alessandroni L. Vitamin D and Its Role on the Fatigue Mitigation: A Narrative Review. Nutrients. 2024; 16(2):221. Published 2024 Jan 10. doi:10.3390/nu16020221