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Acquired Neuromuscular Disorders pp 155–162Cite as

Vitamin D Deficiency in Muscle

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Abstract

Vitamin D deficiency is a common condition affecting people from different age groups of both genders. Vitamin D can be obtained from diet or from cutaneous synthesis in the skin. Various etiological factors contribute to the development of vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D functions are beyond calcium and phosphate homeostasis and bone health. Vitamin D is essential for muscle and nervous system growth and function. Therefore, deficiency in vitamin D may lead to alterations in the neuromuscular apparatus, leading to undesirable sequelae. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to several neuromuscular conditions including myopathy, myalgia, myotonic dystrophy, myasthenia gravis, drug-induced myopathy and rhabdomyolysis, and others. Screening such patients is vital for early detection and rapid intervention in order to prevent the development of the undesirable outcomes and to improve the quality of life in these patients. Therefore, Vitamin D supplementation is essential once the disease is diagnosed. In this chapter, we will delineate the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and the development of various neuromuscular conditions. In addition, we will shed the light on the epidemiology and biochemistry of vitamin D as well as the importance of vitamin D supplementation in the prevention of neuromuscular conditions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Neurology, Department of Neurosciences, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Hussam Abou Al-Shaar MD & Saeed A. Bohlega MD, FRCPC

  2. College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Hussam Abou Al-Shaar MD & Saeed A. Bohlega MD, FRCPC

Authors
  1. Hussam Abou Al-Shaar MD
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  2. Saeed A. Bohlega MD, FRCPC
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Saeed A. Bohlega MD, FRCPC .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Neuromuscular Center, IRCCS Fondazione San Camillo Hospit, Venice, Italy

    Corrado Angelini

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Abou Al-Shaar, H., Bohlega, S.A. (2016). Vitamin D Deficiency in Muscle. In: Angelini, C. (eds) Acquired Neuromuscular Disorders. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-29514-5_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-29514-5_12

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-29512-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-29514-5

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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