Vitamin D and Urinary Incontinence
Researchers at SUNY Upstate Medical University (Syracuse, New York) recently announced that pelvic floor disorders in women are associated with low vitamin D levels.
In a paper published in the April issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Drs. Samuel Badalian and Paula Rosenbaum studied 1961 women and found that 23% of American women over age 20 have a pelvic floor disorder, which often leads to urinary or even fecal incontinence. Women who are overweight or have had more than one child are at an increased risk.
The researcher found that low vitamin D levels predicted pelvic floor disorders, even in younger women, and that urinary incontinence was twice as likely in vitamin–D deficient women compared with women who had higher vitamin D levels.
The authors concluded: “Our findings suggest that treatment of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency in both premenopausal and postmenopausal women could improve pelvic muscle strength, with a possible reduction in the prevalence of pelvic floor disorders, including urinary incontinence.”
John Cannell, MD
Executive Director
Vitamin D Council
1241 Johnson Ave., #134
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
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