One Major Effect of Vitamin D on Your Bladder, New Study Says
An overactive bladder can feel both embarrassing and like a major nuisance—but if you suffer from this condition, you're not alone. The American Urological Association states 33 million Americans experience an overactive bladder. Currently, there are a lot of cutting-edge medications to treat this… but if you'd prefer to try making a small shift to your daily routine rather than start on a prescription, an impressive new study suggests one supplement that's already been making headlines lately.
For a meta-analysis just published this week, four researchers in Israel who specialize in public health and obstetrics/gynecology performed a review of past studies, which all occurred as recently as August 2020. For their review, the researchers sought research that had been performed related to overactive bladder, urinary incontinence, pelvic floor disorders, and lower urinary tract symptoms.
Of the studies they reviewed, six out of seven had concluded that the onset and severity of urinary incontinence was significantly linked with Vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency.
Additionally, two other randomized controlled trials had found that Vitamin D can be effective at treating urinary incontinence.
Overall, this means that two-thirds of the studies the researchers looked back at showed a correlation between sufficient Vitamin D intake and good urinary health.
You may already be aware that Vitamin D has been shown to deliver a range of benefits, like strengthening bones, supporting immunity, and even boosting your mood. So how might it impact the bladder?
The researchers explain that the bladder detrusor muscle, which contracts to allow urine out of the bladder, contains Vitamin D receptors. In essence, Vitamin D may help strengthen some muscles in and around the pelvic floor, including the bladder.
But Vitamin D may do more than just address annoying symptoms, like running to the bathroom more often than you'd like. In fact, a 2019 study found that low Vitamin D levels were actually associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer.
If you've got that Vitamin D on hand, this might be a good reminder to make sure you're taking it.
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