Does Vitamin D Help Shoulder Surgery Recovery

Vitamin D, also known as calciferol, is a critical vitamin for the body that is made from exposure to sunlight and absorbed from foods and dietary supplements. Vitamin D must be activated in the body, in the kidneys and the liver, to be converted into its active form.

What vitamin D does

Vitamin D has many critical functions in the body. It is critical for calcium and phosphate absorption from our gut, which are critical to maintain bone and muscle health. A lack of vitamin D and calcium are well-known causes of brittle bones and abnormal muscle contractions. Vitamin D also plays critical roles in many anti-inflammatory, immune, and metabolic pathways throughout the body.

Why it matters for shoulder surgery

Sufficient vitamin D levels are critically important for bone and muscle health and healing after surgery. Low vitamin D levels have been associated with a higher risk of rotator cuff tears. We recommend taking at least 800 IU per day.

While the surgical recovery is different for every patient, the healing phase of surgery, including tissue repair and remodeling, extends a minimum of 3 months after most surgical procedures. Accordingly, having sufficient levels of vitamin D for one month before surgery and 3 months after surgery, if not longer, is highly recommended.

Dr. Patrick Denard has been voted one of the top 20 Shoulder Surgeons in North America, and has been ranked in the top 1% of researchers for shoulder. Dr. Denard is committed to providing the highest level of orthopedic care to his patients, not only from a surgical standpoint, but also by considering the overall picture including avoidance of narcotics, and optimizing nutrition and rehabilitation. With this approach, over 95% of his patients are able to go home the same day of surgery.

References

• Institute of Medicine, Food and Nutrition Board. Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium and Vitamin D. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 2010.
• Jones G. Vitamin D. In: Ross AC, Caballero B, Cousins RJ, Tucker KL, Ziegler TR, eds. Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease, 11th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2014.
• Holick MF, Binkley NC, Bischoff-Ferrari HA, Gordon CM, Hanley DA, Heaney RP, et al. Evaluation, treatment, and prevention of vitamin D deficiency: an Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2011;96:1911-30.
• Yetley EA. Assessing the vitamin D status of the US population. Am J Clin Nutr 2008;88:558S-64S.
• Rockwell M, Kraak V, Hulver M, Epling J. Clinical management of low vitamin D: A scoping review of physicians' practices. Nutrients 2018 Apr 16;10(4).