About this episode

The episode discusses the critical role of Vitamin D in chronic pain, fatigue, and overall health.

Could one of the most overlooked drivers of chronic pain, fatigue, poor sleep, and slow recovery be hiding in plain sight? In this episode, Dr. Linda Bluestein and co-host Dr. Dacre Knight sit down with integrative medicine pioneer Dr. Gregory Plotnikoff to unpack why Vitamin D may be one of the most important, misunderstood, and cost-effective interventions in modern medicine. But this conversation goes far beyond bone health. Dr. Plotnikoff explains why Vitamin D functions more like a hormone than a vitamin, influencing over 2,000 genes tied to immune function, mood, sleep, inflammation, muscle health, and pain regulation. Together, they explore why profound deficiencies are shockingly common, even in sunny climates, and how low levels may contribute to chronic musculoskeletal pain, tendinopathies, stress fractures, fatigue, and complex chronic illness. The discussion also dives into practical, foundational medicine for patients with Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS), POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome), MCAS (mast cell activation syndrome), chronic pain, and other multisystem conditions, including the “Top 5” lab tests Dr. Plotnikoff believes are essential for…

People in this episode

Hosts: Dr. Linda Bluestein, Dr. Dacre Knight

Guest: Dr. Gregory Plotnikoff

Topics covered

• Vitamin D
• chronic pain
• fatigue
• sleep
• integrative medicine
• health interventions

Keywords

• Vitamin D
• chronic illness
• immune function
• gene expression
• musculoskeletal pain
• health tests

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes, POTS, MCAS

More episodes of Bendy Bodies with Dr. Linda Bluestein

• Why Lipedema Resists Diet and Exercise with the Lipedema Foundation (Ep 198) · May 28, 2026 · 1h 14m
• Why Everything You've Been Told About EDS Lifestyle Is Wrong with Dr. Dacre Knight (Ep 197) · May 21, 2026 · 1h 9m
• Too Flexible to Fix? Orthopedic Surgery and Hypermobility with Dr. Jocelyn Wittstein (Ep 196) · May 14, 2026 · 1h 10m

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