What is vitamin D deficiency?
A vitamin D deficiency occurs when the body does not have enough of the vitamin, which is necessary for healthy bones and teeth. One billion people worldwide are thought to have low vitamin D levels.
When our skin is exposed to sunlight, the body produces vitamin D, which is naturally present in some foods like fish liver oil, egg yolks, and fortified dairy and cereals. A deficiency is more likely to occur in people who are vegan, have milk allergies, or don’t get enough sun.
What are the symptoms?
Because the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency can be so subtle, most people are unaware of it. Here are a few typical indicators:
- Frequently getting sick: A deficiency in vitamin D may be a contributing factor if you frequently get sick because it helps your immune system fight off viruses and illnesses.
- Weariness and exhaustion
- Pain in the bones and back, especially in the lower back
- Bone loss: Calcium absorption, which is necessary for healthy bones, is greatly aided by vitamin D. Low vitamin D levels have been connected to low bone mineral density.
- Rickets: a condition that causes soft bones and abnormalities in the bones
- Weakness in the muscles; depression; impaired wound healing; and hair loss: alopecia areata has been related to low vitamin D levels.
Numerous health risks, including an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and cognitive impairment in older adults, can result from low vitamin D levels.
- Childhood asthma
- Cancer Studies also indicate that vitamin D is essential for the prevention and management of multiple sclerosis, high blood pressure, and type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
How is vitamin D deficiency diagnosed?
The 25-hydroxyvitamin D blood test is the most precise method of determining your body’s vitamin D levels. Low levels of vitamin D are indicated by a level of less than 20 nanograms/ml.
What causes vitamin D deficiency?
There are several causes of vitamin D deficiency, including:
- Insufficient exposure to sunlight: Sunlight causes your body to produce vitamin D. People who wear long clothing for religious, cultural, or professional reasons, or who reside in northern nations, may be at risk.
The majority of natural sources of vitamin D are found in animal-based products like fish, egg yolks, and fortified milk, so if you follow a vegan or dairy-free diet, you probably don’t get enough of it in your diet. - Having dark skin: Melanin, a pigment found in dark skin, inhibits the skin’s ability to produce vitamin D in response to sunlight.
- Growing older: People’s kidneys’ capacity to transform vitamin D into its active form declines with age.
- Digestive issues: your small intestines’ capacity to absorb vitamins may be impacted if you have Crohn’s disease, cystic fibrosis, or celiac disease.
- Being obese or overweight.
How is it treated?
Increasing your vitamin D intake through diet and supplements is the treatment for vitamin D deficiency. For individuals aged one to seventy, the recommended daily allowance is 600 IU, and for those over seventy, it is 800 IU.
How can it be prevented?
You can lower your risk of vitamin D deficiency by:
- Following a diet with foods rich in vitamin D
- Spending more time outdoors in direct sunlight (using sufficient sun protection in high temperatures)
- Taking vitamin D supplements