Key Risks of Vitamin D Deficiency

Vitamin D deficiency symptoms can often be inconspicuous or present themselves through certain disorders. Vitamin D helps our bodies absorb the calcium it needs and is vital for maintaining healthy, strong muscles and bones. Vitamin D deficiency has generally been linked to diseases affecting the bones, such as rickets, but more recent studies have shown vitamin D to be important for treating and preventing many other health issues as well.

Symptoms and Health Factors of Vitamin D Deficiency

Having a vitamin D deficiency can lead to serious medical conditions. Your doctor can perform a blood test to check your body’s vitamin D levels to see if you are deficient. The following are some vitamin D deficiency symptoms, signs and associated disorders:

• Bone pain or fractures
• An overall weak feeling and chronic fatigue
• Weak muscles and cramping
• Poor dental health
• Chronic pain
• Osteomalacia
• Rickets and severe asthma in children
• Osteoporosis

Research studies have shown that vitamin D can also be used to prevent or even treat conditions and diseases such as:

• Multiple sclerosis
• Diabetes
• Hypertension
• Heart disease
• Certain forms of cancer

The Causes of Vitamin D Deficiency

Not getting enough exposure to sunlight is one of the most prevalent reasons for a person to have vitamin D deficiency. The body produces vitamin D when exposed to the sun and those that do not get direct exposure to sunlight due to being housebound, a job that keeps you out of the sun or wearing clothing that covers most of your skin are at a greater risk for having low vitamin D levels. Because of the increased risks of skin cancer people are using sunscreens or simply avoiding exposure to the sun. A person needs to be exposed to direct sunlight without wearing sunscreen for at least 20 minutes several times per week. If you have a darker skin tone, you need an even longer direct exposure.

A diet lacking vitamin D foods such as fish oils, beef livers, eggs and cheese, like a strict vegetarian diet, puts you at an increased risk for being vitamin D deficient.

People with kidney or liver diseases that cannot convert vitamin D to its active form are more at risk. Age also plays a factor because as we age the kidneys become less able to convert the vitamin D.

Fat cells excerpt vitamin D from the blood which puts those that are obese at a greater risk for being deficient in vitamin D. Having lowered levels of vitamin D and being obese can make it harder to lose weight.

Certain gastrointestinal diseases such as celiac disease, cystic fibrosis and Crohn's disease can lessen the body’s ability to absorb vitamin D from food.

Treating Vitamin D Deficiency

There are a few simple ways to treat vitamin D deficiency symptoms. This can be done through diet, sun exposure and supplements. If you are unable or choose not to increase your skin’s exposure to sunlight, enjoy a diet of vitamin D foods including fish, meats, milk and orange juice fortified with vitamin D, breakfast cereals, dairy products and egg yolks.

Taking a vitamin D supplement can be a simple way to increase the levels of vitamin D in your body. If you were found to be severely deficient, discuss with your doctor what vitamin D supplement dosage amount is correct for you.