Vitamin D Deficiency: 6 Causes, Common Symptoms and Health Risks
Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin. It is particularly essential for bone health and functioning of immune system in our body. Vitamin D helps our body absorb calcium and phosphorus, and maintain strong bones and teeth.
Six common causes of Vitamin D deficiency:
- Lack of exposure to sunlight
- Dietary deficiency of vitamin D
- Liver and kidney diseases
- Poor food absorption in cystic fibrosis and Crohn’s disease, and in patients who have undergone gastric bypass surgery
- Use of certain medicines, including phenytoin, phenobarbital, and rifampin etc can cause vitamin D deficiency
- In infants who are exclusively breastfed. Formula milk is fortified with vitamin D.
Six common symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency:
- Frequent bone fractures due to thinning and brittle bones
- Bone and back pain
- Frequent Infections
- Feeling exhausted or tired
- Mood swings with anxiety or depression
- Impaired wound healing
Health risks associated with vitamin D deficiency
Vitamin D deficiency can result in serious health conditions like Osteomalacia in adults, Rickets in children and Osteoporosis.
Osteomalacia is a characteristic feature of vitamin D deficiency in adults. Osteomalacia is softening of bone due to demineralization (the loss of mineral) and most notably by the depletion of calcium from bone.
Vitamin D deficiency in children can result in Rickets. Rickets results in softening and bending of bones. Osteoporosis is a condition of fragile bones with increased susceptibility to fracture. Vitamin D and calcium deficiency are one of the leading cause of osteoporosis.
Research is also being conducted to study the possible relation of Vitamin D with several medical conditions, including diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure), cancer, and autoimmune conditions such as multiple sclerosis. But, it will be too early to comment anything on this.
Vitamin D is derived from endogenous sources and exogenous sources.
. Endogenous source:It is produced in our body on exposure of our skin to sunlight.
. Exogenous source: Dietary source of the vitamin D includes fish, eggs, fortified dairy products and dietary supplement.
Vitamin D requirements depend on a number of factors like age, race, geographical location, season, sun exposure etc. A daily Vitamin D intake of 1000–4000 IU, or 25–100 micrograms, should be enough to ensure optimal blood levels in most people.
In case you are Vitamin D deficient, you can treat this condition by getting more Vitamin D through diet and supplements. Increased exposure to sunlight also helps as Vitamin D is produced in our body on exposure of skin to sunlight.
Consult your doctor to know about how much Vitamin D supplements you need to take, how often you need to take it, and how long you need to take it in case you are Vitamin D deficient.
Excess supplementation of Vitamin D can result in Vitamin D intoxication. Vitamin D levels can easily be monitored by a simple Vitamin D blood test.
The normal range of Vitamin D 25-OH is measured as nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) or nmol/L and can vary from lab to lab.
Level | Reference range | (ng/mL) |
Severe deficiency | <10 ng/mL | |
Mild to moderate deficiency | 10-24 | |
Optimal | 25-80 | |
Potential intoxication | >80 |
Note:
•There can be seasonal variation in 25 (OH) vitamin D level, with values being 40-50% lower in winter than in summer. It is also influenced by sunlight, latitude, skin pigmentation, sunscreen use, and hepatic function.
•25 (OH) vitamin D levels can vary with age
•25 (OH) vitamin D level is increased during pregnancy.