Funciones

Membresía

Artículos

Ayuda

Descargar

Todos los artículos

Beauty and Anti-Aging

Vitamin D Deficiency

30 de diciembre de 2024

3 min de lectura

Vitamin D deficiency means you do not have enough vitamin D in your body. Also known as the sunshine vitamin, vitamin D is an essential nutrient that is naturally absorbed by the skin through exposure to sunlight. It can also be obtained from dietary sources and supplements.

Why is vitamin D important?

Vitamin D has important functions including:

Supporting bone health through healthy absorption of calcium
Helping in cell growth.
Helping in the absorption of calcium and phosphorous to build bones and support healthy tissue.
Maintaining the immune system.
Reducing inflammation and preventing diseases like rheumatoid arthritis.
Maintaining cardiovascular health.

Vitamin D Deficiency Causes

The causes of vitamin D deficiency may include:

Not getting enough vitamin D from the diet:

People who follow a strict vegan diet may miss out on the vitamin D available from certain animal

based foods like:

Egg yolks
Fatty fish including salmon, tuna, mackerel, and trout
Fish liver oils
Beef liver
Milk and milk products

Not getting enough sun exposure

The body makes vitamin D naturally when exposed to sunlight. Some people may experience a vitamin D deficiency if they:

Stay indoors most of the time.
Live in the northern climate.
Wear sunscreen every time they go out.

Having a darker skin tone

People with a darker skin tone have a higher amount of melanin, the pigment that gives the skin its color. High melanin content can block the skin’s ability to create vitamin D after exposure to the sun.

Medical conditions

The medical conditions that can cause a vitamin D deficiency may include:

Obesity: Having a BMI of more than 30.
Cystic fibrosis, Crohn’s disease, and colitis: The conditions may prevent the intestine from absorbing vitamin D.
Kidney and liver disease: The conditions reduce certain enzymes required to change the vitamin D to a form in which it can be used.

Weight loss surgeries

Weight loss surgeries like gastric bypass surgery that reduce the stomach size or bypass a part of the small intestine can make it difficult for the body to absorb essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals.

Medications

The medications that can cause a vitamin D deficiency include

Steroids, like prednisone
Laxatives
Cholesterol-lowering drugs like colestipol and cholestyramine
Seizure-preventing drugs like phenytoin and phenobarbital
Orlistat (a weight-loss drug)
Rifampin (a tuberculosis drug).

Symptoms of Vitamin D Deficiency

While a deficiency in vitamin D may have no symptoms or the symptoms may appear after many years, it increases the risk of developing certain long-term health problems.

Some symptoms of vitamin D deficiency may include:

Bone and back pain
Fatigue
Muscle aches and cramps
Mood changes like anxiety and depression
Impaired wound healing

In the long run, severe vitamin D deficiency may cause:

Loss of bone density which contributes to fractures and osteoporosis.
Osteomalacia that leads to bone pain, and bone and muscle weaknesses.

Children with mild vitamin D deficiency may have weak, sore, or painful muscles.

How is vitamin D deficiency diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider may order a blood test to determine your vitamin D levels if you:

Have any symptoms.
Have any underlying medical conditions that can cause a vitamin D deficiency.
Are at a risk of developing a vitamin D deficiency.

Vitamin D Deficiency Treatment

People with a vitamin D deficiency may be prescribed supplements. The supplements come in two forms:

Ergocalciferol (D2) which needs a prescription; and,
Cholecalciferol(D3) ,available over-the-counter.

It takes about six to eight weeks of taking vitamin D supplements for the body to reach normal vitamin D levels.

Vitamin D Deficiency Prevention

Vitamin D deficiency can be prevented by:

Getting regular sun exposure.
Having a diet rich in vitamin D.
Taking vitamin D supplements.

Can too much vitamin D be harmful?

Too much vitamin D can be harmful with symptoms like:

Nausea and vomiting
Constipation
Weaknesses
Loss of appetite

High levels of vitamin D may cause hypercalcemia (high calcium levels) leading to:

Kidney failure
Irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)
Confusion

Source links

Información general, no consejo médico

Este artículo no puede tener en cuenta tu historial de salud ni tu tratamiento actual. Habla con un profesional sanitario cualificado antes de cambiar nada de tu cuidado.

Lee nuestro aviso médico →

En esta página