7 Signs and Symptoms of Vitamin D Deficiency

 Unlike other vitamins, vitamin D works as a hormone, and every cell in your body has a receptor for it.

Your body makes it from cholesterol when your skin is exposed to sunlight.

It is also found in certain foods, such as fatty fish and fortified dairy products, although it is very difficult to get enough from diet alone.

The recommended daily intake (RDI) is usually between 400 and 800 IU, but many experts say that you should consume even more than that.

Vitamin D deficiency is very common. It is estimated that around 1 billion people worldwide have low levels of the vitamin in their blood.

According to a 2011 study, 41.6% of adults in the US are deficient. This number rises to 69.2% in Hispanics and 82.1% in African Americans.

Here are 7 common risk factors for vitamin D deficiency:

• Have dark skin
• Be older
• Being overweight or obese.
• Do not eat a lot of fish or dairy products.
• It lives far from the equator where there is little sun throughout the year.
• Always wearing sunscreen when going out.
• Stay inside.

People who live near the equator and are exposed to the sun frequently are less likely to be deficient, as their skin produces enough vitamin D to meet their body's needs.

Most people do not realize that they are deficient, as the symptoms are usually subtle. You may not easily recognize them, even if they are having a significant negative effect on your quality of life.

Here are 8 signs and symptoms of vitamin D deficiency.

1. Get sick or infected frequently

One of the most important functions of vitamin D is to keep the immune system strong so that it can fight the viruses and bacteria that cause disease.

It interacts directly with the cells responsible for fighting infections.

If you get sick frequently, especially with colds or the flu, low vitamin D levels can be a contributing factor.

Several large observational studies have shown a link between a deficiency and respiratory tract infections such as colds, bronchitis, and pneumonia.

Several studies have found that taking vitamin D supplements at a dose of up to 4,000 IU daily can reduce the risk of respiratory tract infections.

In a study in people with the chronic lung disorder COPD, only those who were severely deficient in vitamin D experienced significant benefit after taking a high-dose supplement for one year.

           Summary

Vitamin D plays an important role in immune function. One of the most common symptoms of deficiency is an increased risk of illness or infection.

Feeling tired can have many causes, and vitamin D deficiency can be one of them.

Unfortunately, it is often overlooked as a potential cause.

Case studies have shown that very low blood levels can cause fatigue that has a severe negative effect on the quality of life.

In one case, a woman who complained of chronic daytime fatigue and headaches was found to have a blood vitamin D level of only 5.9 ng/ml. This is extremely low, as anything below 20 ng/ml is considered deficient.

When the woman took a vitamin D supplement, her level increased to 39 ng/ml and her symptoms resolved.

However, even blood levels that are not extremely low can harm your energy levels.

A large observational study looked at the relationship between vitamin D and fatigue in young women.

The study found that women with blood levels below 20 ng/ml or 21-29 ng / ml were more likely to complain of fatigue than those with blood levels above 30 ng/ml.

Another observational study in nurses found a strong connection between low vitamin D levels and self-reported fatigue.

What's more, the researchers found that 89% of the nurses were handicapped.

For more information on how to reduce fatigue, consider reading up on the 11 Best Vitamins and Supplements for Increasing Energy.

         Summary

Excessive fatigue and tiredness can be a sign of vitamin D deficiency. Taking supplements can help improve energy levels.

Supplements 101: Vitamin D

Vitamin D helps maintain bone health in several ways.

For one thing, it improves your body's absorption of calcium.

Bone pain and low back pain can be signs of inadequate levels of vitamin D in the blood.

Large observational studies have found a relationship between a deficiency and chronic low back pain.

One study examined the association between vitamin D levels and back pain in more than 9,000 older women.

The researchers found that those with a deficiency were more likely to have back pain, including severe back pain that limited their daily activities.

In a controlled study, people with vitamin D deficiency were almost twice as likely to experience bone pain in the legs, ribs, or joints compared to those with blood levels in the normal range.

     Summary

Low levels of vitamin D in the blood can be a cause or a contributing factor to bone pain and low back pain.

A depressed mood can also be a sign of vitamin D deficiency.

In review studies, researchers have linked vitamin D deficiency to depression, particularly in older adults.

In one analysis, 65% of observational studies found a relationship between low blood levels and depression.

On the other hand, most of the controlled trials, which carry more scientific weight than the observational studies, did not show a link between the two.

However, the researchers who looked at the studies noted that the doses of vitamin D in controlled studies were often very low.

Additionally, they noted that some of the studies may not have lasted long enough to see the effect of taking supplements on mood.

Some controlled studies have shown that giving vitamin D to people with a deficiency helps improve depression, including seasonal depression that occurs during the colder months.

     Summary

Depression is associated with low levels of vitamin D, and some studies have found that supplementation improves mood.

5. Impaired wound healing

Slow wound healing after surgery or injury can be a sign that your vitamin D levels are too low.

Results from a test-tube study suggest that the vitamin increases the production of compounds that are crucial for forming new skin as part of the wound-healing process.

A study in people who underwent dental surgery found that certain aspects of healing were compromised by vitamin D deficiency.

Vitamin D's role in controlling inflammation and fighting infection has also been suggested to be important for proper healing.

One analysis focused on patients with diabetic foot infections.

It found that people with severe vitamin D deficiency were more likely to have higher levels of inflammatory markers that can compromise healing.

Unfortunately, there is very little research on the effects of vitamin D supplements on wound healing in people with deficiency at this time.

However, one study found that when patients with vitamin D deficiency and leg ulcers were treated with the vitamin, the size of the ulcer was reduced by 28%, on average.

     Summary

Inadequate levels of vitamin D can lead to poor wound healing after surgery, injury, or infection.

Vitamin D plays a crucial role in calcium absorption and bone metabolism.

Many older people diagnosed with bone loss believe that they need to take in more calcium. However, they can also be deficient in vitamin D.

Low bone mineral density is an indication that your bones have lost calcium and other minerals. This places older adults, especially women, at higher risk for fractures.

In a large observational study of more than 1,100 middle-aged women in menopause or postmenopause, researchers found a strong link between low vitamin D levels and low bone mineral density.

However, a controlled study found that women who were deficient in vitamin D did not experience any improvement in bone mineral density when taking supplements in high doses, even if their blood levels improved.

Regardless of these findings, adequate intake of vitamin D and maintaining blood levels within the optimal range may be a good strategy to protect bone mass and reduce the risk of fractures.

   Summary

A diagnosis of low bone mineral density can be a sign of vitamin D deficiency. Getting enough of this vitamin is important to preserve bone mass as you age.

Hair loss is often attributed to stress, which is certainly a common cause.

However, when hair loss is severe, it can be the result of disease or nutrient deficiencies.

Hair loss in women has been linked to low levels of vitamin D, although there is very little research on this to date.

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease characterized by the severe hair loss on the head and other parts of the body. It is associated with rickets, which is a disease that causes soft bones in children due to vitamin D deficiency.

Low levels of vitamin D are related to alopecia areata and can be a risk factor for developing the disease.

A study in people with alopecia areata showed that lower blood levels of vitamin D tended to be associated with more severe hair loss.

In a case study, topical application of a synthetic form of the vitamin was found to successfully treat hair loss in a child with a defect in the vitamin D receptor.

Many other foods and nutrients can affect the health of your hair. If you are experiencing hair loss, you may be interested in the 14 Best Foods for Hair Growth.

    Summary

Hair loss can be a sign of vitamin D deficiency in female pattern hair loss or the autoimmune condition alopecia areata.

The causes of muscle pain are often difficult to identify.

There is some evidence that vitamin D deficiency can be a potential cause of muscle pain in children and adults.

In one study, 71% of people with chronic pain were found to be deficient.

The vitamin D receptor is present on nerve cells called nociceptors, which detect pain.

A study in rats showed that a deficiency caused pain and tenderness due to stimulation of nociceptors in the muscles.

Some studies have found that taking high-dose vitamin D supplements can reduce various types of pain in people with a deficiency.

A study in 120 vitamin D-deficient children who had growing pains found that a single dose of the vitamin reduced pain scores by an average of 57%.

   Summary

There is a link between chronic pain and low blood levels of vitamin D, which may be due to the interaction between the vitamin and pain-sensitive nerve cells.

Vitamin D deficiency is incredibly common and is unknown to most people.

This is because the symptoms are often subtle and nonspecific, which means that it is difficult to know if they are caused by low vitamin D levels or something else.

If you think you may have a deficiency, it is important to talk to your doctor and measure your blood levels.

Fortunately, a vitamin D deficiency is usually easy to fix.

You can increase your exposure to the sun, eat more foods rich in vitamin D, such as fatty fish or fortified dairy products. You can also find a variety of vitamin D supplements on Amazon.

Fixing your deficiency is simple, easy, and can have great benefits for your health.