14 Signs of Vitamin D Deficiency
If you are unaware of these symptoms, you could be suffering from vitamin D deficiency. In 2011, statistics showed that 41.6 percent of adults in the United States were vitamin D deficient. The numbers were higher for Hispanics, African Americans, and those who live far from the equator. While those who live near the equator enjoy exposure to sun for most of the year are less likely to be vitamin D deficient. The skin of people who live near the equator is naturally high in vitamin D.
Symptoms
If you're a bit under the weather, you could be suffering from a vitamin D deficiency. The problem is, the most noticeable signs are often subtle. While a lack of vitamin D can throw off the balance of certain hormones and other nutrients, the effects of low vitamin D are often slow to show. Long-term deficiency can cause bone deformities and increase your risk for fractures and bone pain.
Severe cases of vitamin D deficiency can lead to seizures, muscle spasms, and breathing difficulties. This is closely related to low calcium levels. Children with deficient vitamin D often have curved limbs and soft skull bones. These symptoms are often accompanied by poor growth and bone pain. People who are suffering from vitamin D deficiency also experience general tiredness and aches.
Causes
One of the major causes of vitamin D deficiency is insufficient sun exposure. Many risk factors for limited sun exposure contribute to vitamin D deficiency. This could include living in a colder climate, certain jobs, or the use of sunblock. Some individuals are also at risk for vitamin D deficiency because their skin has difficulty absorbing UV rays. People with certain gastrointestinal conditions may also have limited absorption.
Other causes of vitamin D deficiency can be dietary and lifestyle factors. People who don't eat enough vitamin D can suffer from rickets, which is a disease in which the bones don't finish mineralization before the closure of the epiphyseal plates, the cartilage at the ends of a child's long bones. Vitamin D deficiency can also affect people who are vegan, since they do not eat animal products high in vitamin D.
Complications
Vitamin D is a nutrient found in sunlight, but not all of us get enough of it in our diet. It is converted to a biologically active form in the kidneys and liver. People with chronic kidney or liver disease may be at a higher risk of low vitamin D levels because their bodies lack enzymes necessary to convert vitamin D. The results of vitamin D deficiency are rickets and osteomalacia, which cause soft bones during childhood and early adulthood. Although vitamin D deficiency is rare compared to low blood calcium, it can have serious consequences.
People with a vitamin D deficiency may have no symptoms at all, but they should get a test to check their vitamin D levels. A deficiency may increase the risk of developing cancer and osteoporosis. Vitamin D can also support the immune system. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to an increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. But, how do we know if we're deficient?
Prevention
In the United States, 17.8% of participants deemed vitamin D deficiency an epidemic, but only 44% thought it was prevalent in urban areas. Furthermore, less than half of those who surveyed thought it was a problem limited to high-risk groups, such as infants and pregnant women. Further, the majority of participants regarded the elderly as high-risk groups, but were unaware of the systemic consequences of vitamin D deficiency. Nevertheless, this study provides useful information for prevention and management of vitamin D deficiency.
Increasing vitamin D awareness is an important part of future health promotion programmes. A well-planned educational campaign can encourage people to increase their intake of vitamin D, reduce vitamin D insufficiency, and improve overall health. It is imperative to promote awareness of vitamin D in order to prevent deficiency in our society. We are all susceptible to vitamin D deficiency, but there are steps we can take to ensure that our bodies are protected.
0 Comments