Symptoms And Health Risks Of Vitamin D Deficiency
Symptoms of bone pain and muscle weakness can mean you have a vitamin D deficiency.
What Is Vitamin D?
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that the body produces when the skin gets exposed to sunlight. It is present in a small number of foods, including fortified products.
To use it, the body needs to convert it to an active form called 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] or calcidiol.
How Much Is A Deficiency?
However, in a 2019 study , 2,423 people at risk of type 2 diabetes took either a vitamin D supplement of 4,000 international units (IU) a day or a placebo. However, taking the supplement did not appear to reduce the risk of diabetes developing.
Diseases & Conditions
He “sunshine” vitamin is a hot topic.
You may have recently found out that you are deficient or know someone who is. The truth is that a lot has changed, and vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are now a global public health problem affecting an estimated 1 billion people worldwide. Vitamin D was discovered to be essential when it was found to be needed for the treatment of rickets.
There are two forms of vitamin D: D2 and D3. Vitamin D2, also known as ergocalciferol, comes from fortified foods, plant foods, and over-the-counter supplements. Vitamin D3, also known as cholecalciferol, comes from fortified foods, animal foods (fatty fish, cod liver oil, eggs, and liver), supplements, and can be made internally when your skin is exposed ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.
Structurally, these two are not the same. And unlike other vitamins, it can be made by your body when exposed to the sun and the active form in your body, called calcitriol, has similarities to other hormones (estrogen, cortisol, and testosterone). We have also had a shift in spending less time outdoors because of increased work hours and more sedentary lives.
As a result, vitamin D levels began dropping without most health care professionals realizing it. This article will teach you all that you need to know about the benefits of achieving and maintaining optimal vitamin D levels and how you can do i.
What Are Some Common Symptoms Of Vitamin D Deficiency?
If you fit this description, consider voicing your concerns to your primary care provider or a registered dietitian.
These professionals can work with you to modify your diet or lifestyle and correct the problem. “Because vitamin D isn’t found in a lot of foods, and sun exposure may be limited depending on where you live, I recommend everyone get their vitamin D levels checked at their annual checkup,” says Anzlovar. “Then you can evaluate with your healthcare provider whether a supplement or seeking out more vitamin-D-rich foods is necessary.” Know also that some groups, including individuals with dark skin, those with certain underlying health conditions or who are taking certain medications, and those who live in a city far from the equator, may be more prone to having low vitamin D, according to the Cleveland Clinic.