If you are suffering with low density in bones and muscle weakness, then it may be due toVitamin D deficiency.
Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin which is made when the skin is exposed to sun light. It can also found in foods such as fatty fish and fortified daily products etc. Even though, it is very difficult to get enough from the diet alone.
Vitamin D deficiency is quite common. Recent studies have shown that one billion people around the world are experiencing vitamin D deficiency.
Let’s see what the cause of vitamin D deficiency is!
What is The Cause of Vitamin D Deficiency?
Usually vitamin D deficiency occurs when the body is not exposed to sunlight properly for a long period or if the body is unable to absorb and metabolize vitamin D from the food he/she takes.
Below are some of the causes of vitamin D deficiency.
- When the exposure of sunlight is limited then it leads to vitamin D deficiency.
- When you have dark skin the pigment called melanin reduces the skin ability to make vitamin D in response to exposure of sunlight. This also causes vitamin D deficiency.
- In aged people, kidneys are unable to convert the formation of vitamin D in their body and develop the risk of Vitamin D deficiency.
- If you suffer from medical problems like chron’s disease, celiac disease, it will affect the intestine ability to absorb vitamin D from the food you eat.
- Being overweight also correlates with lower levels of vitamin D, where as excess body weight reduces the absorption of vitamin D in our body.
Symptoms for Vitamin D deficiency:
Symptoms of vitamin D deficiency are subtle, but too little vitamin D can pose health risks. It can be vague or may change over time. Hence it is difficult to diagnose the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency.
People who are suffering from vitamin D deficiency may experience the following symptoms.
- Change in mood.
- Chronic pain in muscles as it is an essential vitamin for maintaining bones health
- Thinning or brittle bones, osteoporosis or frequent bone fractures
- Increase in blood pressure
- Exhaustion, even when the person is having enough sleep.
- Decreased endurance
- Unexplained infertility
Treatment for Vitamin D Deficiency:
The most accurate way to determine vitamin D deficiency is by undergoing a 25 Hydroxy Vitamin D blood test particularly in the presence of doctor. A healthy person needs to maintain 20 nano grams/milliliters to 50 nano grams/ milliliters of vitamin D, if it is less than 12ng/ml then it is considered as deficiency in vitamin D.
Include rich source of vitamin D in your diet, such as salmon, mackerel, fish liver oil, beef liver cheese and egg yolks contain little amount of Vitamin D.
It’s always better to consult your doctor to know the vitamin D levels in your body to follow the required diet.
You may also increase vitamin D in your body by maintaining healthy body weight, monitoring the treating medical conditions and also by using vitamin D supplements.