Vitamin D Deficiency: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

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What does vitamin D deficiency mean?

Vitamin D deficiency means you don’t have enough vitamin D in your body. It primarily causes issues with your bones and muscles. Vitamin D is an essential vitamin that your body uses for normal bone development and maintenance. Vitamin D also plays a role in your nervous system, musculoskeletal system and immune system.

What medical conditions can cause vitamin D deficiency?

Medical conditions that can cause vitamin D deficiency include: Cystic fibrosis, Crohn's disease and celiac disease: These conditions can prevent your intestines from adequately absorbing enough vitamin D through supplements, especially if the condition is untreated.

How common is vitamin D deficiency?

Vitamin D deficiency is a common global issue. About 1 billion people worldwide have vitamin D deficiency, while 50% of the population has vitamin D insufficiency. Approximately 35% of adults in the United States have vitamin D deficiency. Anyone can have vitamin D deficiency, including infants, children and adults.

What is a vitamin D deficiency?

Vitamin D deficiency is typically defined as having blood levels below 20 ng/mL, while levels from 21–29 ng/mL are considered insufficient. Most adults should get 1,500–2,000 international units (IU) of vitamin D daily. However, vitamin D deficiency is one of the most common nutritional deficiencies worldwide.

What are the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency?

Here’s our process. Symptoms of vitamin D deficiency may include fatigue, frequent illness, anxiety, bone pain, and slower wound healing, among others. Treatments may include dietary changes or taking supplements. Vitamin D is sometimes called the sunshine vitamin because your body makes it from cholesterol when your skin is exposed to sunlight.

How does vitamin D deficiency affect the body?

Therefore, vitamin D deficiency mainly causes problems with bones and muscles. Vitamin D is made in the skin but this needs adequate exposure to sunlight. It can also be obtained from foods (particularly fortified foods) and vitamin D supplements. Vitamin D has to be converted to an active form, which occurs in the liver and kidneys.

What Is Vitamin D Deficiency

1. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/vitamin-d-deficiency
2. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15050-vitamin-d-vitamin-d-deficiency
3. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/vitamin-d-deficiency-symptoms
4. https://www.webmd.com/diet/vitamin-d-deficiency
5. https://patient.info/bones-joints-muscles/osteoporosis-leaflet/vitamin-d-deficiency
6. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/vitamin-d
7. https://www.yalemedicine.org/conditions/vitamin-d-deficiency
8. https://medlineplus.gov/vitaminddeficiency.html
9. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318060

Vitamin D Deficiency Information

1. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-HealthProfessional/
2. https://www.abs.gov.au/articles/vitamin-d
3. https://www.rch.org.au/clinicalguide/guideline_index/Vitamin_D_deficiency/
4. https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-vitamin-d/art-20363792