The Effects of Vitamin D Deficiency
Vitamin D is an essential vitamin that your body needs to regulate calcium absorption.
Children who don't get enough may end up with a disease called rickets.
Adults with vitamin D deficiency are at a greater risk for osteoporosis.
The adequate daily dietary intake of vitamin D is around 600 international units.
Symptoms of vitamin D Deficiency
Bone pain, weakness, muscle pain and weakness.
Children who have rickets suffer from soft bones and skeletal deformities.
Most likely related diseases: Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension, Multiple Sclerosis, and some forms of cancer.
Causes of Vitamin D Deficiency
Not eating foods that contain vitamin D .i.e. Not eating eggs, cheese, oily fish; Salmon, cod liver oil, beef liver and fortified breakfast.
Breastfed infants, old people, housebound individuals and people with dark skin are at higher risk of vitamin D deficiency.
Individuals who have fat absorption problems due to conditions such as Crohn's Disease, Cystic Fibrosis, Gastric By-pass surgery.
You need sun exposure to make vitamin D, an average of 20 minutes sun exposure on your face, arms, and legs twice / week without sunscreen to stimulate sufficient vitamin D production.
Excessive sun exposure increases your risk of skin cancer.
Your body stores fat soluble vitamins such as vitamin D and vitamin A.
Excessive sun exposure will not cause vitamin D toxicity.
It would be tough to get too much of vitamin D from foods unless you consume large amounts of cod liver oil.
Taking large amount of vitamin D supplements for long time can lead to toxicity.
High levels of vitamin D may raise your blood levels of calcium and lead to some symptoms: Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, constipation, weakness and weight loss.
High levels of calcium may result in mental confusion and abnormal heart rhythm.
We wish you a good health and a prosperous life.
UOP Health Center
M I Asha, MD
