Common Symptoms of Vitamin D Deficiency and How to Treat Them
Source: HEALTHLINE –Lisa Wartenberg, MFA, RD, LD––
Symptoms of vitamin D deficiency may include:
- Fatigue and tiredness
- frequent illness
- anxiety and depression
- bone and back pain
- bone pain
- muscle pain
- bone loss
- hair loss
- slower wound healing
- weight gain
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.
It’s a fat-soluble vitamin that plays critical roles in the proper functioning of your body, including bone health and immunity. It may even help prevent cancer and protect against several chronic conditions, including :
- bone loss
- depression
- type 2 diabetes
- heart disease
- multiple sclerosis
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.
Vitamin D directly interacts with the cells responsible for addressing infections. If you often become sick, low vitamin D levels may be a contributing factor.
Research suggests there’s a link between vitamin D deficiency and respiratory tract infections, such as the common cold , bronchitis, and pneumonia.
A 2020 review also found that vitamin D deficiency has been linked to several viral diseases, such as:
Vitamin D supplementation helped reduce the risk of respiratory tract infections.
Vitamin D research has shown that certain levels may help reduce the risks of respiratory infections.
There’s no single cause for vitamin D deficiency. However, your overall risk may be higher as a result of certain underlying conditions or lifestyle factors, including:
- having darker skin
- infants who are breastfeeding
- adults age 65 years and older
- minimal sunlight exposure, such as people who live far from the equator or in regions with little sunlight year-round
- having overweight or obesity
- having chronic kidney disease or liver disease
- having a health condition that affects nutrient absorption, such as Crohn’s disease or celiac disease
- using certain medications that affect vitamin D metabolism, such as statins
Ask a doctor to check for vitamin D deficiency if you notice any symptoms.
How can I increase my vitamin D?
Some ways to help you increase your vitamin D levels include:
- getting more sunlight
- taking vitamin D supplements
- consuming more fatty fish.
Vitamin D deficiency is surprisingly common, but the symptoms are often subtle and nonspecific, so it may be hard to know whether you have a deficiency or some other health condition.If you think you may have a deficiency, ask a healthcare professional for a blood test.
