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Symptoms Of Vitamin D Deficiency
Vitamin D is one of the four fat soluble vitamin that helps the body absorb and utilize calcium and phosphorus from the foods taken. This is also called the “sunshine vitamin” because it is created when the body absorbed the heat of the sun. A good source of this vitamin is cheese, beef liver, egg yolk, fish and fish oil. Thus, for those who are under the vegetarian diet, they are having low vitamin D levels. Vitamin D is activated by the kidneys and also the liver.
If the vitamin D level is less than 50ng/ml, then the person has vitamin D deficiency. It is often connected to a condition known as rickets which affects the bones not forming properly because calcium cannot get into the bone marrow since it is not absorbed. Bones become fragile and deformities may occur.
Vitamin D Deficiency Causes And Prevalence
Vitamin D deficiency is a silent disease and the causes of this condition are the following:
- Vitamin D malabsorption problems like who went through a resection in the small intestines.
- Small amount of Vitamin D in breast milk
- Medications such as Dilantin, Phenobarbital, Rifampin
- Not enough exposure to sunlight (since it is vitamin D is produced by heat of the sun). This usually affects the dark colored skin. Because darker skin tone affects the synthesis of Vitamin D.
Symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency (In general)
- Hypertension
- Heart disease
- Osteoporosis
- Depression
- Fatigue
- Hairloss
- Certain cancers
Vitamin D Deficiency And Symptoms In Women
Vitamin D is very important in women and deficiency of this vitamin can link the woman into many problems like breast cancer, bladder cancer, ovarian and colon cancer.
Symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency in women includes changes in the mood such are premenstrual period or PMS, seasonal affective disorder (SAD) non specific mood disorder and depression.
Vitamin D Deficiency And Symptoms In Men
Regardless of the gender as well as age and the race, vitamin D deficiency can affect many people. Men are not excluded. In recent studies on men’s health, having a vitamin D deficiency is a great risk for men to have a heart attack. Other factors in the study also include the cholesterol level, the body mass index (BMI), physical activity and others. There is a great possibility for a heart attack because calcium is needed for the contraction of the muscles and the heart is a muscle and once there is a deficit in vitamin D, calcium is not absorbed.
Symptoms include prostate cancer, wherein it affects the man alone as well as osteoporosis in older men.
Vitamin D Deficiency And Symptoms in Children
Vitamin D is very important in children because of their growth and development. That is why pediatricians are very particular in giving vitamin D to the children. If it is not treated it can lead to rickets which is a bone deformity problem.
According to statistics today there are more children and teens who have low levels of vitamin D than adult individuals. A study showed that there were 42% of adolescents who has a deficiency with vitamin D.
- Vitamin D deficiency symptoms in babies include muscle spasm or cramps, some seizure and even difficulty in breathing. in blood tests, it also shows that there is a low level of calcium.
- In children or toddlers, a common symptom that they have soft skull and bones in their legs. In x-ray, the bones in their legs looks curved (rickets). They also have very poor growth and they have difficulty in walking. There is also delay in developing the tooth. Irritable children are also noticed and they are prone to infections in the respiratory system.
Vitamin D Deficiency Treatment
Upon consulting the doctor, vitamin D supplements are given either via injection or taken orally. Breastfeeding women have special consideration because whatever she takes will also be taken by the baby through breastfeeding.
- Injection- the injection for vitamin D supplements will last for half a year. This is a known effective treatment because the supplement goes directly through the blood vessels.
- High dose medicines- the doctor will give the patient a specific treatment. This is usually given to have a quick improvement especially on the child whose growth is impeded. It is very important to take the medicine correctly so that there will be no over dosage or under dosage.
- Standard dose- this will last for 12 months and medicine should be taken every day. This is advisable for those who have a minor vitamin D deficiency.
Food Rich (high) in Vitamin D
There are foods that contain high in vitamin D and this should be taken as well as exposing him/herself under the heat of the sun. Foods high in vitamin D are:
- Seafoods: catfish, mollusks, salmon, mackerel
- Soymilk, formula milk for babies, margarine, butters
- Eggs
References:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080609162100.htm
http://www.patient.co.uk/health/Vitamin-D-Deficiency.htm
