5 Easily Recognized Signs That Your Body Is Lacking Vitamin D

Vitamin D deficiency can occur when the body does not receive adequate amounts of vitamin D from sunlight or food. Check out a complete explanation of the symptoms and what to do if you experience this.
Impact of Vitamin D Deficiency on the Body
Vitamin D is an essential nutrient needed to maintain healthy bones, teeth and muscles. Many people who are deficient (deficient) of vitamin D but do not show any symptoms.
However, a lack of vitamin D can cause several problems in the body, including:
1. Frequent Infections or Pain
Vitamin D is known to enhance the function of immune cells, including T cells and macrophages that protect the body from attack by bacteria and viruses that cause disease.
If you often get sick, especially colds and coughs, then a lack of vitamin D can be one of the causes.
Vitamin D deficiency has also been linked to respiratory infections, such as the flu, bronchitis and pneumonia.
Also Read: Vitamin D for Diabetics, Is it Beneficial?
2. Fatigue and Muscle Weakness
Feeling tired can occur for several reasons, one of which is a lack of vitamin D.
In addition, vitamin D is also the key to bone health, so when the amount is small, the body will experience muscle and bone weakness. This condition will lead to great fatigue.
A study involving 480 adults found a link between vitamin D deficiency and symptoms of intense fatigue. Taking a vitamin D supplement can relieve these fatigue symptoms.
3. Bone and Waist Pain
Experiencing bone and waist pain can be a symptom of a vitamin D deficiency. This vitamin can help maintain bone health by increasing calcium absorption.
When the amount of vitamin D is lacking, the risk of bone pain can also increase. In addition, it is known that vitamin D can also increase the risk of arthritis.
A study of 81 journals found that people with arthritis and sore muscles tend to have low levels of vitamin D in their bodies.
3. Depression
Vitamin D deficiency is also known to increase the risk of depression. Research on the effects of vitamin D and depression is mixed, but some studies suggest that vitamin D can relieve symptoms of depression.
Therefore, more research is needed to determine the relationship between vitamin D and depression.
4. Hard to Heal Wounds
Wounds that are difficult to heal can be a sign of too little vitamin D in the body.
The role of vitamin D in preventing inflammation and fighting infection can be an important factor in wound healing.
In addition, it is known that vitamin D also has a role in the formation of new tissue. When the amount of vitamin D is sufficient, the wound will heal faster.
5. Hair Loss
Stress is one of the common causes of hair loss. However, when you experience severe hair loss, it can be a sign of an illness or nutritional deficiency.
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease characterized by severe hair loss. Research states that 48 people with this condition who took vitamin D for 12 weeks experienced significant hair growth.
Causes of Vitamin D Deficiency
A person is said to have a vitamin D deficiency when the amount of vitamin D in the blood is less than 20 ng/ml.
There is no single cause of this vitamin deficiency, several factors can cause this deficiency, including:
- Has dark skin color.
- Elderly.
- Overweight or obesity.
- Less consumption of fish or dairy products.
- Less exposure to sunlight.
- Lots of work indoors.
- work deep shifts night.
- Have kidney disease, liver disease, or chronic hyperthyroidism.
- Have a health condition that affects the absorption of nutrients, such as celiac disease.
- Had surgery bypass stomach
- Take some drugs that affect vitamin D metabolism, such as statins and steroids.
People who frequently use sunscreen outdoors also have a high risk of experiencing vitamin D deficiency. However, sunscreen It is also important for reducing skin damage and cancer from sun exposure.
You can consult a doctor if you have a risk of vitamin D deficiency.
How to Overcome Vitamin D Deficiency
If the doctor finds that you have a vitamin D deficiency, then you can be recommended to deal with it in several ways, including:
1. Supplements
Taking supplements is the most common way to treat a vitamin D deficiency. You can buy these supplements at pharmacies, but you should consult with your doctor first to determine the right dosage.
Magnesium plays a role in the activation of vitamin D, so it is recommended that you meet your needs for this mineral as well.
In general, in severe conditions the doctor will recommend high doses of vitamin D up to 50,000 IU. Doctors can also give injections of vitamin D.
Also Read: Must Know, These are 6 Benefits of Vitamin D for Women
2. Foods Rich in Vitamin D
Consuming foods that contain lots of vitamin D can help increase vitamin D levels in the body.
Some foods that can be a choice include:
- Fattyfishsuch as salmon and tuna.
- Egg yolk.
- Fortified cereal.
- Yogurt.
- Beef heart.
In addition, sunlight can be a natural source of vitamin D. Your doctor may also recommend that you go outdoors more often.
Vitamin D deficiency is a common condition but there are no specific symptoms. If you feel you have a deficiency of this vitamin, then you should immediately consult a doctor.
- Pennisi, Manuela, et al. 2019. Decrease in Serum Vitamin D Level of Older Patients with Fatigue. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31635199/. (Accessed January 6, 2023).
- Richards, Louisa. 2020. What Are The Symptoms Of A Vitamin D Deficiency? https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/vitamin-d-deficiency-symptoms. (Accessed January 6, 2023).
- Wartenbergy, Lisa and Franziska Spritzler. 2022. Vitamin D Deficiency: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/vitamin-d-deficiency-symptoms. (Accessed January 6, 2023).
- Wu, Zhenqiang, et al. 2018. The Association Between Vitamin D Concentration And Pain: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29559013/. (Accessed January 6, 2023).
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