Five primary factors that contribute to vitamin D deficiency are limited sun exposure, having naturally dark skin, being of older age, having certain medical conditions affecting absorption or metabolism, and being obese.
The following are the most important factors: Decreased dietary intake or absorption: Certain malabsorption syndromes, such as celiac disease, short bowel syndrome, gastric bypass, inflammatory bowel disease, chronic pancreatic insufficiency, and cystic fibrosis, may lead to vitamin D deficiency.
Here are 10 unexpected signs of a vitamin D deficiency that may surprise you.
Rickets is a rare disease that causes the bones to become soft and bend. African American infants and children are at higher risk of getting rickets. In adults, severe vitamin D deficiency leads to osteomalacia. Osteomalacia causes weak bones, bone pain, and muscle weakness.
These factors include variation in sun exposure due to latitude, season, time of day, atmospheric components, clothing, sunscreen use and skin pigmentation, as well as age, obesity and the incidence of several chronic illnesses.
Many older adults don't get enough direct sunlight. They also may have trouble taking in vitamin D. Other people who may not get enough vitamin D are breastfed babies, people with Black or brown skin, and people who have obesity or have had gastric bypass surgery.
Consequently, major risk factors for vitamin D deficiency include inadequate sunlight exposure, inadequate dietary intake of vitamin D-containing foods, and malabsorption syndromes such as Crohn's disease and celiac disease [2].
Certain groups of people are more likely than others to have inadequate vitamin D status. These include breastfed infants, older adults, people with limited sun exposure, people with dark skin, people with conditions that limit fat absorption, and people with obesity or those who have undergone gastric bypass surgery.
Any currently treated or untreated nutrient deficiency or disease. These include, but are not limited to, Protein Energy Malnutrition, Scurvy, Rickets, Beriberi, Hypocalcemia, Osteomalacia, Vitamin K Deficiency, Pellagra, Xerophthalmia, and Iron Deficiency.
Symptoms of Vitamin D Deficiency
Mood changes accompanied by overwhelming feelings of hopelessness, sadness, and hopelessness. Fatigue. Forgetfulness.
The best sources are the flesh of fatty fish and fish liver oils. Smaller amounts are found in egg yolks, cheese, and beef liver. Certain mushrooms contain some vitamin D2; in addition some commercially sold mushrooms contain higher amounts of D2 due to intentionally being exposed to high amounts of ultraviolet light.
You may be at higher risk of vitamin D deficiency if:
Your sunlight exposure is limited – the body makes most vitamin D when the skin is exposed to sunlight. So people who spend a lot of time indoors, live in northern latitudes, or wear clothes that cover a large proportion of the skin are at risk the most.
"The darker your skin, the less vitamin D you make from sunlight exposure." Older persons who are confined indoors, people who are obese, those with known osteoporosis and people with malabsorption disorders like celiac disease or inflammatory bowel disease are also at risk for vitamin D deficiency.
In general, the two main causes of vitamin D deficiency are: Not getting enough vitamin D in your diet and/or through sunlight. Your body isn't properly absorbing or using vitamin D.
Egger test was conducted to assess publication bias, and the results were tested for robustness using a sensitivity analysis. Conclusions: Vitamin D deficiency increases the risk of overactive bladder and urinary incontinence, and vitamin D supplementation reduces the risk of urinary incontinence.
Vitamin D deficiency primarily causes bone diseases like Rickets in children (soft, bent bones) and Osteomalacia (soft bones) in adults, leading to pain and weakness, plus increased risk for Osteoporosis and fractures. Long-term deficiency is also linked to muscle weakness, increased falls, cardiovascular issues, diabetes, and autoimmune disorders, though these connections are complex.
Vitamin A deficiency is the most common worldwide. The World Health Organization estimates it causes blindness in between 250,000 and 500,000 children globally each year. And research shows that far more people of all ages have this deficiency, but it isn't severe enough to cause symptoms.
Evidence from various studies from the NCBI, NLM, NIH, and other bodies shows that stress can impact micronutrient concentrations in the body and result in significant micronutrient depletion. So, when we're stressed, the levels of essential vitamins and minerals in our bodies drop.
Vitamin D seems to have an important role in sleep regulation (7). Vitamin D deficiency increases the risk of sleep disorders and is reported to be associated with sleep difficulties, shorter sleep duration, and nocturnal awakenings (8–10).
Use of sunblock, common window glass in homes or cars and clothing, all effectively block UVB radiation – even in the summer. People who work indoors, wear extensive clothing, regularly use sunblock, are dark skinned, obese, aged or consciously avoid the sun, are at risk of vitamin D deficiency.
When vitamin D levels are low and the body isn't able to properly absorb calcium and phosphorus, there is an increased risk of bone pain, bone fractures, muscle pain, and muscle weakness. In older adults, severe vitamin D deficiency (levels less than 10 ng/mL) may also contribute to an increased risk of falls.
Those at risk of vitamin D deficiency include people who have obesity, people who have Black or brown skin, and people who are older than 65. Infants who are breastfed for a long time without taking a vitamin D supplement also are at risk.
Recent Findings. Low vitamin D levels are associated with increased symptoms of depression and anxiety. For this reason, vitamin D screening should be performed in the prevention and treatment planning of these mood disorders.
A low vitamin D level seems to increase the risk of heart disease and death due to heart disease. Too little vitamin D level may make you more likely to have high blood pressure and diabetes. These conditions increase the risk of heart disease.
Abstract. Vitamin D deficiency has been found to be associated with a variety of cancers, including prostate, multiple myeloma, colorectal and breast cancer. Several studies have shown vitamin D levels to have an inverse relation with cancer mortality, while others have considered it a potential risk factor.