What are the 14 Signs of Vitamin d Deficiency?

Sunlight is a major source of Vitamin D, also known as Sunshine Vitamin. Vitamin D deficiency can lead to loss of bone density, broken bones, osteoporosis, and many other medical issues. The body makes Vitamin D from cholesterol when your skin is exposed to sunlight. Suppose you wonder about the 14 signs of Vitamin D deficiency. In that case, you must be aware of the immune system's role in protecting the body against various diseases like COVID-19. Yes, COVID-19. This is because the symptoms of COVID-19 are similar to what causes deficiency in Vitamin D. Many people have suffered heart issues and vitamin D deficiency after the negative/positive results of COVID-19.

Regarding International Units, humans should get almost 1500 to 2000 units of Vitamin D daily. While certain foods may help you to get the daily dosage of Vitamin D, it is still not enough to complete the diet alone with food and water. It is no surprise that vitamin D can cause many worldwide health issues because of its deficiency.

What is Vitamin D Deficiency?

Deficiency means the "lack of certain things in the body." When there is a deficiency of vitamin D, that means your body is not exposed to the vitamin that is enough for the body. This can happen for several reasons, and the primary cause can be not exposing your body to sunlight. Other causes may include:

• Poor diet
• Poor health conditions
• Sanitary issues, etc

If you think that you may have a deficiency of this particular vitamin, there can be a few things that you can do to back up the level of deficiency. You can, most importantly, expose yourself to sunlight, eat vitamin D-rich food, and take regular supplements.

Also, Read 8 Supplements & Vitamins for Stress Relief

Why is Vitamin D Important For A Healthy Body And A Healthy Mind?

All the vitamins, gasses, and nutrients are necessary for the human body. Some are taken from food, water, or supplements, and some from sunlight, air, weather conditions, and even the wind. In short, Mother Earth is the combination of vitamins, minerals, gasses, and all other important things that are essentially needed by human beings.

• Vitamin D is necessary to regulate calcium and phosphate levels in the human body.
• These are the two major nutrients necessary for regulating the normal functioning of bones, teeth, and muscle health.
• Lack of vitamin D can lead to the formation of rickets - a bone-related problem that occurs in children and osteomalacia in adults.

Taking a considerable amount of Vitamin D through supplements or sunlight is advisable, especially in the winter or autumn. People at high risk of deficiency of Vitamins must take the essentials through supplements throughout the year.

What Are the Good Sources of Vitamin D?

In India, people generally have a summer season from March to September. They should try taking or overcoming the deficiency of Vitamin D in the same season by taking or "bathing in sunlight." Whenever you expose your body to sunlight, the body produces vitamin D. In the winter season. There is already a lack of sunlight, so bones often get cracky and painful. If you are full of vitamin D, your body will not produce any abnormal symptoms. Moreover, there are lots of food items that may help you with the intake of vitamin D, and these are:

• oily fish
• red meat
• liver
• egg yolks
• Fortified foods - fat spreads and breakfast cereals
• Dietary supplements

What Are the Potential Causes of Vitamin D Deficiency?

There is no single cause of any deficiency. However, a single deficiency can pose life-threatening consequences. Some of the risk factors due to vitamin D deficiency are:

• The transition from a lighter complexion to a darker complexion
• Absorbing little or no sunlight or staying in an area that is a deficit of sunlight
• Being older
• Being overweight or obese
• Vegan lifestyle or not having the intake of important vitamins found in fish and meat
• Living far from the equator
• Staying indoors
• Working overnight shifts
• Have any chronic medical conditions like thyroid, obesity, or kidney problems
• Having a health condition that may further affect your body's ability to absorb vitamins, such as Crohn's disease 
• Having gastric bypass surgery 
• Using certain types of medications that may further affect your body's ability to absorb vitamin D
• People who live near poles (north pole & south pole) or in areas where there exists no sunlight

Also, Read The Best Multivitamin Tablets in the Market (2022).

14 Signs of Vitamin D Deficiency

There are various signs of vitamin D Deficiency, and many of them may collide with the symptoms of other major diseases. Only a proper blood test or a few other important tests like a test for calcium and phosphate level may help your doctor determine the deficiency of vitamin D. Moreover, there are various signs of this particular deficiency, and these are:

1. Aching muscles

It is a major sign indicating vitamin D deficiency because vitamin D helps absorb calcium, and calcium helps maintain bones' strength. This, in turn, affects your bone strength, flexibility, and mobility. Thereby bones may become achy and weak. If you are experiencing muscle pain and suspect it may be due to a vitamin deficiency, it is important to talk to your healthcare provider.

2. Binge eating

Binge eating disorder is characterized by recurrent episodes of consuming large amounts of food, often accompanied by feelings of shame, guilt, and loss of control. Some studies have suggested that low levels of vitamin D may be associated with an increased risk of depression, which is a common co-occurring condition in individuals with BED.

3. Painful bones

As discussed above, vitamin D helps maintain bone strength because of its relationship with calcium and phosphate. The bones may become weak, leading to pain, cracking noises, issues while bending, standing, or doing any activity, or affecting how your joints work. So, if you are experiencing bone pain anywhere in the body, it could be one of the signs of vitamin D deficiency in adults.

4. Fatigue

Vitamin D is essential for cell metabolism, meaning its deficiency can make you sleep long and tired for no reason. It can further make you feel difficulty while attending to day-to-day activities. Also, as mentioned above, Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium and phosphorus, which are essential for bone health.

When your body doesn't get enough vitamin D, it can weaken bones, leading to muscle weakness and fatigue. Additionally, low levels of vitamin D have been linked to a higher risk of depression, which can also contribute to feelings of fatigue and low energy levels.

5. Reduced endurance

No vitamin D means no strong bones, no strong bones mean tired feelings, and tiredness for no reason can lead to difficulty managing energy levels. Studies have shown that athletes with low vitamin D levels may experience reduced endurance, slower recovery after exercise, and decreased muscle strength. This, in turn, affects your activities and may lead to premature fatigue. 

6. Low moods

Vitamin D deficiency affects neurotransmitter metabolism's role in stabilizing your moods. You may develop a negative attitude towards life and have frequent mood swings or other mental issues. Individuals with low vitamin D levels are more likely to experience symptoms of depression, such as low mood, fatigue, and hopelessness.

7. Problems sleeping well

Vitamin D regulates the body's circadian rhythm, which is a natural sleep-wake cycle. The circadian rhythm helps to regulate the body's internal clock and ensures that we feel awake and alert during the day and sleepy at night. Low vitamin D levels may cause disrupted sleep patterns, including difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, and feeling refreshed. If you have low vitamin D levels, you might experience insomnia, daytime sleepiness, and other sleep-related problems.

8. Losing hair

Without enough availability of Vitamin D, the hair follicles may fall, leading to baldness. Maintaining adequate levels of vitamin D is important for hair growth and health, as this nutrient helps to regulate genes involved in hair growth and ensures the health of hair follicles. Low vitamin D levels have been associated with hair loss, as weakened hair follicles may cause hair growth to slow down or stop. Furthermore, vitamin D deficiency is also linked to various conditions, including autoimmune disorders and thyroid disease, which can contribute to hair loss.

9. Slow wound healing

Slow wound healing can be a symptom of vitamin D deficiency, as Vitamin D aids in the maintenance of immune system strength. Our immune system fights for the human body and protects the body from harmful bacteria and their entry. When vitamin D levels are low, the immune system may not function optimally, leading to delayed wound healing. Additionally, vitamin D deficiency can slow down the production and function of these key cells involved in the healing process, which can also contribute to slow wound healing.

10. Dizziness

Low mood, tiredness, fatigue, weak bones, loosening the strength of bones, etc., leads to dizziness and makes you suffer. As you know, Vitamin D is a crucial nutrient with various roles in the body. One of its lesser-known functions is maintaining balance and spatial orientation. Vitamin D receptors are responsible for these functions in the inner ear. When vitamin D levels are low, the function of these receptors may be impaired, leading to feelings of dizziness or vertigo.

11. Heart problems

Vitamin D is essential for the proper functioning of all nerves, neurotransmitter systems, the immune system, and the brain's nerves. It is healthy for healthy cells. But when you do not get enough sunlight, you are not serving your body with a proper calcium intake. It further leads to fewer cell formations and a weak body with weak organs.

12. Weight gain

Vitamin D helps to maintain the stability of metabolism. If your metabolism slows down, it can make you feel weak, unstable on your feet, and unable to manage weight. Thus, if you are suddenly concerned about your weight and suspect that it may be related to a vitamin D deficiency, it is important to talk to your healthcare provider.

13. Recurring infections

Since vitamin D helps maintain the immune system's strength, its deficiency leads to the attack of viruses and many other infections. White blood cells become less common because of lower calcium levels, which marks one of the most important signs of vitamin D deficiency.

14. Reduced Cognitive Functions

Cognitive functions refer to the proper functioning of the brain. Vitamin D deficiency leads to weak bones, and weak bones lead to tiredness. A tired body stays open for infections, loss of brain control, and many other imbalances. So, when you have low vitamin D levels, you may feel cognitive impairment, memory problems, and difficulty with attention and concentration. 

Also, Read What are the best eye vitamins for blurry vision?

When Is The Right Time To See The Doctor For Vitamin D Deficiency?

Other symptoms or signs of vitamin D may include excessive sweating, excessive or recurring pain in the body that may not go on itself, weight gain, or a fair complexion. It is possible to have a deficiency in vitamin D because of "no symptoms." 

• If you notice any abnormal body symptoms that may look peculiar to you for the first time, let your nearby doctor know about the condition. 
• The thumb rule is that if any symptom occurs more than 3-times, let the doctor treat you with medications; there can be a lot of health issues in that case.

Book an appointment with a Vitamin D Deficiency doctor in India.

Conclusion

The 14 signs of vitamin D Deficiency can surprisingly be common with other health issues. However, vitamin D deficiency symptoms are subtle, nonspecific, and may be hard to notice. For instance, heavy sweating can be because of obesity, heart issues, eating spicy food, natural heat, no proper availability of ventilation, etc. If you think that you may have any deficiency, let our nearby doctor treat you. He or she may ask for a blood test which may take at least 24 hours to show the results.