Vitamin D Deficiency
Vitamin D is one of many vitamins your body needs to stay healthy. It plays a crucial role in maintaining the balance of calcium in your blood and bones and in building and maintaining bones.
Vitamin D also plays a role in your nervous system, musculoskeletal system and immune system.
You can get vitamin D in a variety of ways, including:
Sun exposure on your skin (however, people with darker skin and older people may not get enough vitamin D through sunlight. Your geographical location may also prevent adequate vitamin D exposure through sunlight).
Through the food you eat.
Through nutritional supplements.
Despite all these methods to get vitamin D, vitamin D deficiency is a common worldwide problem.
Severe lack of vitamin D in children causes rickets. Symptoms of rickets include:
Incorrect growth patterns due to bowed or bent bones.
Muscle weakness.
Bone pain.
Deformities in joints.
Lack of vitamin D isn’t quite as obvious in adults. Signs and symptoms might include:
Fatigue.
Bone pain.
Muscle weakness, muscle aches or muscle cramps.
Mood changes, like depression.
The best way to prevent vitamin D deficiency is to ensure you’re getting enough vitamin D in your diet and/or through sun exposure.
You can also get vitamin D from fortified foods. Be sure to check the nutrition labels to find out if a food has vitamin D. Foods that often have added vitamin D include:
Cow’s milk and soy, almond and oat milk.
Breakfast cereals.
Orange juice.
Other dairy products, such as yogurt.
Vitamin D is in many multivitamins. There are also vitamin D supplements.
Talk to your healthcare provider if you’re concerned about getting enough vitamin D.