What problems does vitamin D deficiency cause?

Vitamin D deficiency is an increasingly common condition which can cause various health problems, especially in bone and muscle health. This occurs when the body doesn't get enough vitamin D, either due to lack of sun exposure, poor diet, or nutrient absorption problems.

Why is vitamin D needed?

It helps the body absorb calcium, which is one of the main components of bones. Vitamin D also plays an important role in the nervous, muscular, and immune systems.

We can obtain it in three ways:

Through the skin
Through diet
With the help of supplements

The human body produces this vitamin naturally after exposure to sunlight. However, too much sun exposure can cause skin aging and even skin cancer, so caution is necessary.

The amount of vitamin D needed depends on age. The amounts in international units (IU) are as follows:

Birth to 12 months: 400 IU
Children between 1 and 13 years: 600 IU
Adolescents between 14 and 18 years: 600 IU
Adults 19-70 years: 600 IU
Adults over 71 years of age: 800 IU
Pregnant and lactating women: 600 IU

People at high risk for vitamin D deficiency may need more.

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Deficiency of this vitamin can be due to these reasons:

Not getting enough vitamin D in your diet
Problems with the absorption of vitamins and nutrients
Not exposing yourself to enough sunlight
The liver or kidneys cannot convert vitamin D into its active form for the body.
Taking medications that interfere with the body's ability to convert or absorb this vitamin

Thus, people at greatest risk of vitamin D deficiency are:

Breastfeeding babies
Older adults
Dark-skinned people
People with conditions such as Crohn's disease, colitis, and celiac disease, as these make it difficult to properly absorb nutrients.
People who suffer from obesity
People who have undergone gastric bypass surgery
People with chronic kidney or liver disease

What problems can this deficiency cause?

Vitamin D deficiency can cause a loss of bone density , leading, in the worst cases, to osteoporosis and bone fractures.

In children, it can cause rickets , a rare disease that causes bones to soften and bend.

In adults, severe vitamin D deficiency causes osteomalacia. , which in turn causes weak bones, bone pain and muscle weakness.

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