Just In
- 14 hrs ago Exclusive: On Holi, Try This Trippy Tequila Dhokla Recipe To Win Hearts On Festival Of Colours
- 16 hrs ago Exclusive: Hazards Of Using Synthetic Holi Colours, Doctor-Approved Tips On How To Protect Your Skin, Hair
- 16 hrs ago Holi 2024: 7 Homemade Scrubs To Bid Farewell To Color Damage And Protect Your Skin
- 19 hrs ago Daily Horoscope, 25 March 2024: Leo Businessmen Need To Keep Their Plans Secret
Don't Miss
- Movies IPL 2024 Points Table Updated After PBKS Vs RCB Match. SRK's KKR At No.4, Rajasthan Royals Top
- Sports IPL 2024, RCB vs PBKS: Award Winners, Man of The Match, Post Match Presentation, Scorecard & Records
- News Bengaluru: Fan Breaches Security During RCB Match, Touches Virat Kohli's Feet In Chinnaswamy Stadium
- Education THDC Recruitment 2024; Salary Upto Rs. 1,60,000, Check out for more details
- Automobiles Citroen Basalt Vision To Be Revealed On March 27 – Powertrain, Features & More
- Finance 1:10 Split, 1:1 Bonus Soon: Rs 2,130 Smallcap Stock In Focus, Co Makes Big Announcement Ahead Of Splitting
- Technology Xiaomi 14 Review: A Pro Flagship in Everything but Name!
- Travel Learn About the Types of US Visas Available for Indian Immigrants and the Visa Process
Doctors Urge Bengalureans To Watch Out For Vitamin D Deficiency: Its Symptoms, Causes And Treatment
Many Bengalureans are at risk for Vitamin D deficiency due to spending long hours indoors and not receiving sufficient sunlight. Doctors claim that Vitamin D deficiency is a widespread problem among Bengalureans.
Vitamin D is one of the essential nutrients that our body requires. Lack of adequate vitamin D in the body can lead to several health problems. The vitamin can help strengthen bones, reduce the risk of heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis.
Some studies have also pointed out that the deficiency of Vitamin D increases can increase the risk of developing dementia. It also plays a major role in managing respiratory tract infections and autoimmune diseases among others [1] .
It is a fat-soluble vitamin that our body can make from sunlight or can be ingested via food or supplements. A very small amount comes from a few foods you eat, such as some fish, fish liver oils, egg yolks and fortified dairy, cereals and grain products.
Vitamin D deficiency symptoms can appear in the form of any disease involving heart, bones and many organs. A simple blood test can determine whether or not you have a vitamin D deficiency. Your doctor can advise if you need to take a vitamin D supplement. There is no consensus on vitamin D levels required for optimal health, and it differs depending on age and health conditions. Compared to women, vitamin D deficiency is increasingly reported in men[2] [3] .
The deficiency of vitamin D can lead to rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. This occurs when a bone tissue does not properly mineralize, leading to soft bones and skeletal deformities. It is estimated that around one billion people worldwide have a vitamin D deficiency, according to the Harvard School of Public Health [4] .
Nutrition Eat These Vitamin D-rich Foods For Improved Immunity & Bone Health
Researchers have also established associations between low vitamin D levels and prostate cancer. It was also found that men with erectile dysfunction were found to have low levels of vitamin D. People with low vitamin D levels were also found to be diagnosed with schizophrenia when compared to those who had a sufficient amount of vitamin D in their body, as noted by a study [4] .
Symptoms of Vitamin D Deficiency
In most cases, people with vitamin D deficiency do not present with obvious signs or symptoms.
Studies have reported that the symptoms can change over time, and are similar to symptoms of a wide range of ailments. This makes it difficult for an individual to understand whether they are suffering from vitamin D deficiency [5] .
Some of the common symptoms of vitamin D deficiency are as follows [6] :
- Exhaustion
- Thinning or brittle bones
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Back pain
- Muscle weakness
- Low endurance
- Constant sickness
- Constant mood swings
- Muscle pain
- Chronic pain
- Frequent bone fractures
- Fatigue
- Hair loss
- High or rising blood pressure
- Infertility
Causes Of Vitamin D Deficiency
The central reasons responsible for the development of this vitamin deficiency are as follows [7] :
- Limited exposure to sunlight (living at a high altitude)
- Low consumption of the recommended levels of the vitamin
- Dark skin
- The inability of the kidneys to convert vitamin D to its active form
- The inability of the digestive tract to adequately absorb vitamin D
- Obesity
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Diet
- Pollution
- Age
- Gut health
Also read: Vitamin D May Help Reduce The Risk Of Breast Cancer
Treatment For Vitamin D Deficiency
The three main treatments for vitamin D deficiency are as follows [8] [9] :
- Take vitamin D supplements. The dosage recommended for most adults is 600 IU, and for adults over the age of 70, the RDA is 800 IU. For children under 12 months, it is 400 IU.
- Eat foods rich in vitamin D such as tuna, salmon, and mackerel, as well as fish liver oils. Also, foods such as cheese, and egg yolks contain small quantities of vitamin D.
- Increase exposure to natural sunlight by doing outdoor activities that are good for your body as well.
Prevention
There are several ways in which you can prevent vitamin D deficiency and they are as follows [10] :
- Maintaining a healthy body weight
- Monitoring and treating medical conditions affecting your gut, kidney and liver
- Using vitamin D supplements
- Talking to a doctor about any changes in health
Infographics by Sharan Jayanth
- [1] Holick, M. F. (2007). Vitamin D deficiency. New England Journal of Medicine, 357(3), 266-281.
- [2] Holick, M. F., Binkley, N. C., Bischoff-Ferrari, H. A., Gordon, C. M., Hanley, D. A., Heaney, R. P., ... & Weaver, C. M. (2011). Evaluation, treatment, and prevention of vitamin D deficiency: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 96(7), 1911-1930.
- [3] Judd, S., & Tangpricha, V. (2008). Vitamin D deficiency and risk for cardiovascular disease. Circulation, 117(4), 503.
- [4] Wagner, C. L., & Greer, F. R. (2008). Prevention of rickets and vitamin D deficiency in infants, children, and adolescents. Pediatrics, 122(5), 1142-1152.
- [5] Holick, M. F., & Chen, T. C. (2008). Vitamin D deficiency: a worldwide problem with health consequences. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 87(4), 1080S-1086S.
- [6] Misra, M., Pacaud, D., Petryk, A., Collett-Solberg, P. F., & Kappy, M. (2008). Vitamin D deficiency in children and its management: review of current knowledge and recommendations. Pediatrics, 122(2), 398-417.
- [7] Lee, J. H., O'Keefe, J. H., Bell, D., Hensrud, D. D., & Holick, M. F. (2008). Vitamin D deficiency: an important, common, and easily treatable cardiovascular risk factor?. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 52(24), 1949-1956.
- [8] Gloth, F. M., Gundberg, C. M., Hollis, B. W., Haddad, J. G., & Tobin, J. D. (1995). Vitamin D deficiency in homebound elderly persons. Jama, 274(21), 1683-1686.
- [9] Wilkinson, R. J., Llewelyn, M., Toossi, Z., Patel, P., Pasvol, G., Lalvani, A., ... & Davidson, R. N. (2000). Influence of vitamin D deficiency and vitamin D receptor polymorphisms on tuberculosis among Gujarati Asians in west London: a case-control study. The Lancet, 355(9204), 618-621.
- [10] Kamen, D. L., Cooper, G. S., Bouali, H., Shaftman, S. R., Hollis, B. W., & Gilkeson, G. S. (2006). Vitamin D deficiency in systemic lupus erythematosus. Autoimmunity reviews, 5(2), 114-117.
- beauty5 'Beauty Problems' Caused By Vitamin D Deficiency That You Need To Know
- wellnessVitamin D Deficiency: How To Make Dinner Vitamin D-Friendly? Recipes And Tips
- healthVitamin D Deficiency: 5 Ways To Add Orange Juice To A Diabetes Diet
- healthVitamin D Deficiency: How To Make Breakfast Cereal Vitamin D-Friendly?
- healthCan Vitamin D Help Lower Cardiovascular Disease Risk? Does It Reduce High BP?
- healthVitamin D Deficiency: What Meals Are High In Vitamin D? Add 5 Healthy Recipes In Your Diet
- healthVitamin D Deficiency: Best Foods You Can Make To Beat Vitamin D Deficiency At Home
- healthIs This One Habit Increasing Your Risk Of Vitamin D Deficiency?
- healthThis Popular Indian Food Is The Best Answer For Vitamin D Deficiency
- healthCan Cheese Help Prevent Vitamin D Deficiency? Which Cheese Is The Best?
- healthDo You Have Vitamin D Deficiency? Learn How To Check And Boost Your Levels Naturally
- healthVitamin D Deficiency: 5 Reasons Why You Should Eat Egg Yolks Every Week