Do you frequently feel exhausted and run down? Do you have muscle pain, joint pain, or even bone fractures? If this is the case, you may be deficient in vitamin D. It is something our bodies require naturally but does not always obtain enough of. Vitamin D provides numerous benefits to our bodies. It is essential for keeping your body healthy, and without it, you may experience a variety of health issues.
Let’s discuss Vitamin D deficiency and discover everything about it to live a healthier life.
What exactly is a Vitamin D deficiency?
Vitamin D deficiency means that you are not getting adequate vitamin D to keep your body healthy. It is a common condition; approximately 1 billion people worldwide are vitamin D deficient, with 50% of the population suffering from vitamin D insufficiency. It appears to be one of the most commonly misdiagnosed and untreated dietary deficiencies. Studies in Pakistan have revealed that 80-90% of the population is vitamin D deficient.
What makes vitamin D so beneficial?
Vitamin D is crucial for many body functions, including;
- Helps calcium absorption in the body.
- Modulates the immune system.
- Deficiency can result in a variety of problems and life-threatening diseases.
- Maintain bone strength, prevents heart diseases, and reduces the risk of depression and muscle damage.
- Regulates gene expression and cell growth
How can I obtain Vitamin D?
Vitamin D can be obtained in three ways: through the skin, through the diet, and through supplements. When exposed to sunlight, your body produces vitamin D on its own.
However, excessive sun exposure can cause skin aging and skin cancer, so many people seek vitamin D from other sources.
What causes the deficiency of Vitamin D?
You could become vitamin D deficient for a variety of reasons, including:
Generally, the two most common causes of vitamin D deficiency are;
- Not getting sufficient vitamin D through diet or sunlight.
- Your body isn’t correctly absorbing or utilizing vitamin D.
There are several distinct reasons which can cause Vitamin D insufficiency, such as:
- Certain medical conditions.
- Weight-loss surgery.
- Some medications.
Your chance of having a lack of vitamin D can also be increased by many different biological and environmental factors, such as getting older and having more melanin (pigment) in your skin.
References
https://discovermagazine.com/lifestyle/14-signs-of-vitamin-d-deficiency
https://medlineplus.gov/vitaminddeficiency.html
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-to-increase-vitamin-d#_noHeaderPrefixedContent
