I had written about “Vitamin D and Joint Pain” last week but now we will look into the importance of Vitamin D and problems due to its deficiency. Vitamin D is a vital nutrient for bone and health and it has a direct connection with Joint Pain. It is an extremely important vitamin that has powerful effects on several systems throughout our body.
Let us look into more details. Vitamin D functions like a hormone. It is different from other Vitamins in this functionality. Every single cell in our body has a receptor for Vitamin D. Vitamin D is produced by our body from Cholesterol when the skin is exposed to sunlight. Therefore, if we are deprived of sunlight, it can cause a deficiency of Vitamin D in our body.
Food items like fatty fish, fortified dairy products contain Vitamin D but it is difficult to get the sufficient quantity from diet alone. The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of Vitamin D for adults is between 600 and 800 but we may need it much more than that. Vitamin D deficiency is most common especially among people who work indoors.
Most common risk factors of Vitamin Deficiency are as follows.
- Dark Skin
- Ageing
- Obesity and Overweight
- Using Sunscreen when going out in the sunlight
- Kidney disease, liver disease, hyperparathyroidism
Symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency
Vitamin D deficiency can lead to a loss of bone density, which can contribute to osteoporosis and fractures (broken bones)
Vitamin D keeps our immune systems strong. It is one of Vitamin D’s important Roles. When the immune systems are strong, it gives our body the required strength to fight off Viruses and Bacteria that causes illness. A link between Vitamin D deficiency and Respiratory Tract infections like Cold, Bronchitis, Pneumonia have been established.
You may feel like tired or having excessive fatigue due to Vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D helps regulate the amount of Calcium in our body. Calcium is very much essential for the bones. A low Vitamin D level causes the bones to soften and become weak. You may have bone and back pain.
One may feel a depression due to Vitamin D deficiency. Healing of wounds in your body may be slowed down due to Vitamin D deficiency. You may also experience Hair Loss due to the deficiency. Chronic muscle pain and low levels of Vitamin D in the blood are linked.
Common sources of Vitamin D
- Sunlight
- Fatty Fish like Salmon, Tuna etc.
- Beef Liver
- Cheese
- Mushroom
- Egg Yolks
- Milk
- Cereals
- Orange Juice
- Yogurt
- Soy Drinks
While many are unaware of their Vitamin D deficiency, it is common and about 1 billion people worldwide have low blood levels of Vitamin D. Getting too much of Vitamin D is also harmful, known as Vitamin D Toxicity. Signs of Vitamin D Toxicity include Nausea, Vomiting, Poor Apatite, Constipation etc. So, get your Vitamin D level checked periodically and make sure that you have the required amount for a healthy living.
Disclaimer: Information provided here is only for your knowledge. The actual requirement varies from person to person and hence always consult your Physician before attempting on any diagnostics or treatment.
Source of information: Healthline
