Vitamin D Deficiency Symptoms: What Should You Look Out for?

All About Vitamin D Deficiency

Hailed as the 'Sunshine Vitamin', Vitamin D is essential to our health. It helps manage mood, strengthens bones, and supports the immune system. Despite its importance, many people unknowingly suffer from vitamin D deficiency. However, several symptoms can help you identify whether you are suffering from vitamin D deficiency.
In this blog, we will discuss vitamin D deficiency symptoms and what causes them.

What is Vitamin D Deficiency?

Vitamin D essentially helps your body absorb calcium. It is a structurally related and fat-soluble compound, including Vitamin D1, D2, and D3. This means these vitamins can dissolve in fats and oils. The human body gets most of its vitamin D from sunlight. It is also available as a supplement and is naturally found in some foods.

Vitamin D deficiency means the body does not get adequate amounts of it, resulting in health concerns. Insufficient vitamin D results in bone and muscle issues. It is one of the most common deficiencies in India, affecting over 70% of the population.

Why is Vitamin D Important?

As we all know, vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium, one of the building blocks of bones. Moreover, it also helps the body absorb phosphorus from the gut. Both of these nutrients are essential for bones and muscles to function properly.

Vitamin D poses many health benefits. They are:

Improve muscle strength.
It may help people with depression and low mood.
Help in reducing fall risk.
It may help keep the immune system strong.

But how would you know whether you have this deficiency? Fortunately, various symptoms indicate that your body needs more Vitamin D.

Vitamin D Deficiency Symptoms

Vitamin D deficiency causes several symptoms in your body. These symptoms may vary from person to person. Some of the most common vitamin D deficiency symptoms are:

Muscle weakness
Bone pain
Incorrect growth patterns
Deformities in joint
Pins and needles sensation in hands and feet
Waddling while walking

The majority of people suffering from this deficiency are asymptomatic. Vitamin D deficiency symptoms will not manifest in your body in an obvious manner. If you suspect you might have it, visit a doctor.

Vitamin D Deficiency Symptoms in Females

Vitamin D deficiency symptoms in women manifest in many ways. They are as follows.

1.Muscle Pain

If you experience chronic pain in your muscles, then a potential cause may be vitamin D deficiency. A study conducted by Pubmed in 2014 showed that most people suffering from chronic pain had Vitamin D deficiency.
Vitamin D is present in your body's pain-signalling pathways since it is present in nociceptors (nerve cells that sense pain). This triggers chronic pain in women.

2. Hair Loss

Vitamin D deficiency symptoms include hair loss. A 2020 study from Pubmed suggests that Vitamin D deficiency causes alopecia areata, a form of autoimmune disease causing severe hair loss.

3. Bone and back pain

Since Vitamin D helps absorb calcium in the body, a lack of it causes reduced bone health. Although research regarding bone and back pain as a vitamin D deficiency symptom is limited, some studies have shown its effect. A 2018 study consisting of 98 patients suffering from back pain was linked with Vitamin D deficiency.

4. Fatigue

Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency. Numerous studies have found that 89% of women complaining about fatigue were found to be deficient in this vitamin.

5.Brittle Nails

Vitamin D deficiency symptoms on nails manifest as brittle and weak nails. This is due to the lack of calcium facilitated by Vitamin D deficiency.

Vitamin D Deficiency Symptoms in Men

Vitamin D deficiency symptoms in adults and men do not differ from women. Many men, like women, remain asymptomatic throughout their life. Skin problems are mostly seen as a symptom of this deficiency.

Vitamin D deficiency symptoms on the skin can include problems such as dry and flaky skin. Skin spots and other skin-related problems are believed to be the main indicators that your body is not getting enough Vitamin D.

Severe Vitamin D Deficiency Symptoms

Although mild deficiency does not cause any severe health concerns, extreme Vitamin D deficiency symptoms can lead to deformities.

Chronic low vitamin D levels can cause:

Rickets: Children suffering from Vitamin D deficiency develop soft bendable bones.
Osteomalacia: Adults develop bone and joint pain caused by weak bones and muscles.
Osteoporosis: This causes bone loss and increases the chances of getting fractures.

What Causes Vitamin D Deficiency Symptoms?

There are many causes of vitamin D deficiency symptoms. They are:

Unhealthy Diet: If your diet does not contain vitamin D-rich foods, you may face associated symptoms.
Not Getting Enough Sunlight: Your body produces Vitamin D through sunlight. Therefore, if you do not get enough sunlight, you may experience Vitamin D deficiency.
Lack of Proper Absorption: Some people may have difficulty absorbing Vitamin D from sunlight.
Weight Loss Surgeries: Vitamin D deficiency is common in people who have undergone weight loss surgery.
Medications: Certain medications such as Rifampin, Orlistat, Laxative, Steroids, Colestipol and Phenobarbital may cause changes in Vitamin D metabolism.

Who is at Risk of Developing Vitamin D Deficiency?

Vitamin D deficiency does not impact a particular population. Any child, infant, or adult can develop this deficiency. However, some people are at greater risk of experiencing Vitamin D deficiency symptoms.

People With Dark Skin

If your skin has more melanin, it may be unable to produce Vitamin D from sunlight. Therefore, dark-skinned people are at more risk of developing this deficiency.

Liver or Kidney Problems

If you suffer from chronic liver and kidney disease, you may not be able to metabolise Vitamin D in a form your body can use. So, people suffering from kidney problems often develop Vitamin D deficiency.

Breastfeeding Infant

Infants who are breastfeeding do not get adequate amounts of Vitamin D from breast milk. Therefore, they are at greater risk of being deficient in the vitamin.

Obesity

Since Vitamin D is a fat-soluble compound, it binds with the excessive fat present in obese people. This prevents the vitamin from entering the bloodstream, ultimately causing deficiency.

Older Adults

People over the age of 65 are often at high risk of getting Vitamin D deficiency. This is because, as the body gets old, it starts to lose its ability to convert Vitamin D into its active form. Moreover, their liver and kidneys also become weak, resulting in deficiency.

People Suffering From Diseases

If you have ulcerative colitis, celiac disease or Crohn's disease, then you are at risk of getting this deficiency.

Blood Test for Vitamin D Deficiency

If you suspect that you have Vitamin D deficiency, a blood test for vitamin D deficiency symptoms is feasible. Doctors often suggest a 25-hydroxyvitamin D or 25(OH)D blood test to diagnose Vitamin D deficiency.

How to Treat Vitamin D Deficiency?

Vitamin D deficiency symptoms are preventable and treatable. You can increase vitamin D levels in your body in the following ways:

Change Your Diet

Include Vitamin D-rich foods in your diet. These include salmon, cod liver oil, egg yolks, mushrooms, swordfish, tuna fish, orange juice with Vitamin D, sardines, and beef liver. They are also found in breakfast cereals and yoghurt.

Vitamin D Supplements

Your doctor may recommend Vitamin D supplements if you suffer from their deficiency. Two types of supplements are available: Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) and Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). D3 is found in animals, and D2 is found in plants. Moreover, vitamin D is also present in many multivitamins.

Get Enough Sunlight

Ultraviolet rays, popularly known as ‘tanning rays,’ are one of the main sources of Vitamin D. Excessive use of sunscreen may hamper the synthesis of Vitamin D. Moreover, wearing full-sleeved clothes can impact Vitamin D levels.

Can You Develop Vitamin D Toxicity?

Too much of anything is harmful to the human body. This also applies to Vitamin D, too much of which may lead to other complications. This can result from taking too many supplements. Symptoms include:

Nausea
Constipation
Increased thirst and urination
Confusion
Ataxia
Poor appetite
Dysarthria
Weakness

You can easily prevent this by avoiding excessive supplement intake. Always remember that the goal is to maintain a healthy level of Vitamin D in your body.

Conclusion

Vitamin D deficiency symptoms can be mild or severe, depending on a person's health. It can include muscle pain, hair loss, bone and joint pain and many more. Since Vitamin D deficiency almost always goes unnoticed, pay great attention to your health. If you sense any disbalance, consult a doctor and make the necessary health changes. Take charge of your health today!