Signs of Vitamin D Deficiency

Vitamin D is an extremely important vitamin that has powerful effects on several systems throughout your body. Unlike other vitamins, vitamin D functions like a hormone, and every single cell in your body has a receptor for it.

Your body makes it from cholesterol when your skin is exposed to sunlight. It's also found in certain foods such as fatty fish and fortified dairy products, though it's very difficult to get enough from diet alone.

The recommended daily intake (RDI) is usually around 400–800 IU, but many experts say you should get even more than that. Vitamin D deficiency is very common. It's estimated that about 1 billion people worldwide have low levels of the vitamin in their blood.

In this blog post we discuss how to ensure you are getting the proper amounts of Vitamin D and how to see the signs if you are deficient in this vital vitamin.

Here are 7 common risk factors for vitamin D deficiency:

• Having dark skin.

• Being elderly.

• Being overweight or obese.

• Not eating much fish or dairy.

• Living far from the equator where there is little sun year-round.

• Always using sunscreen when going out.

• Staying indoors.

• People who live near the equator and get frequent sun exposure are less likely to be deficient, as their skin produces enough vitamin D to satisfy their bodies' needs.

• Most people don't realize that they’re deficient, as symptoms are generally subtle. You may not recognize them easily, even if they’re having a significant negative effect on your quality of life.

Here are 8 signs and symptoms of vitamin D deficiency.

1. Getting Sick or Infected Often

One of vitamin D's most important roles is keeping your immune system strong so you're able to fight off viruses and bacteria that cause illness. It directly interacts with the cells that are responsible for fighting infection. If you often become sick, especially with colds or the flu, low vitamin D levels may be a contributing factor. Several large observational studies have shown a link between a deficiency and respiratory tract infections like colds, bronchitis and pneumonia. A number of studies have found that taking vitamin D supplements at a dosage of up to 4,000 IU daily may reduce your risk of respiratory tract infections.

2. Fatigue and Tiredness

Feeling tired can have many causes, and vitamin D deficiency may be one of them. Unfortunately, it's often overlooked as a potential cause. Case studies have shown that very low blood levels can cause fatigue that has a severe negative effect on quality of life. In one case, a woman who complained of chronic daytime fatigue and headaches was found to have a vitamin D blood level of only 5.9 ng/ml. This is extremely low, as anything under 20 ng/ml is considered deficient. When the woman took a vitamin D supplement, her level increased to 39 ng/ml and her symptoms resolved. However, even blood levels that aren't extremely low may have a negative impact on your energy levels.

The study found that women with blood levels lower than 20 ng/ml or 21–29 ng/ml were more likely to complain of fatigue than those with blood levels over 30 ng/ml.

3. Bone and Back Pain

Vitamin D helps maintain bone health in several ways. For one, it improves your body's absorption of calcium.

Bone pain and lower back pain may be signs of inadequate vitamin D levels in the blood. Large observational studies have found a relationship between a deficiency and chronic lower back pain.

One study examined the association between vitamin D levels and back pain in more than 9,000 older women. The researchers found that those with a deficiency were more likely to have back pain, including severe back pain that limited their daily activities.

In one controlled study, people with vitamin D deficiency were nearly twice as likely to experience bone pain in their legs, ribs or joints compared to those with blood levels in the normal range.

4. Depression

A depressed mood may also be a sign of vitamin D deficiency. In review studies, researchers have linked vitamin D deficiency to depression, particularly in older adults. In one analysis, 65% of the observational studies found a relationship between low blood levels and depression. On the other hand, most of the controlled trials, which carry more scientific weight than observational studies, didn't show a link between the two.

However, the researchers who analyzed the studies noted that the dosages of vitamin D in controlled studies were often very low.In addition, they observed that some of the studies may not have lasted long enough to see the effect of taking supplements on mood.

Some controlled studies have shown that giving vitamin D to people who are deficient helps improve depression, including seasonal depression that occurs during the colder months.

5. Impaired Wound Healing

Slow healing of wounds after surgery or injury may be a sign that your vitamin D levels are too low.

Results from a test-tube study suggest that the vitamin increases the production of compounds that are crucial for forming new skin as part of the wound-healing process. One study on people who had dental surgery found that certain aspects of healing were compromised by vitamin D deficiency.

It's also been suggested that vitamin D's role in controlling inflammation and fighting infection is important for proper healing. One analysis looked at patients with diabetic foot infections.

It found that those with severe vitamin D deficiency were more likely to have higher levels of inflammatory markers that can jeopardize healing.

Unfortunately, there is very little research about the effects of vitamin D supplements on wound healing in people with deficiency at this point.

6. Bone Loss

Vitamin D plays a crucial role in calcium absorption and bone metabolism.

Many older people who are diagnosed with bone loss believe they need to take more calcium. However, they may be deficient in vitamin D as well. Low bone mineral density is an indication that your bones have lost calcium and other minerals. This places older adults, especially women, at an increased risk of fractures. In a large observational study in more than 1,100 middle-aged women in menopause or post menopause, researchers found a strong link between low vitamin D levels and low bone mineral density. However, a controlled study found that women who were vitamin D deficient experienced no improvement in bone mineral density when they took high-dose supplements, even if their blood levels improved. Regardless of these findings, adequate vitamin D intake and maintaining blood levels within the optimal range may be a good strategy for protecting bone mass and reducing fracture risk.

7. Hair Loss

Hair loss is often attributed to stress, which is certainly a common cause. However, when hair loss is severe, it may be the result of a disease or deficiency. Hair loss in women has been linked to low vitamin D levels, though there is very little research on this to date. Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease characterized by severe hair loss from the head and other parts of the body. It's associated with rickets, which is a disease that causes soft bones in children due to vitamin D deficiency. Low vitamin D levels are linked to alopecia areata and may be a risk factor for developing the disease. One study in people with alopecia areata showed that lower vitamin D blood levels tended to be associated with a more severe hair loss.

8. Muscle Pain

The causes of muscle pain are often difficult to pinpoint. There is some evidence that vitamin D deficiency may be a potential cause of muscle pain in children and adults, A few studies have found that taking high-dose vitamin D supplements may reduce various types of pain in people who are deficient.

The Bottom Line

Fixing your deficiency is simple, easy and can have big benefits for your health. Vitamin D deficiency is incredibly common, and most people are unaware of it. That’s because the symptoms are often subtle and non-specific, meaning that it's hard to know if they're caused by low vitamin D levels or something else. If you think you may have a deficiency, it's important that you speak to your doctor and get your blood levels measured. Fortunately, a vitamin D deficiency is usually easy to fix. You can either increase your sun exposure, eat more vitamin-D-rich foods, such as fatty fish or fortified dairy products, or take a vitamin D supplement.

Overall health for you and a loved one should not be taken lightly. If vitamin deficiencies are just the start of declining health for you or a loved one, you need to seek help. We are here for you to discuss your options and to help you down a path to better health.