Vitamin D3 Deficiency – What it is, Causes, Symptoms, Diseases and Treatments

Vitamin D3 Deficiency. Furthermore. Vitamins  are essential for the growth and development of the body. Several foods are rich in vitamins and your daily dose can be obtained from these foods. Vitamin D3 is one of the main nutrients for our body. Let’s take a look at the benefits of vitamin D3 and the best way to include it in our lives.

What is Vitamin D3:  Vitamin D3 or cholecalciferol is the only vitamin that is manufactured by the human body itself when it is exposed to the sun ‘s ultraviolet rays . Thus, it is often referred to as the “sunshine vitamin”. This vitamin plays a vital role in our overall health.

• facilitates calcium absorption . It is important for the health of bones and teeth.
• It prevents bone loss and other bone-related disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis.
• It is converted into a hormone by the human body. This vitamin is derived from 7-dehydrocholesterol, but is converted to 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 or calcitriol by the liver and kidneys.
• Calcitriol acts as a hormone to control levels of phosphorus, calcium and bone metabolism, as well as neuromuscular function.
• Although vitamin D3 can be obtained from sunlight, there are several foods that are good sources of this vitamin .

Vitamin D3 Deficiency:  Vitamin D3 is one of the most underrated vitamins . Undoubtedly, a large number of people suffer from vitamin D3 deficiency . This vitamin is essential for bone health. If the body is deficient in vitamin D3, it will not be able to absorb sufficient amounts of calcium. Thus, it negatively affects your bones.

Causes of Vitamin D3 Deficiency:  Vitamin D3 is mainly obtained from sunlight. Thus, the underlying causes of vitamin D3 deficiency are also related to this factor. The following factors contribute to vitamin D3 deficiency .

Inadequate exposure to sunlight:  Our body needs the sun’s ultraviolet rays to manufacture vitamin D3. At least 15 minutes of sunlight exposure is recommended to get the required amount of vitamin D3. However, those who mostly stay indoors or in regions where there is less sunlight are not able to get the recommended exposure and suffer from its deficiency.

Sunscreen Use:  The fear of skin cancer and the forces of the sun makes us wear sunscreen before venturing out into sunlight. High SPF sunscreens prevent our bodies from absorbing the beneficial amounts of sunlight. Our skin uses the energy of UVB rays to convert 7 dehydrocholesterol into vitamin D3. Those who use bronzers are often deficient in vitamin D3.

Age Progression:  Age is also a factor that can cause vitamin D3 deficiency . As we age, our bodies become less equipped to produce sufficient amounts of vitamin D3. Older people require a greater amount of this vitamin due to age-related decline in kidney function.

Inadequate intake from dietary sources:  According to the National Institute of Health, the biggest source of vitamin D3 is fish and its derivatives, such as cod liver oil. There are very few vegetarian sources of this vitamin. Foods such as fortified milk, breads and cereals contain this vitamin in small amounts. Thus, vegetarians are more likely to suffer from vitamin D3 deficiency .

Risk Factors:  Although vitamin D3 deficiency can affect anyone, there are certain people who are at a higher risk of suffering from this deficiency. This could be because your vitamin D3 requirements are higher than others. They are:

• Pregnant and lactating women, especially young women and teenagers.
• Infants and children under the age of 5 years.
• People aged 65 and above.
• People with dark skin, such as Africans, of Caribbean and South Asian African origin.
• People who are veiled for cultural reasons.

Symptoms of Vitamin D3 Deficiency:  The symptoms of Vitamin D3 deficiency cannot be easily identified. These symptoms range from mild to severe. They can be classified into 3 categories namely skin, thyroid and neurological symptoms.

Skin:  Dry skin is the most common symptom of vitamin D3 deficiency . It is mainly caused due to lack of antioxidants. Vitamin D3 plays an important role in preventing premature aging. Vitamin D3 creams are often prescribed to treat skin conditions like psoriasis and acne.

Thyroid Gland:  Vitamin D3 is crucial for the proper functioning of the thyroid gland. Symptoms of vitamin D3 deficiency are also related to the functioning of the thyroid gland. The presence of vitamin D3 in cells is vital for thyroid hormone. Even thyroid treatments using herbs, progesterone or raising T3 levels require the right amount of vitamin D3 to be effective.

Neurological Symptoms:  Men and women often suffer from neurological symptoms of vitamin D3 deficiency . Vitamin D3 helps control skeletal and involuntary muscle relaxation. Symptoms of  vitamin D3 deficiency include cramping and constriction of blood vessels. This results in an increase in blood pressure, thus increasing the likelihood of migraines and headaches. This pressure eventually leads to anxiety, depression, insomnia and hopelessness, or in extreme cases, schizophrenia.

Rickets:  Vitamin D3 plays an important role in bone health by facilitating the absorption of calcium. Thus, rickets is the most prominent symptom of vitamin D3 deficiency . It is mainly caused due to the body’s inability to bind and absorb calcium and phosphate. This can be attributed to inadequate levels of vitamin D3 in the body.

Cognitive difficulties:  Vitamin D3 is also essential for our cognition. One study indicated that people with vitamin D3 deficiency have worse mental function. Thus, older adults need greater amounts of this vitamin through supplementation.

Diseases Caused by Vitamin D3 Deficiency: Vitamin D3  deficiency should not be overlooked as it leads to a host of other health problems. Insufficient level of vitamin D3 is associated with the following diseases.

Depression:  Vitamin D3 deficiency is quite common in older adults and can cause various psychiatric and neurological disorders. This deficiency is responsible for low mood and cognitive performance including Alzheimer’s disease. Side effects of vitamin D3 deficiency include mood swings such as depression, particularly seasonal affective disorders (SAD), and problems with memory and concentration. This is because vitamin D3 is needed to create the building blocks that produce the neurotransmitters involved in maintaining emotional balance. Thus, people who mostly do not leave the house often suffer from anxiety and depression.

Bones:  Vitamin D3 is known for its ability to improve bone health as well as the health of the musculoskeletal system. Vitamin deficiency causes osteopenia and triggers osteoporosis, leading to a painful bone disease known as osteomalacia.

It also contributes to muscle weakness, thus increasing the risk of falls and fractures. Insufficient intake of vitamin D3 can manipulate thyroid hormone (PTH) regulatory mechanisms, causing secondary hyperparathyroidism that further increases the risk of osteoporosis and fractures.

Low back pain:  Vitamin D3 deficiency can cause various musculoskeletal disorders. According to the latest studies, low levels of vitamin D3 contributed to the development of chronic low back pain in women.

Hair loss:  It is indeed surprising but vitamin D3 deficiency is also associated with hair loss. Some studies have observed that people who mostly stay indoors have inadequate levels of vitamin D3 and often suffer from hair loss. It is extremely important to have the right amount of vitamin D3 as too much of this vitamin can also cause hair loss.

Rheumatoid Arthritis:  Rheumatoid arthritis is a painful autoimmune disease that is caused when the body’s tissues are attacked by its own immune system. It is characterized by swelling and severe pain in the joints. Vitamin D3 helps in regulating the immune system. Therefore, a deficiency of this vitamin not only increases your risk of rheumatoid arthritis, but also makes you sicker and more susceptible to cardiovascular disease.

Multiple Sclerosis: Multiple  sclerosis is a condition where the immune system attacks the lining that protects nerve cells. Low blood levels of vitamin D3 are responsible for an increased number of brain injuries, particularly in people with multiple sclerosis. Adequate level of vitamin D3 has a protective effect and therefore reduces the risk of developing multiple sclerosis. It also helps to reduce the effect in people suffering from multiple sclerosis.

Treatment of Vitamin D3 Deficiency:  Anyone can suffer from Vitamin D3 deficiency and it can lead to long term health problems when left untreated. Diagnosis of this deficiency can be made by taking the 25-hydroxyvitamin D test. 25-hydroxyvitamin D is converted to an active form of the vitamin in the kidney.

This active form of the vitamin helps control calcium and phosphate levels in the body and can be measured using a blood test. Let’s look at ways to treat D3 deficiency

Sun Exposure:  Getting adequate sunlight exposure is the most effective way to boost your vitamin D3 levels. You don’t have to sweat for hours in the sun. Spending 10 to 15 minutes a day in sunlight without sunscreen with your arms, legs, face, or back exposed is enough to get the vitamin D3 you need.

The optimal amount of sunlight your body can absorb also depends on your skin type. People with dark skin need more sun exposure than their lighter-skinned counterparts. The best time to get enough vitamin D3 is from 11 am to 3 pm in the months of April to August.

Foods:  There are very few foods that naturally provide vitamin D3. Some of the food sources include beef liver, cheese, eggs and fatty fish, which contain small amounts of vitamin D3. Cod liver oil is a rich source of this vitamin. In addition, fortified milk and orange juice also contain vitamin D3. So, another way to increase the level of vitamin D3 is to increase the consumption of these foods.

Supplements:  Several prescription supplements can increase your vitamin D3 intake. However, these should be taken under the guidance of the doctor as they accompany various side effects and sometimes can also cause allergic reactions. While taking vitamin D3 supplements, other vitamin or mineral supplements should be avoided, except on the advice of your doctor. Avoid using antacids unless your doctor advises you to. These antacids contain different minerals that can cause serious side effects when taken together. Use the specific type of antacid recommended by your doctor.