If your bones have been aching lately, you’re feeling down in the dumps, are having sleeping problems, or experiencing acid reflux, you may think these are simply signs of aging. These symptoms on their own may not signal a major problem, but put them together and it could mean that you’re not getting enough vitamin D.
Technically, vitamin D isn’t actually a vitamin – it’s a steroid hormone that your body produces when you are exposed to sunlight or consume certain foods and supplements. Nevertheless, it is vital to your overall health. That’s why you need to be aware of the symptoms of a vitamin D deficiency, so you can take action and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
A Common Condition Often Ignored
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as many as one third of all Americans have a vitamin D deficiency, including up to 50 percent of children between ages 1 and 5 and 70 percent of children between ages 6 and 11.
You can assume that being in the sun and drinking milk would be sufficient to maintain normal levels of vitamin D, which is why a deficiency is often overlooked, but that’s not commonly the case. Choosing to ignore the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency can result in serious consequences. People with low levels of vitamin D are at a greater risk of death from cardiovascular disease and various types of cancer. They are also more likely to gain weight, experience depression, or develop cognitive impairment as they grow older.
On the other hand, producing normal amounts of vitamin D can ward off or treat conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, glucose intolerance, and multiple sclerosis. It also boosts your immune system and fights infections, improves your circulation for a healthier heart, and is essential for building strong, healthy bones.
How do you know for sure if you have a vitamin D deficiency? By getting your blood tested. Before you do, however, be on the lookout for these symptoms:
- Aching bones or frequent fractures
- Moodiness or depression due to a decrease in the hormone serotonin
- Acid reflux or other digestive problems due to a lack of healthy bacterium in your GI tract
- Insomnia, sleep apnea, or another sleeping disorder
- Frequent infections, seasonal flues, colds, and other immune system-related diseases
- Excessive perspiration
- Erectile dysfunction (applies to men only)
Once you’ve been diagnosed with a vitamin D deficiency, your doctor can prescribe the appropriate course of treatment. In the meantime, there are several ways you can help boost your body’s production of vitamin D. One is to increase your sun exposure. Spend at least 15 minutes a day in the sun, exposing at least 40 percent of your skin – not just your face and hands. Keep in mind that while using sunscreen helps prevent skin cancer, it also lowers your ability to produce vitamin D by up to 95 percent. Talk to your doctor about how you can safely get sun exposure.
Another way to boost your vitamin D levels is by consuming more of these foods: egg yolk, beef, fish and seafood, cod liver oil, orange juice, yogurt, and cow or goat milk. However, while there are plenty of dietary options for vitamin D, not everyone is able to absorb the necessary amounts through foods alone. That is why it’s very important to come up with a treatment plan with your doctor to find the best options for getting the vitamin D you need.
Vitamin D Deficiency Treatment in Sarasota and Manatee County, Florida
Intercoastal Medical Group is a multi-specialty practice offering primary care, and much more. With more than 100 doctors in several locations across Sarasota and Manatee County, Florida, we make it easy to find a qualified doctor at a location that’s convenient for you. Intercoastal Endocrinologists Jesus Perez, MD, Wende M. Kozlow, MD, Megan Guerrero, MD and Deborah Majchel-Koss, MD can diagnose and address Vitamin D deficiencies. Drs. Perez and Kozlow are located at the Beneva Professional Center, 943 S. Beneva Road, Suite #210, Sarasota, FL 34232; phone (941) 379-1777. Dr. Guerrero and Majchel-Koss are located at the Intercoastal Lakewood Ranch II medical office building, 11715 Rangeland Parkway, Bradenton, FL 34211; phonr (941)538-0077.
FAQs
What is vitamin D deficiency? Vitamin D deficiency means you don't have enough vitamin D in your body. It primarily causes issues with your bones and muscles. Vitamin D is an essential vitamin that your body uses for normal bone development and maintenance.
What are the worst symptoms of vitamin D deficiency? ›
What are the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency?
- Muscle pain.
- Bone pain.
- Increased sensitivity to pain.
- A tingly, “pins-and-needles” sensation in the hands or feet.
- Muscle weakness in body parts near the trunk of the body, such as the upper arms or thighs.
- Waddling while walking, due to muscle weakness in the hips or legs.
Symptoms when vitamin D is low
- Fatigue.
- Not sleeping well.
- Bone pain or achiness.
- Depression or feelings of sadness.
- Hair loss.
- Muscle weakness.
- Loss of appetite.
- Getting sick more easily.
What is vitamin D deficiency? Vitamin D deficiency means you don't have enough vitamin D in your body. It primarily causes issues with your bones and muscles. Vitamin D is an essential vitamin that your body uses for normal bone development and maintenance.
What neurological disorders cause low vitamin D? ›
Finally, we discuss the scientific evidence that links low 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations to the onset and progression of severe neurological diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, migraine, diabetic neuropathy and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
What illness is caused by vitamin D deficiency frequently? ›
Research suggests there's a link between vitamin D deficiency and respiratory tract infections, such as the common cold , bronchitis, and pneumonia. A 2020 review also found that vitamin D deficiency has been linked to several viral diseases, such as: hepatitis. flu.
What happens if your vitamin D is low for too long? ›
Vitamin D deficiency can cause weak bones — a condition called osteoporosis in adults and rickets in children. Low blood levels of this vitamin have also been linked to an increased risk for: Cancer. Heart disease and stroke.
What blocks vitamin D absorption? ›
Because vitamin D is fat soluble, its absorption depends on the gut's ability to absorb dietary fat [4]. Fat malabsorption is associated with medical conditions that include some forms of liver disease, cystic fibrosis, celiac disease, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis [1,63].
How long does it take to recover from vitamin D deficiency? ›
It can take a few weeks for your vitamin D levels to rise once you start taking supplements. Expect a 4-6 week recovery time if you don't have any underlying health issues that could slow down the recovery phase. You may be able to speed up the recovery process by: Spending time in the sunshine.
How to flush vitamin D out of system? ›
Yes, by ensuring you consume plenty of water. This will encourage urination, allowing your body to shed the excess vitamin D and calcium more quickly. Prescription diuretics like furosemide can also be helpful. A diuretic is a medicine that increases fluid loss.
Here are three ways to increase your intake:
- Eat foods high in vitamin D, like fish or fortified breakfast foods (milk, cereals and orange juice).
- Get vitamin D from moderate sunlight exposure each day.
- Take a vitamin D3 supplement or cod liver oil.
You don't absorb enough vitamin D from food (a malabsorption problem) You don't get enough exposure to sunlight. Your liver or kidneys cannot convert vitamin D to its active form in the body. You take medicines that interfere with your body's ability to convert or absorb vitamin D.
Does low vitamin D cause weight gain? ›
A vitamin D deficiency is unlikely to cause weight gain. However, it may cause other health problems or unpleasant symptoms, which are worth avoiding. You can maintain adequate vitamin D levels through a combination of limited sun exposure, a vitamin-D-rich diet, and taking vitamin D supplements.
What gastrointestinal disease causes low vitamin D? ›
Gastroen- terologists and nutritionists frequently encounter patients whose medical conditions predispose them to vitamin D deficiency, such as inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, gastric bypass surgery and cystic fibrosis/pancreatic insufficiency.
How do you feel when your vitamin D is extremely low? ›
Too little vitamin D can lead to symptoms like fatigue, frequent illness or bone fractures, hair loss, and muscle and bone pain. In children, severe deficiency can cause rickets and tooth decay. A blood test can confirm if you have a vitamin D deficiency.
What are the mental symptoms of vitamin D deficiency? ›
Vitamin D deficiency presents similar symptoms to those of depression:
- Mood changes accompanied by overwhelming feelings of hopelessness, sadness, and hopelessness.
- Fatigue.
- Forgetfulness.
- Loss of interest in activities that previously sparked excitement.
- Suicidal thoughts.
- Anxiety.
- Loss of appetite.
Vitamin D deficiency can lead to an array of problems, most notably rickets in children and osteoporosis in adults. The fortification of milk with vitamin D in the 1930s was effective in eradicating rickets in the world.
What autoimmune disease causes vitamin D deficiency? ›
Current studies have linked the deficiency of vitamin D with different autoimmune diseases, including insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), multiple sclerosis (MS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
What cancers cause vitamin D deficiency? ›
A vitamin D deficiency has also been documented in patients with prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, as well as multiple myeloma. Larger randomized clinical trials should be undertaken in humans to establish the role of vitamin D supplementation in the prevention of these cancers.
How long after taking vitamin D will I feel better? ›
In general, some individuals may start to notice improvements in their Vitamin D levels within a few weeks of starting supplementation, while for others, it may take a bit longer. It's essential to be patient and consistent with your supplement regimen to allow your body to absorb and utilize Vitamin D effectively.
The most serious complications of vitamin D deficiency are low blood calcium (hypocalcemia), low blood phosphate (hypophosphatemia), rickets (softening of the bones during childhood), and osteomalacia (softening of the bones in adults).
What are the symptoms of vitamin D toxicity? ›
Confusion, apathy, recurrent vomiting, abdominal pain, polyuria, polydipsia, and dehydration are the most often noted clinical symptoms of vitamin D toxicity (VDT; also called vitamin D intoxication or hypervitaminosis D).
How low is too low for vitamin D? ›
Levels of 50 nmol/L (20 ng/mL) or above are adequate for most people for bone and overall health. Levels below 30 nmol/L (12 ng/mL) are too low and might weaken your bones and affect your health. Levels above 125 nmol/L (50 ng/mL) are too high and might cause health problems.
How long does it take to restore vitamin D levels? ›
“Adding an over-the-counter vitamin D supplement can make improvements in just three to four months. Vitamin D with a strength of 1000-2000 international units daily is the recommended dose for most adults,” Dr. Ropte says. Most multivitamins contain vitamin D, so extra supplementation isn't always necessary.
