Deficiency of Vitamin D: Symptoms, Causes & Treatments

Gut conditions

Crohn's disease, celiac, inflammatory bowel disease and other gastrointestinal conditions can indicate a deficiency in vitamin D. If you have troubles with absorbing fat-soluble vitamins, you won't be able to probably get enough this vitamin.

Excessive sweating of the head

One of the first and most common indications of a deficiency in vitamin D is head sweating. If you notice that your forehead sweats when you are not partaking in physical activity and your body temperature remains at its normal range, then there is a good chance that this is due to not getting enough vitamin D.

Muscle weakness

While exercising regularly can help maintain strong and flexible muscle, when you aren't getting enough vitamin D, you not only will feel fatigued, but also you won't have the energy or power to perform your daily activities.

Osteoporosis symptoms

After the age of 30, your bones begin to stop building mass and not getting sufficient vitamin D speeds up this loss of mass. Early signs of osteoporosis or an increase in bone weakness and breakage can indicate you are not getting enough vitamin D every day.

Pain

A lack of vitamin D can cause long-lasting widespread pain throughout the body. Often people are misdiagnosed as having fibromyalgia or arthritis when in fact their pain is the result of not enough vitamin D.

Depression

It is unclear why vitamin D deficiency can cause depression symptoms in a number of people, but if you find yourself feeling more and more sad, there's a good chance the problem is with you vitamin D intake.

Overweight

People who are overweight or obese will have a more difficult time absorbing the proper amount of vitamin D their body needs. Since vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin, the more fat you have, the more vitamin D your body will need to be provided with.

Increase in infections

Vitamin D helps boost the immune system's ability to fight off bacteria and infections. If you are not getting enough vitamin D, then you will most likely suffer from more colds and the flu.

Additional Symptoms

• High blood pressure

• Cancer

• Heart disease

• Autoimmune disease

• Insomnia

• Diabetes

• Asthma

• Psoriasis

• Multiple Sclerosis

• Autism

Diet

Those who eat a strict vegan diet increase their chances of a vitamin D deficiency. Most of the vitamin D you consume is through foods and is often found in animal-based foods like beef liver, eggs, and fish.

Lack of sunlight

Vitamin D is produced in the skin through the absorption of the sunlight. Staying indoors for too long or constantly being covered when outdoors limits the amount of sun your skin is exposed to.

Having darker skin

Those with darker skin have a more difficult time producing vitamin D from the sun. The melanin pigment, which is more prominent in people with darker skin, is the main cause for this inability to produce vitamin D.

Kidney issues

Deficiency of vitamin D is common among those who have problems with their kidneys. This becomes more of a concern the older you get, because when you age, your kidneys are less able to convert vitamin D for the body to absorb.

Obesity

Those with a body mass index over 30 will often have less vitamin D in their body's. Not only will they have less but the excess fat cells prevent to proper release and absorption of the vitamin D in the body.

Depending on how low your vitamin D levels are, doctors will often prescribe varying levels of vitamin D supplements. 

Additionally, eating the right foods will also help boost your vitamin D levels. Some foods that contain high levels of vitamin D include:

• Mackerel

• Salmon

• Tuna

• Fish liver oil

• Beef

• Egg yolks

• Cheese

• Mushrooms

There are also foods that have vitamin D added in them like:

• Milk

• Cereals

• Orange juice

• Yogurt

• Margarine

One of the best treatments to improve your vitamin D intake is to spend more time outdoors in the sunshine. Just 15 minutes of sun exposure a day, without wearing sunscreen, can significantly increase your vitamin D intake.

Like treatment, diet and sun exposure are key for preventing  deficiency of vitamin D. You want to rely on more than one source to maintain your vitamin D. You want to maintain the levels of vitamin D in your body by taking these precautions:

• Spend at least 15 minutes in the sunshine on a clear day without sunscreen.

• Look for a multivitamin the has vitamin D in it.

• Consume more foods that are rich in vitamin D and eat foods that are add in vitamin D.