Recognize the Causes and Symptoms of Vitamin D Deficiency
Recognize the Causes and Symptoms of Vitamin D Deficiency
Symptoms of vitamin D deficiency often go unnoticed. In fact, if left untreated, this condition can increase the risk of certain diseases, ranging from bone disorders to infections. Therefore, the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency need to be recognized as early as possible, along with the causes.
Everyone's vitamin D needs vary depending on their age. In infants, the intake of vitamin D that needs to be met every day is 10 mcg (400 IU). Meanwhile, the need for vitamin D in children and adults is 15 mcg (600 IU) per day and the elderly is around 20 mcg (800 IU) per day.
Vitamin D can be produced by the body with the help of sun exposure, and can also be obtained from foods, such as fish, fish oil, beef liver, cheese, eggs, mushrooms, and milk that has been fortified with vitamin D. Vitamin D can also be obtained through supplements.
When a person rarely eats these foods or is less exposed to sunlight, he is at risk for vitamin D deficiency or deficiency.
Causes of Vitamin D Deficiency
In the body, vitamin D is used to maintain healthy bones and help absorb calcium. The amount of vitamin D levels in the body is regulated by the parathyroid glands.
In people who do not have certain medical conditions and routinely lead a healthy lifestyle, vitamin D deficiency is actually quite rare. However, there are several factors that can increase a person's risk of developing a vitamin D deficiency, including:
- Less consumption of foods that contain vitamin D, for example due to extreme diets
- Less or less exposure to sunlight
- Darker skin tone
- Certain medical conditions or diseases, such as hyperparathyroidism, osteoporosis, liver and kidney damage, tuberculosis, cancer, and digestive disorders, such as Crohn's disease and celiac disease
- Obesity
- Side effects of drugs, such as anticonvulsants, cholesterol-lowering drugs cholestyramine, corticosteroids, antifungals, and HIV medications
Some Symptoms of Vitamin D Deficiency
Symptoms of vitamin D deficiency are often not visible and are not even felt by sufferers. Therefore, many sufferers do not realize that their body lacks vitamin D.
Sometimes, vitamin D deficiency is also only detected through a blood test when a person undergoes a medical examination to a doctor.
Although there are no specific symptoms, symptoms can sometimes appear when the body lacks vitamin D. The following are some of the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency:
Tired easily
Low levels of vitamin D in the body can make the body tired more quickly and lack energy. Therefore, people who are deficient in vitamin D tend to look sluggish and less active because they feel their body is lacking energy.
Bone and muscle pain
Several studies show that one of the most common symptoms of vitamin D deficiency is bone and muscle pain, especially in the neck and back. Vitamin D deficiency can also cause muscle weakness and muscle cramps.
Porous bones
Vitamin D deficiency can cause the amount of calcium in the body to decrease. This can make the bones become porous. When the bones are porous, a person can feel symptoms in the form of bone pain, bones breaking easily, or changes in body posture.
Longer wound healing
Wound healing after surgery or an accident that takes longer than usual can be a sign of vitamin D deficiency. This is because vitamin D affects the production of chemical compounds in the body that play a role in the wound healing process.
Often sick
Vitamin D plays an important role in maintaining the immune system by supporting the work of white blood cells. This is why people who are deficient in vitamin D tend to get sick more easily. Some studies show that people who are deficient in vitamin D are more likely to get infections, such as ARI, flu, bronchitis, pneumonia, and diarrhea.
Mood swings
One of the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency is mood changes. People who are deficient in vitamin D will often look sad or gloomy. This is thought to be one of the factors that causes why people who are deficient in vitamin D tend to get tired easily.
If not treated immediately, vitamin D deficiency can cause a person to develop a condition called osteomalacia. While in children, vitamin D deficiency can cause a bone disorder called rickets. This condition can make the child's body shorter.
In addition, vitamin D deficiency can also increase the risk of certain diseases, ranging from osteoporosis, autoimmune diseases, heart disease, diabetes, to cancer.
Steps for Handling and Prevention of Vitamin D Deficiency
Symptoms of vitamin D deficiency can be overcome by always meeting the intake of vitamin D every day. The easiest way you can do is to regularly sunbathe in the morning, before 10 am to be exact. In addition, vitamin D deficiency can also be overcome by increasing the consumption of foods containing vitamin D.
If needed, you can also use vitamin D supplements to meet the needs of vitamin D. However, the use of this supplement should be consulted with a doctor first so that the dosage can be determined according to your condition.
If you experience symptoms of vitamin D deficiency, especially if you are rarely exposed to the sun or have certain medical conditions that put you at risk for vitamin D deficiency, see your doctor for treatment.
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