Getting sufficient amounts of vitamin D is pivotal for a healthy body. This vitamin plays a role in keeping the bones strong and reducing the risk of some types of cancer.
When there aren’t enough amounts of it in the body, this will begin to show through symptoms such as ache, tiredness, depression, weak muscles, etc.
Vitamin D deficiency is unique considering it’s our skin that produces it by getting sufficient sunlight. People with fair skin and younger individuals convert the sun rays into vitamin D better than people with darker skin and people over 50.
10 Symptoms of Vitamin D Deficiency
Tiredness
Low levels of vitamin D can lead to tiredness and fatigue, even after a good night’s sleep. Vitamin D plays a role in energizing the body, encouraging healing, and keeping the immunity strong.
Studies have found a connection between low levels of vitamin D and chronic tiredness. Supplementation with vitamin D3 was found helpful in boosting energy levels.
Frequent infections
Vitamin D is necessary for strong immunity. Therefore, low levels of vitamin D can increase the risk of infections and increase the frequency of colds, the flu, and other bacterial infections.
Muscle ache
Painful muscles and an overall weakness can be triggered by insufficient vitamin D in the body. In one study, 71 percent of people with chronic muscle ache were found to be deficient in this nutrient.
Other studies have also linked vitamin D3 supplementation with reduced chronic ache for people who had the deficiency.
Painful joints
Calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium participate in building and keeping the bones strong. Vitamin D is also necessary for healthy bones. Low levels of it have been associated with painful joints, legs, spine, and ribs.
When there’s not enough vitamin D, the calcium absorption in the intestines reduces and makes the overall levels of calcium in the blood lower.
Overweight or obese
Insufficient vitamin D has been linked with being overweight or obese.
Vitamin D is absorbed by the fat cells and isn’t used by the body for its functions.
According to some studies, weight loss boosted the levels of vitamin D, probably by releasing the vitamin D from the fat tissues into the blood.
Insulin resistance
Vitamin D participates in the production of insulin and it can also be used to boost insulin sensitivity in the body.
According to research, there’s a connection between higher levels of vitamin D and insulin sensitivity. Diabetics need sufficient vitamin D to prevent symptoms from worsening.
Slower healing of wounds
When there’s a wound that isn’t healing, the issue may be with your vitamin D levels.
This is because it participates in the rebuilding of new skin. Therefore, lack of it can decrease the healing of wounds.
Gastrointestinal problems
Vitamin D is absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract. When there’s not enough vitamin D, it can increase the risk of inflammatory bowel disease.
This disease increases the risk of colon cancer. Supplements may help lower this risk, according to studies, due to this vitamin’s power to lower inflammation throughout the body.
Poor memory
Insufficient amounts of vitamin D may impede memory and increase the risk of cognitive decline and dementia, especially among the elderly. People who’re diagnosed with dementia often have lower levels of this vitamin.
Hair thinning
A potential contributing factor to hair thinning is vitamin D deficiency. People who have alopecia areata, an autoimmune illness that can trigger hair loss, seem to have a higher risk of this deficiency.
This is believed to be a result of the fact that vitamin D helps stimulate the growth of hair follicles which play a role in hair thickness and reduce the risk of hair loss.
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