A lack of vitamin D in your body is referred to as vitamin D insufficiency. Your bones and musculature are the main organs affected.
Your body requires vitamin D in order to maintain and grow your bones normally. Your neurological system, musculoskeletal system, and immunological system are all impacted by vitamin D.
There are several methods to get vitamin D, including:
– Sun exposure, though elderly individuals and those with darker complexion may not get enough vitamin D from sunshine. Your physical position might also limit your ability to receive enough vitamin D from sunlight.
– by way of the foods you consume.
– by way of dietary supplements.
Despite all of these ways to obtain vitamin D, vitamin D insufficiency is a widespread issue in the globe.
One of the many vitamins your body requires to remain fit is vitamin D. It is essential for preserving the equilibrium of calcium in your blood and bones as well as for the formation and upkeep of bones.
You need vitamin D especially so that your body can use calcium and phosphorus to maintain healthy cells and develop bones.
Hypocalcemia results from a decrease in your intestines’ ability to absorb calcium and phosphorus, which is a symptom of persistent and/or serious vitamin D deficiency. (low calcium levels in your blood). Due to this, secondary hyperparathyroidism develops. (overactive parathyroid glands attempting to keep blood calcium levels normal).
Both hypocalcemia and hyperparathyroidism, if severe, can cause symptoms, including muscle weakness and cramps, fatigue and depression. Your body removes calcium from your bones to attempt to regulate the amount of calcium in your blood (via secondary hyperparathyroidism), which speeds up bone demineralization. (when a bone breaks down faster than it can reform). Additionally, this may lead to rickets in infants and osteomalacia (soft bones) in adults.
You are more likely to sustain a bone injury if you have osteomalacia or osteoporosis. Similar to osteomalacia, rickets only effects infants. Demineralization results in bowed or curved bones because a child’s bones are still developing.
POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY
The following are the most severe effects of vitamin D deficiency:
– Rickets (softening of bones during childhood).
– Osteomalacia (softening of bones in adults).
– Low amounts of blood calcium (hypocalcemia).
– Low amounts of blood phosphorus (hypophosphatemia).
These ailments are all curable. Even though rickets is a condition that can be treated and is frequently reversible, it is crucial to act quickly. Milder instances of rickets can cause long-term bone injury if left untreated, which can prevent bones from developing normally. Seizures, cardiac damage, and mortality can result from severe instances that are not addressed.
VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY TREATMENT
Reaching and then maintaining a sufficient amount of vitamin D in your body are the objectives of both therapy and prevention for vitamin D deficiency.
Your doctor will probably advise taking vitamin D supplements even though you might think about increasing your intake of meals rich in vitamin D and receiving more sunshine.
There are two types of vitamin D: D2 and D3. Plants provide ergocalciferol, or vitamin D2. Animals provide cholecalciferol, or vitamin D3. To purchase D2, you need a prescription. However, D3 can be purchased over the counter. D3 is easier for your body to assimilate than D2.
Consult Dr. Barbara Karin Vela to dto find out if you need a vitamin supplement and how much to take, if needed.