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Signs & Symptoms of Too Little Vitamin D

Vitamin D, nicknamed the sunshine vitamin, is a necessary vitamin gathered primarily through exposure to sunlight. It also appears in dietary sources (such as fish and eggs) and is used to fortify food products (such as milk and cod liver oil). Although a little sun exposure, the Mayo Clinic estimates about 10 minutes worth, is enough to prevent deficiency, the Easy Immune System Health website estimates approximately 80 percent of some regions’ populations are vitamin D deficient.

  1. Brittle Bones

    • Vitamin D assists the body with absorption of calcium, so inadequate amounts of vitamin D can cause a severe weakening of the bones. In infants and children, this is the cause of Rickets, a disease in which the bone tissue remains soft due to the lack of calcium absorption, causing skeleton deformities. The adult form of Rickets is called Osteomalacia. In women, this may present as osteoporosis.

    Muscular Problems

    • Due to its effect on calcium, vitamin D is necessary to the proper function of the muscles. Without enough calcium, muscles can cramp and not function properly. Specifically, the muscles of the heart will start to break down leading to congestive heart failure.

    Nervous System Disorder

    • A lack of the appropriate amount of calcium in the nervous system causes inadequate communication between nerve fibers. This can manifest itself as phantom pain or twitching. There has been some discussion that vitamin D deficiency is one of the reasons behind fibromyalgia.

    Psychological Disorder

    • Seasonal affective disorder is a psychological condition considered to be brought on by the lack of sunlight in the winter months. It is characterized by depression symptoms, but unlike depression, is directly linked to specific time frames when there is less light. In one study, according to the Mayo Clinic, the addition of vitamin D was more effective than the standard light therapy used to treat the disorder, making it possible that the real culprit is the lack of vitamin D resulting from the lack of light.

    Tooth Loss

    • Teeth, like bones, require calcium to remain healthy and strong. Without vitamin D, they do not receive the calcium they require, making you more likely to break or lose teeth.

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