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What Are Vitamin D Deficiency Symptoms

By Kerri Stout


Life today for many people can prove to be far more hectic than ever before. Some find themselves under so much pressure at home or work they barely have time to stop for lunches or regular nutritious meals on schedule. Fast food and missed meals cannot provide the nutritional values needed to support a healthy body. Many people are suffering from vitamin D deficiency symptoms and are totally unaware of it.

This essential nutrient can be easily obtained by spending thirty minutes in the sunshine at least once a day. Your body metabolizes natural sunshine into the nutrients necessary to keep levels of D vitamins constant. There are food based ways of obtaining this supplement also and retail outlets carry multiple levels of dosage in the pharmacy department that are available to help boost the amount of D that is needed.

The problem can arise if a person cannot get enough sunshine through illness or obligation to others or if they have darker skin pigmentation and there are some diseases that affect the body's ability to absorb nutrients naturally. Many doctors have difficulty diagnosing this ailment. The specified levels needed vary from study to study and it is difficult to determine the proper amount necessary. The Institute of Medicine has determined what levels are safe for specific age groups according to their nutritional needs. The accepted level rises as people age and senior women are listed at the highest levels.

Doctors list the most common indications of this problem as bone pain and muscle weakness. These signs are very subtle so this malady is often not considered when diagnosis is made. The doctor must ask for specific tests when ordering blood work to determine its existence.

Persons who have suffered from this problem can supply more detailed descriptions of symptomatic issues suffered while living with this dilemma. They will tell you of hair loss, foggy headed feelings and fatigue that can leave them immobile. Some experience hip pain and joint pain that makes it very painful and difficult to get up from a seated position.

Bone density loss is one of the most dangerous features of this ailment. Women over forty are encouraged to have bone density scans to check for loss. They are also encouraged to regularly take calcium tablets that are fortified with vitamin D to strengthen their bones and help prevent fractures should they fall.

Long term issues that can arise from this deficiency include cancer, heart disease, diabetes and liver and kidney problems. It can also cause serious asthma in children. Studies are being done to determine whether there is any effect on patients who have high blood pressure with very promising results. There are also studies that indicate a link between taking this supplement and decreasing the risk of precancerous polyps of the colon, reducing the risk of falling and development of multiple sclerosis in women.

Whether you have this problem or not it may be a wise decision to supplement your diet with multiple vitamins that contain ample dosages of D. Especially if you adhere to a strictly vegan diet because most natural sources of it are animal based such as egg yolks, fish and fish oils, cheese, milk or beef liver.




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