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Aug 27, 2023

Nine warning signs of vitamin D deficiency that you may not know about

Vitamin D is essential especially as we reach autumn and winter Many of us may not be aware that vitamin D is essential to make sure we can regulate the amount of calcium and prosphate in our bodies.

Vitamin D is essential especially as we reach autumn and winter

Many of us may not be aware that vitamin D is essential to make sure we can regulate the amount of calcium and prosphate in our bodies.

The vitamin is all about keeping our bones, teeth and muscles healthy, and a lack of it can lead to a number of different health issues. In children, a lack of vitamin D can lead to a condition called rickets, WalesOnline reports.

Rickets causes bone pain, poor growth and soft, weak bones that can lead to deformities. In adults, a lack of vitamin D can lead to conditions such as osteomalacia, which is a similar condition.

READ MORE: Signs of Vitamin B12 deficiency include unusual foot symptom

According to the NHS website, we take in vitamin D through sunlight. As we reach autumn and winter, it's important to take vitamin D suppplements as we may not be able to meet our daily requirements in the dreary weather.

Some people are more at risk of vitamin D deficiency, like if you spend a lot of time indoors, or covered up, it is likely that you will need help with your vitamin D levels. Most people have no symptoms of vitamin D deficiency, or only very vague signs such as tiredness and aches, but there are warning signs you can look out for that may suggest a deficiency.

Vitamin D is a nutrient that is key to keeping your muscles healthy. If you are deficient in the vitamin it is not uncommon to experience aching and sore muscles.

Vitamin D helps maintain bone health by improving your body’s absorption of calcium. As a result, bone pain - particularly in areas such as the lower back - can be a tell-tale sign of vitamin D deficiency.

Fatigue can be a sign of vitamin D deficiency because the nutrient is essential for cell metabolism. Without it, you may feel tired and run down all the time.

Low vitamin D leads to bone abnormalities which directly causes reduced muscle growth and strength. As well as this, the deficiency causes reduced functioning across the body. The results of which leave you feeling tired faster

Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to depression, especially in older adults — although more research is needed to fully understand the relationship. The effects of vitamin D supplements have been mixed, but some reviews have found that they helped relieve symptoms of depression. Vitamin D is also thought to have a role in neurotransmitter metabolism such as serotonin, which affects people's moods.

According to medicinenet, hair loss can be a sign of vitamin D deficiency because this nutrient is essential for the follicular cycle in the hair. Without adequate vitamin D, the new hair does not emerge from the hair follicles.

Obesity is one risk factor for vitamin D deficiency because this nutrient is essential for keeping your metabolism stable. Without vitamin D, your metabolism may slow down, and you may find it difficult to lose weight.

A sign of low levels of vitamin D in the body includes the fact that your wounds heal slowly. Vitamin D’s role in controlling inflammation and addressing infections is important for proper healing because it is essential for immune system functions.

One of the most important roles of vitamin D is supporting immune health, which helps you ward off viruses and bacteria that cause illness. Vitamin D directly interacts with the cells that are responsible for addressing infections making them difficult to fight off.

While vitamin D doesn't cause dizziness alone, deficiency in the vitamin has an impact on bone structure which in turn affects dizziness.

Low levels of vitamin D can lead to an increased risk of heart disease because this nutrient is essential for keeping your heart cells healthy.

Several studies have also reported that vitamin D deficiency is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, including hypertension, heart failure, and ischemic heart disease.

Sunlight is our primary source of vitamin D, especially during the spring and summer months. The body is stimulated to produce vitamin D when UVB rays in sunlight make contact with our skin.

It's not known exactly how much time is needed in the sun to make enough vitamin D to meet the body's requirements, as a number of factors can affect how vitamin D is made, such as how much skin is exposed.

It's important to get outside, as the NHS says that your body can't make vitamin D if you're sitting indoors by a sunny window because UVB rays can't get through the glass.

There are also several good food sources of vitamin D, including:

You can also get a daily source of vitamin D through iHerb here. There are a number of different products available to help you with your deficiency that suit your daily routine.

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