Vitamin D Deficiency Symptoms

Vitamins are micronutrients, involved in building and repairing damaged tissues in order to control body processes.

Overview of Vitamin D

Vitamins are organic compounds which help in performing the biological functions of a living organism. It is a vital nutrient that should be included in our daily diet in the required quantity. Vitamins are referred to as organic compounds because our body cannot synthesize them.

Vitamin D is a very important nutrient that is responsible for strong bones and teeth. Usually, exposure to the sun triggers the production of vitamin D in the body. Apart from this, vitamin D can also be obtained from red meat, egg yolks and fatty fish like tuna and mackerel. Vitamin D is available in two forms – vitamin D2 and vitamin D3. Low levels of vitamin D3 can have drastic impacts on human health and are abundantly found on the skin of animals. Compared to other vitamins, vitamin D3 has a great impact on bone health, insulin control, low blood pressure, cancer prevention, etc.

Vitamin D Deficiency diseases arise when the body does not get enough of this vitamin. This could either be due to a lack of vitamin D in the diet, not getting enough sunlight or even having dark skin (this is because high levels of melanin in the skin reduce the ability to synthesize vitamin D).

An English biochemist “Sir Frederick Gowland Hopkins” in the year 1929 was awarded the Nobel Prize for the discovery of vitamins. Vitamine is a Greek word – “vita”- life and “amine”- refers to the compound found in thiamine, which was isolated from the husks of rice and in the future, it was shortened to vitamin. Later, two scientists named “McCollum” and “Davis” introduced the use of vitamins.

Fish, beef, cod liver oil, egg yolk, liver, chicken breast, milk, yoghurt and cereals are good sources of vitamin D. Calcium-rich foods can also help. Exposure to the sun for about 15-20 minutes a day is the best source of vitamin D to keep our bones strong and healthy.

Also Read: Vitamins And Minerals

Vitamin D Deficiency Symptoms

In the past, vitamin D deficiency has been linked to a disease called rickets, which is a bone disorder. This condition can severely compromise the structural integrity of the bone, eventually leading to fractures. Apart from Rickets, vitamin D deficiency also leads to a host of other diseases and disorders such as asthma, other lung diseases and a plethora of cardiovascular diseases.

Common vitamin D deficiency symptoms include:

1. Fatigue
2. Hair loss
3. Back Pain
4. Bone Pain
5. Frequent infections
6. Slow-healing wounds
7. Cramps and muscle pain
8. Weakness in the muscles
9. Mood changes or mood swings

Also Read: Functions of Vitamins

These were a few symptoms of vitamin D deficiency. Stay tuned with BYJU’S to learn more in detail about the vitamins, different types of vitamins, their sources and other nutritional deficiency disorders.