Avoiding the sun, being allergic to milk or following a strict vegan diet can all contribute to an increased risk of vitamin D deficiency.
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Vitamin D, known as the sunshine vitamin, is produced by the body to protect the skin from the sun's rays.
It also occurs naturally in several foods - including some fish, fish liver oils and egg yolks, as well as dairy and cereal products.
Vitamin D is essential for strong bones. Deficiency of this vitamin is associated with rickets - a chronic childhood disease leading to bone deformities. Increasingly, research is demonstrating the importance of vitamin D in the prevention of serious health problems.
Symptoms and health risks associated with vitamin D deficiency
Symptoms of bone pain and muscle weakness can cause vitamin D deficiency. However, for most people, the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency are not as pronounced. However, even if we do not experience these symptoms, too little vitamin D can pose health risks.
Low levels of vitamin D in the blood can cause:
- a susceptibility to infections;
- an increased risk of death from cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes;
- cognitive impairment in the elderly;
- severe asthma in children;
- cancers, primarily of the breast, colon, prostate and kidney.
Research suggests that vitamin D may play an important role in the prevention and treatment of a wide range of conditions, including type 1 and type 2 diabetes, hypertension, glucose intolerance and multiple sclerosis.
Exposure to sunlight, photo by panthermedia
Causes of vitamin D deficiency
Vitamin D deficiency can occur for several reasons:
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Not consuming the recommended levels of the vitamin. This may be due to following a strict vegan diet, as most natural sources of vitamin D are of animal origin, including fish, egg yolks and milk, among others.
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Your exposure to sunlight is limited. The body produces vitamin D when the skin is exposed to sunlight. By limiting your skin's exposure to sunlight, you may be at risk of deficiency.
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You have a dark complexion. Pigmented melanin reduces the skin's ability to produce vitamin D in response to sunlight. Some studies show that older people with darker complexions are at high risk of vitamin D deficiency.
