Deficiency of Vitamin D: A Comprehensive Guide

A Brief Introduction to Vitamin D and its Relevance:

The body requires Vitamin D in order to stay healthy. Sometimes referred to as the “sunshine vitamin” because the body is able to synthesize it using sunlight, Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin that greatly affects the body. Vitamin D has various functions in the body, including being essential for calcium metabolism. If there is deficiency of Vitamin D than the body, it can certainly lead to many complications, one such complication is the inability to absorb calcium which prompts bone disorders.

Some important functions of vitamin D are:

Bone Health: Facilitates calcium retention and bone formation.
Immune Support: Boosts the phagocytic efficiency of monocytes and macrophages.
Decreased Inflammation: Regulates cellular proliferative processes and inflammatory processes.
Mood Regulation: Improves cognitive processes and mood control.

The role of vitamin D is essential for the maintenance of good health.

The Various Aspects of Vitamin D Deficiency:

This deficiency is linked to a plethora of health concerns, especially pertaining to an individual’s bone density and the capability of the immune system. Vitamin D deficiency can happen due to many reasons, one no longer having enough vitamin D in their body is a common one. Deficiency of Vitamin D 2

Some include:

Limited Sun Exposure: No or a lack of sun exposure results in hindrance of vitamin D production within the skin.
Dietary Insufficiency: Hardly consuming any food rich in Vitamin D such as fatty fish, milk, or liver.
Malabsorption: Conditions that can inhibit the absorption of vitamin D include celiac disease and Crohn’s disease.
Age: Due to diminished cutaneous synthesis and low levels of dietary intake, older adults have a greater likelihood of being Vitamin D deficient.
Kidney and Liver Disorders: The disorders interfere with the use of vitamin D by the body.

Vitamin D Deficiency Symptoms and Signs:

Vitamin D deficiency is the type of ailment with a wide range of symptoms and signs each different on its own and differs from one person to the other. Some of these signs are:

Fatigue and Tiredness: Lack of energy even in the remotest, of the body parts. Also muscles and the body feel tired.
Bone Pain and Weakness: Discomfort in the bones particularly the vertebra and the legs.
Muscle Weakness: The physical strength of the muscles declines. And experiencing muscle aches and cramps is frequent.
Frequent Infections: Recovery and defense against infections and any ailments only becomes harder.
Mood Changes: Nevertheless, some of them have the opposite effect, like sadness, anxiety, or just general bother.
Hair Loss: Reduction in the hair density is visible and some suffer bald patches.
Slow Wound Healing: Cuts from knives or deep scratches do take time to heal.

Reasons Which Are Associated With Reduced Sunlight Exposure:

Vitamin D shortage is caused greatly because one has limited exposure to sunlight. Residing in high latitude areas, where sunlight is insufficient during the winter months, diminishes the capacity of the skin to produce vitamin D. In addition to that, the urban environment where there are skyscrapers constrains radical penetration from the sun. Every day, habits like remaining indoors for a long time or using sunscreen containing high SPF all the time, prevent synthesis of Vitamin D. Further, some religious or cultural practices prevent adequate exposure of the skin to the sun by means of clothing. People who have darker skin tones are more prone to Vitamin D deficiency since they require more sunlight to make an adequate supply of vitamin D.

Nutritional Factors And Insufficiencies:

Some nutrition practices can contribute to Vitamin D deficiency.

People consuming less fortified products or less fatty fish may have a low supply.
Vitamin D can be difficult to find for vegans and vegetarians as they do not eat animal products.
The supply of vitamin D is often less in older adults due to limitations in their diet.

That being said, one must note that malnourishment can also alter how Vitamin D is absorbed and activated.

A low supply of Magnesium, one of the nutrients necessary for the Islands’ economy, can lead to lower levels of vitamin D.
Nutrient retrieval in the digestive tract is inhibited by diseases characterized by malabsorption.
The absorption limits are more pronounced with inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis.

Health Problems Related to Poor Vitamin D Absorption:

When suffering from certain health issues, the body’s ability to absorb vitamin D may be diminished.

Celiac Disease: This causes damage to the small intestine making one less able to absorb nutrients.
Crohn’s disease: It is characterized by the inflammation of the digestive tract which hinders absorption of nutrients.
Cystic Fibrosis: This can cause thick mucus that blocks the pancreas, thereby blocking the absorption of fats and vitamins.
Obesity: There is a higher storage of vitamin D due to excess fat tissues leading to less usability.
Kidney Disease: It impairs the active conversion of vitamin D in the body.
Liver Disease: It interrupts the metabolism and activation of vitamin D in the body.

Certain Medications Altering Vitamin D Levels:

The following mentioned drugs can alter the body’s ability to absorb, convert, or activate vitamin D which includes:

Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs): These include drugs like carbamazepine, phenytoin and phenobarbital that increase the breakdown of vitamin D.
Glucocorticoids: Prednisone lowers calcium absorption in the intestine leading to impaired levels of vitamin D in the body.
Weight-loss drugs: This includes Orlistat which interferes with fat absorption thus interfering with vitamin D absorption.
Cholestyramine: This is critical in the treatment of high cholesterol however it reduces uptake of fat soluble vitamins which vitamin D is one of them.
Antifungals: Ketoconazole reduces the absorption of substances that increase vitamin D levels.
HIV/AIDS drugs: Have an impact on the absorption and metabolism of nutrients.

Factors of Lifestyle Contributing to Vitamin D Deficiency:

There are a broad range of lifestyle factors that may cause Vitamin D deficiency. One major factor is lack of sunlight exposure. This is usually the case for someone who spends most of his/her day indoors or applies sunscreen too much as both will lead to insufficient Vitamin D level from the sun exposure.

Lazy lifestyle.
Tall buildings in cities blocking sunlight exposing only certain areas.
Pollution in the air reduces UVB penetration of sunlight.

Eating habits also have an effect. For example, if one does not eat enough foods that contain Vitamin D, such as oily fish, egg yolks, and fortified foods deficient may be caused.

Vegetarians.
Poor levels of dietary diversity.

Vitamin D can also be deficient if one has higher-weight as the vitamin gets stored in subcutaneous fat tissues and becomes less bioavailable.

Effects of Geography and Season on Vitamin D Levels:

Where one is situated and the time of the year are the two main determinants of the levels of this vitamin. Northern exposure, especially during the winter season, becomes less effective because the strength of the sun light is weakened.

Latitude and Altitude: People in winter at higher latitudes on account of the angle of the sun receive less exposure to UVB radiation. People at lower altitudes as well receive lesser amounts of UVB due to atmospheric filtering.
Seasons: In autumn and winter, when the amount of available sunlight is less and its intensity is lower, the amount of vitamin D that the body produces must also be lower.
Urban Areas Versus Rural Areas: Tall Structures and pollution within urban settings can obstruct the exposure to sunlight. More often than not, rural areas tend to be less blocked off thus exposing them to sunlight much better.

People who are at Risk of Vitamin D Deficiency:

There is a certain group of individuals who stand to be more affected in terms of vitamin D levels in their bodies owing to the different geographical area they are located in as well as their lifestyle and health conditions.

The Elder Population: Decreased thickness of skin and hosted lack of outside interaction are two major reasons.
Infants especially those who are breastfeeding with no intake of Vitamin D: Those mothers who are not on vitamin D supplementation.
People of Dark Skin: Those who have an increased level of melanin would be less likely to make vitamin D out of sunlight.
Those with limited sun exposure: People who live far up North as well as individuals who spend a lot of their day inside.
Individuals with type obesity: A high amount of fat can hinder the way Vitamin D gets metabolized.
Chronic Illness Sufferors: Such diseases include, Crohn’s as well as celiac disease which hinder nutrient absorption in the body.

How is the Testing Done and What are the Methods of Detection?

To check and test the vitamin D levels of individuals, various techniques and procedures are utilized, the most common of those being the 25 hydroxy vitamin D blood test which is the primary test to check for Vitamin D levels in the body. This test checks the amount of Vitamin D across all blood in the body.

25-Hydroxyvitamin D Test:

Testing for 25 Hydroxyvitamin D is the most accurate measurement for vitamin D levels in a person. The results of the test are given in ng/mL.

Bone Density Scans:

Bone density scans may be used in extreme cases for the assessment of the bones in patients with very low vitamin D levels.

Preventive Measures And Treatment Options Vitamin D is synthesized with the aid of sunlight, thus, vitamin D sufficiency can be achieved if exposure to sun is adequate. People are recommended to be in the sun several times a week for 10 to 30 minutes at midday. Alternatively, if a person is unable to get adequate sun exposure, foods rich in Vitamin D can be helpful.

Dietary Sources:

Oily fish (salmon and mackerel as well as tuna).
Milk, orange juice, and cereal – these are fortified foods.
Eggs yolks.

Supplements:

Vitamin D is also available in the form of over-the-counter vitamins as well as prescribed medications. Also, a healthcare provider should recommend the dosage of the medication, especially if someone is at high risk for deficiency.

Regular Monitoring:

Blood tests on a regular basis have the ability to find the amounts of Vitamin D a person has and therefore the dosage in take or lifestyle can be changed accordingly.

Nutritional Elements and Auxiliary Sources:

Different food items and vitamin D supplements will help in maintaining healthy levels of vitamin D. The kind of foods that supply vitamin D are:

Fatty fishes like Tuna, Mackerel, and Salmon.
Cod Liver Oil.
Processed foods such as cereals, orange juice and milk.
Egg Yolk.
Cheese.
Beef liver.

People with a lack of proper food sources for vitamin D can utilize supplements as an option. Two options available in the form of supplementation are:

Vitamin D2.
Vitamin D3.

Without exception, both types can help in maintaining healthy levels of vitamin D in the body. However, it is important that this dosage is only taken after seeking help from senior medical professionals so as to avoid cases of toxicity.

The Importance of Sun and Vitamin D Formation:

The presence of sun will guarantee the natural formation of vitamin D. Sun UVB acts on 7-dehydrocholesterol present in the skin which also gets transformed into pre vitamin D3 that performs the task of getting transformed into vitamin D which is cholecalciferol. Several aspects affect this being done:

Coconut and the region you are in has an impact on UVB exposure with the closer to equator you are, the more UVB exposure level will be.
The season has an effect on coming winters as there too exists longer daylight hours around summer resulting in Vitamin D formation.
When comparing individuals with darker skin tones, they have a higher composition of melanin which reduces the amount of vitamin D.
Quite naturally, people age which leads to a lower 7-dehydrocholesterol skin concentration.
Use of sunscreen, High SPF literally blocks out UVB rays.

Possible repercussions if vitamin D deficiency isn’t treated:

There are major medical complications and other related issues that individuals need to be aware of in case they suffer from vitamin D deficiency that goes um treated. These include: Deficiency of Vitamin D 3

Bone issues: Long term bone exposure can result into osteoporosis in adults and into boys rickets when they grow older and everything leads to the bones growing weak and brittle.
Cardiovascular Issues: Strong possibility of hypertension together with heart disease and stiffer arterie.
Hypoimmune: A greater chance of infections and all forms of autoimmune diseases.
Disorders involving mood: A rapid spike in depression together with anxiety and seasonal effective disorders.
Chronic pain: Pain in all body parts together with weak muscles creates a negative effect in the overall lifestyle.

Doctors thinking vitamin D deficiency is just a mere deficiency can result into negative side effects and deterioration in quality of living standards.

Summary and following steps to be Taken:

And the last part of the paper will be discussing vitamin D deficiency as a whole and its number of reasons:

Interventions around Diet: Further upcoming research need to work towards increasing diet strategies for different regions and the portions of the population that have accommodating eating options.
Interventions around Supplementation: Targeted interventions for certain populations such as the elder and people with absorption issues have the potential to enhance reduction across all effective supplementation protocols
Interventions around Public Health Policies: Public policymaking strategies are focused on making improvements through health educational campaigns.
Climate Effects: It might shed light on the best practices to recommend in case of increasing urbanization and alteration of lifestyles if the risks and benefits of sun exposure are properly evaluated.
Progress in Technology: The creation of sophisticated vitamin D deficiency screening tests should assist to identify and treat the condition even before its signs show.