Vitamin C helps your body absorb calcium because it helps you form strong bones. Calcium is one component of bones and teeth, and vitamin D helps the body absorb it. Vitamin D also plays a role in your nervous system, muscles, and immune system.
You can get vitamin D from eating foods like salmon, fortified milk, and yoghurt. Many people think of getting vitamin D from sunshine, but too much sun can cause skin damage and even skin cancer. Vitamin D deficiency may increase your risk of osteoporosis and certain types of cancers.
Moreover, vitamin D is made when your body is exposed to sunlight. If you go out in the morning on a sunny day, you can gain more Vitamin D in the body if you stay under the sunlight for around 10-15minutes.
If you avoid natural sources of vitamin D like eating fish, drinking milk, or taking supplements then your body will not produce enough vitamin D on its own. You need to get some vitamin D through food sources or supplementation if you are struggling with low levels.
Health Problems Caused By Vitamin D Deficiency
As we age, our bodies lose the ability to produce vitamin D naturally. We need adequate levels of vitamin D because we absorb less vitamin D through our stomachs and intestines as we grow older.
Too low levels of vitamin D can cause problems such as osteoporosis, muscle cramps, poor appetite, and depression. Symptoms may not appear until later in life, making it difficult to identify the early stages of vitamin D deficiency.
People with low levels of vitamin D may have less strength when getting out of bed, difficulty walking or climbing stairs, and trouble lifting heavy objects. You cannot do your normal activities and lift items if you lack this particular type of vitamin in the body.
Additionally, vitamin D also boosts immune function, reduces inflammation, and strengthens muscles and joints. If a person is regularly drinking a supplement that contains this type of vitamin, it can help prevent and treat severe asthma.
For example, research shows that vitamin D deficiency increases the likelihood of developing osteoporosis, rickets, Paget’s disease, and tuberculosis. These are just some of the numerous diseases that you may encounter if you neglect the needs of your body.
Vitamin D deficiency is extremely prevalent in patients suffering from severe asthma. A study conducted at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine found that children who received vitamin D supplements had less frequent asthma attacks and required fewer rescue medications compared to those who did not receive them.
You should be mindful of your diet and body because there is a chance that all of the health problems may start to manifest at the age of 40 or even earlier.
Lack of Vitamin D Signs and Symptoms
Even if you do not consult your doctor, you can already determine if there is something wrong with your body. Various signs can trigger you such as body pains, health conditions, and mood swings.
Here are some of the reported symptoms that people experienced before they were medically assessed.
Prone to Illnesses and Infection
Vitamin D helps your body defend itself against viral and bacterial illnesses. Your kidneys produce this type of vitamin when they filter out toxins from your blood, and then the liver converts vitamin D into its active form before releasing it into your bloodstream.
A deficiency of this element in your body puts you at higher risk for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. RSV causes severe bronchiolitis and pneumonia in infants and children, resulting in hospitalization and increased mortality rates.
Some studies suggest that supplementing with vitamin D may reduce the incidence and severity of RSV infection in young children. Some medical practitioners supported the claim that it strengthens the immune response during influenza outbreaks.
Depression
Vitamin deficiencies have been shown to affect mental health in those suffering from them. Depression can be caused by insufficient levels of vitamin B1, C, and D3. These vitamins also help regulate calcium in your body.
A meta-analysis published in 2010 concluded that there is evidence supporting the use of Vitamin D supplementation to treat the major depressive disorder (MDD). It may also reduce the risk of depression in elderly populations.
While another review found no statistically significant increase in depression risk among otherwise healthy individuals taking high doses of vitamin D.
More studies need to be done before healthcare professionals and normal individuals may draw any conclusions about the effectiveness of vitamin D supplementation for treating depression.