Vitamin D Deficiency Signs and Symptoms

— Written By Lethia Lee and last updated by Patricia Burch
en Español / em Português
Español

El inglés es el idioma de control de esta página. En la medida en que haya algún conflicto entre la traducción al inglés y la traducción, el inglés prevalece.

Al hacer clic en el enlace de traducción se activa un servicio de traducción gratuito para convertir la página al español. Al igual que con cualquier traducción por Internet, la conversión no es sensible al contexto y puede que no traduzca el texto en su significado original. NC State Extension no garantiza la exactitud del texto traducido. Por favor, tenga en cuenta que algunas aplicaciones y/o servicios pueden no funcionar como se espera cuando se traducen.


Português

Inglês é o idioma de controle desta página. Na medida que haja algum conflito entre o texto original em Inglês e a tradução, o Inglês prevalece.

Ao clicar no link de tradução, um serviço gratuito de tradução será ativado para converter a página para o Português. Como em qualquer tradução pela internet, a conversão não é sensivel ao contexto e pode não ocorrer a tradução para o significado orginal. O serviço de Extensão da Carolina do Norte (NC State Extension) não garante a exatidão do texto traduzido. Por favor, observe que algumas funções ou serviços podem não funcionar como esperado após a tradução.


English

English is the controlling language of this page. To the extent there is any conflict between the English text and the translation, English controls.

Clicking on the translation link activates a free translation service to convert the page to Spanish. As with any Internet translation, the conversion is not context-sensitive and may not translate the text to its original meaning. NC State Extension does not guarantee the accuracy of the translated text. Please note that some applications and/or services may not function as expected when translated.

Collapse ▲

Vitamin D is an essential fat-soluble vitamin that your body needs to regulate calcium absorption. Deficiency can result in weakened brittle bones. Children who don’t get enough may end up with a disease called rickets, and adults with vitamin D deficiently are at a greater risk for osteoporosis.

The adequate daily intake of vitamin D is from 200 to 600 international units (IU: however, some experts believe those numbers should be increased. Three ounces of salmon contains about 800 IU, a cup of milk has just over 100 IU, and one serving of fortified breakfast cereal usually has about 40 IU vitamin D.

What are the symptoms of a deficiency? Some people with vitamin D deficiency may experience bone pain and muscle weakness although the symptoms may be very mild at first. Children who have rickets suffer from soft bones and skeletal deformities. Deficiently in adults will cause osteomalacia, which is a condition that makes your bones weak. Your health care provider can order a test that measures the levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D.

Insufficient levels of vitamin D in the blood have been associated with a variety of other health conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, multiple sclerosis, and some forms of cancer. However, more research is needed to determine if vitamin D can prevent or treat any of these disorders. Causes of not eating foods that contain vitamin D deficiency and not getting enough sun exposure may lead to vitamin D deficiency. Breastfed infants, older adults, housebound individuals, and people with dark skin are at a higher risk of vitamin D Deficiency. Individuals who have fat absorption problems due to conditions such as Crohn’s disease, cystic fibrosis, gastric bypass surgery, or have liver or kidney conditions may not get enough vitamin D from their diets. You need sun exposure to make vitamin D, but it only takes 5 to 30 minutes of sun exposure on your face, arms, legs or back twice each week without sunscreen to stimulate sufficient vitamin D production. Excessive sun exposure increases your risk of skin cancer, so it’s important to use sunscreen and limit your use of tanning beds.

Vitamin D is not naturally present in many foods; however, oily fish and especially cod liver oil are rich in vitamin D. Beef liver, eggs, and cheese also contain small amounts. Vitamin D is added to some foods like milk and fortified breakfast cereals.

Now the question is can your body get too much vitamin D? Your body stores fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamin D, but excessive sun exposure will cause vitamin D toxicity. It would be tough to get too much vitamin D from foods- even fortified foods-unless you consume large amounts of cod liver oil. Vitamin D is available as over the counter supplement. But since your body stores fat-soluble vitamins for a long time, taking large amounts of vitamin D can lead to toxicity that can cause nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, constipation, weakness, and weight loss. High blood levels of vitamin D may also raise your blood levels of calcium, possibly resulting in mental confusion and abnormal heart rhythms. So, if you have any health conditions, it’s important to speak with your doctor before taking vitamin D supplements. Please follow the label directions unless your healthcare provider tells you differently.

For more information on vitamin D deficiency, please contact Lethia Lee at the N.C. Cooperative Extension of Sampson County office at 910-592-7161 or Lethia_Lee@ncsu.edu.