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Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin. It belongs to a family of compounds whose other members include vitamins D1, D2, and D3.
The human body can produce vitamin D naturally, and it does this when exposed directly to sunlight. In addition, you can get vitamin D from some supplements and foods to ensure optimal levels in your blood.
Vitamin D serves many essential bodily functions, the most vital being regulating calcium and phosphorus absorption and enhancing immune function (1).
Because of how important it is to the body, you must get an adequate amount of this vitamin.
Symptoms of vitamin D deficiency
Several factors can only affect the body’s ability to get adequate vitamin D from the sun.
You’re less likely to get enough vitamin D if you (1):
· Use sunscreen
· Live in a highly polluted area
· Have dark skin (less vitamin D is absorbed by the skin with a large amount of melanin)
· Spend a lot of time indoors
These factors can put you at a high risk of vitamin D deficiency. That’s why you should supplement your vitamin D intake from other sources.
Seven significant warning signs of vitamin D deficiency include:
· Depression
· Daytime sleepiness
· Autoimmune conditions
· Low back pain
· High blood pressure
· High susceptibility to viruses
· High blood sugar
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Other symptoms of vitamin D deficiency include:
· Pains, aches, and tiredness
· Severe muscle or bone weakness or pain
· Stress fractures, mainly in your hips, pelvis, and legs
Your healthcare provider can diagnose a vitamin D deficiency via a simple blood test. If you’re deficient, your doctor may ask you to do some X-rays. The purpose of this is to evaluate the strength of your bones.
If you are diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency, your healthcare provider will recommend taking some supplements. In addition, you must get vitamin D from sunlight and grass-fed foods.
Top causes of a vitamin D deficiency
- Sometimes, a person could be deficient in vitamin D, even when he’s getting it from natural sources or supplements. Three primary factors cause such deficiencies:
Polymorphism
- Polymorphism is a genetic defect. This is a vitamin D receptor mutation. A mutation of the vitamin D receptor may be part of why taking enormous amounts of vitamin D is not going to work.
Not meeting the RDA of vitamin D
- RDA is an acronym for Recommended Daily Allowance. It is the recommended amount of a particular nutrient you’re supposed to have in a day. For example, you need at least 10,000 IU of vitamin D daily. Not meeting this amount may result in a deficiency.
Issues with absorption
You may have a problem with absorption. Several factors may contribute to the inability to absorb vitamin D. These include:
· Low amount of zinc
· Low magnesium
· A liver problem
· Darker skin
· Kidney problem
· Being overweight
When you take a vitamin D supplement, you also need to take vitamin K2. The recommended ratio is 10,000 IU of vitamin D to 100 mcg of K2. This is because vitamin K2 can help drive calcium into the bones and prevent calcium from depositing in the joints, arteries, and other tissues.
Takeaway
Vitamin D is beneficial to the body in many ways. For example, it reduces the risk of certain diseases, improves mood, reduces symptoms of depression, and helps with weight management.
Getting vitamin D from natural sources alone may be a bit tasking, so you may consider taking a vitamin D supplement (under the guidance of a healthcare professional).
Disclaimer: Dr. Berner does not diagnose, treat, or prevent any medical diseases or conditions; instead, he analyzes and corrects the structure of his patients with Foundational Correction to improve their overall quality of life. He works with their physicians, who regulate their medications. This blog post is not designed to provide medical advice, professional diagnosis, opinion, treatment, or services to you or any other individual. The information provided in this post or through linkages to other sites is not a substitute for medical or professional care. You should not use the information in place of a visit, consultation, or the advice of your physician or another healthcare provider. Foundation Chiropractic and Dr. Brett Berner are not liable or responsible for any advice, the course of treatment, diagnosis, or any other information, services, or product you obtain through this article or others.
