Should I worry about low vitamin D?

For most adults, vitamin D deficiency is not a concern. However, some groups — particularly people who are obese, who have dark skin and who are older than age 65 — may have lower levels of vitamin D due to their diets, little sun exposure or other factors.


Is low vitamin D serious?

Vitamin D deficiency can lead to a loss of bone density, which can contribute to osteoporosis and fractures (broken bones). Severe vitamin D deficiency can also lead to other diseases. In children, it can cause rickets. Rickets is a rare disease that causes the bones to become soft and bend.

What happens if your vitamin D is too low?

Here are three ways to increase your intake:
  1. Eat foods high in vitamin D, like fish or fortified breakfast foods (milk, cereals and orange juice).
  2. Get vitamin D from moderate sunlight exposure each day.
  3. Take a vitamin D3 supplement or cod liver oil.


What causes vitamin D to drop?

In general, the two main causes of vitamin D deficiency are: Not getting enough vitamin D in your diet and/or through sunlight. Your body isn't properly absorbing or using vitamin D.

What does low vitamin D feel like?

When vitamin D levels are low and the body isn't able to properly absorb calcium and phosphorus, there is an increased risk of bone pain, bone fractures, muscle pain and muscle weakness. In older adults, severe vitamin D deficiency (levels less than 10 ng/mL) may also contribute to an increased risk of falls.


Warning signs, risks of Vitamin D deficiency



What blocks vitamin D absorption?

There are a few reasons why people can have trouble absorbing vitamin D. Some factors that may reduce or block its absorption include: Conditions such as celiac disease, chronic pancreatitis, Crohn's disease, and cystic fibrosis.
...
Weight loss surgery.
  • Oral steroids.
  • Orlistat, a weight-loss drug.
  • Statins.
  • Diuretics.


How long does it take to recover from low vitamin D?

Official answer. Generally, it takes a few weeks of taking daily vitamin D supplements for vitamin D levels in the body to rise. Each 1,000 IU of vitamin D3 taken daily is expected to raise blood levels of 25(OD)D by 10 ng/ml after a few weeks.

Is vitamin D deficiency serious in adults?

Patients with a prolonged and severe vitamin D deficiency can experience symptoms associated with secondary hyperparathyroidism including bone pain, arthralgias, myalgias, fatigue, muscle twitching (fasciculations), and weakness. Fragility fractures may result from chronic vitamin D deficiency leading to osteoporosis.


Can low vitamin D make you feel weird?

Vitamin D deficiencies can also result in bone diseases such as rickets in children and osteomalacia and osteoporosis in adults. But you may not be aware that if you're not getting enough vitamin D, you may also suffer from dizziness, headaches, and yes, low energy and fatigue.

Do you feel tired when your vitamin D is low?

The symptoms of vitamin D deficiency are often subtle, so many people don't know they're deficient. Some of the effects of vitamin D deficiency include: Fatigue or tiredness.

Does low vitamin D affect sleep?

This meta-analysis discussed the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and sleep disorders including poor sleep quality, short sleep duration, and sleepiness. Overall, the results showed that serum 25(OH)D levels were inversely associated with an increased risk of sleep disorders.


Does low vitamin D cause anxiety?

Decreased vitamin D levels have been associated with anxiety, depression and schizophrenia,2327 with low levels of vitamin D in neonates associated with a two-fold increased risk of developing schizophrenia later in life.

What is the most likely vitamin D deficiency symptom in adults?

Symptoms of vitamin D deficiency include bone pain, muscle weakness, fatigue, and mood changes, according to the Cleveland Clinic. While many factors can influence those symptoms, if you haven't changed your lifestyle recently, such conditions may be signs of vitamin D deficiency.

What level of vitamin D is considered low?

Tests for Vitamin D Deficiency

A level of 20 nanograms/milliliter to 50 ng/mL is considered adequate for healthy people. A level less than 12 ng/mL indicates vitamin D deficiency.


Which fruit is rich in vitamin D?

Oranges are one of the fruits rich in Vitamin D as its juice is fortified with calcium & vitamin D. This is one of the best sources of vitamin D for people who are lactose intolerant and cannot include milk & dairy products in their diet.

What are the signs you need vitamin D?

Symptoms when vitamin D is low
  • Fatigue.
  • Not sleeping well.
  • Bone pain or achiness.
  • Depression or feelings of sadness.
  • Hair loss.
  • Muscle weakness.
  • Loss of appetite.
  • Getting sick more easily.


Can low vitamin D cause neurological symptoms?

As summarized in Figure 1, vitamin D deficiency has been mechanistically and clinically linked to neurological diseases and neuropsychological disorders, cognitive impairment and neurodegenerative diseases [20,29,30,31,32,33,34].


How long does it take to get your vitamin D levels up?

Vitamin D3 supplements are thought to raise vitamin D levels in the bloodstream in around 24 hours. However, it takes up to 7 days for this to be converted into the active form of vitamin D – which is what a blood test will pick up.

What cancers can be caused by vitamin D deficiency?

Vitamin D deficiency has been found to be associated with a variety of cancers, including prostate (16,17), multiple myeloma, colorectal and breast cancer (18).

What are 3 things that happen if you are deficient in vitamin D?

Left untreated, vitamin D deficiency can lead to osteoporosis in adults, rickets in children and adverse outcomes in pregnant women. It may also be linked to heart disease, diabetes and cancer — although more study is needed on the topic.


Can stress cause vitamin D levels to drop?

During periods of acute stress, vitamin D stores are used up. Additionally, most people when extremely stressed out or ill, are not spending a lot of time outdoors, depleting vitamin D further. Vitamin D deficiency increases your risk of illness from viral infections.

What should vitamin D level be for a woman?

At that time, their experts concluded: "Based on all the evidence, at a minimum, we recommend vitamin D levels of 30 ng/mL, and because of the vagaries of some of the assays, to guarantee sufficiency, we recommend between 40 and 60 ng/mL for both children and adults."

Will vitamin D give you energy?

Vitamin D is vital for making our muscles work efficiently and boosting energy levels, new research from Newcastle University has shown.


Does vitamin D affect mood?

Vitamin D may regulate mood and reduce depression

Research has shown that vitamin D might play an important role in regulating mood and decreasing the risk of depression. A review of 7,534 people found that those experiencing negative emotions who received vitamin D supplements noticed an improvement in symptoms.

How does vitamin D affect the brain?

Vitamin D is an important calcium-regulating hormone with diverse functions in numerous tissues, including the brain. Increasing evidence suggests that vitamin D may play a role in maintaining cognitive function and that vitamin D deficiency may accelerate age-related cognitive decline.