Vitamin D, also known as the sunshine vitamin is very important for our bones. However, its deficiency goes undetected in many cases across the globe. Vitamin D is produced in our body on exposure to natural sunlight. Vitamin D deficiency symptoms primarily occur because people have very little or no exposure to sunlight nowadays. This may happen due to a stressful lifestyle or geographical reasons among others.
Let us discuss the major symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency today.
Vitamin D Deficiency Symptoms in Adults:
- Fatigue and Tiredness – People suffering from low energy levels and poor quality of sleep are usually diagnosed with low vitamin D levels. They tend to feel tired and sleepy throughout the day.
- Bone and Back Pain – Inadequate vitamin D levels in the body may lead to bone and lower back pain. Vitamin D is essential for strong bones as it helps in the absorption of Calcium.
- Muscle weakness – In case a person has a severe deficiency of Vitamin D, also known as Osteomalacia, he might suffer from severe body pain and weakness. Due to this, a person may have difficulty climbing stairs and getting up from the floor or a low chair. Such people are also seen walking in a waddling pattern.
- Bone Tenderness – Vitamin D deficiency results in bone pain in the back, hips, pelvis, thighs, and feet. Sometimes, they may suffer from a hairline bone fracture due to tenderness and pain.
Vitamin D Deficiency symptoms in children:
- Children with Vitamin D deficiency suffer from bow legs. They may have a soft skull and leg bones. They are often seen complaining of pain and weakness in the legs. This condition is also known as Rickets.
- Vitamin D deficiency hampers the overall growth of the child. They are reluctant to walk and their height is also gets affected.
- Vitamin D deficiency affects the normal teething process in children. The development of milk teeth gets affected, resulting in late teething.
- Severe rickets can cause low calcium levels in the body. This leads to breathing difficulty, muscle cramps, and even fits. If a child shows any of these symptoms, they should be hospitalized immediately.
- In rare cases, vitamin D deficiency can also cause weakness of the cardiac muscles.
- Children suffering from Vitamin D deficiency are usually very irritable.
Vitamin D Deficiency Symptoms in babies:
Vitamin D deficiency in babies can cause seizures, muscle spasms, and respiratory problems. The deficiency needs to be addressed quickly to avoid any further problems.
What causes Vitamin D deficiency?
People with less exposure to sunlight are at high risk of suffering from Vitamin D deficiency. Excess use of sunscreen lotion may also put you at risk of this deficiency. It has also been observed that people with darker skin and aged people are not able to synthesize an adequate amount of Vitamin D.
People suffering from certain medical conditions such as Crohn’s disease, Coeliac disease, and liver and kidney disorders may also be prone to vitamin D deficiency.
Conclusion
Vitamin D deficiency symptoms are usually not diagnosed at an early stage. However, it may lead to serious health issues later on so, it is best to get tested periodically.