Symptoms of Vitamin D Deficiency

Signs and symptoms might include:

Low Sperm Count

Low sperm motility

Abnormal sperm

Genetic disorders

Obesity

Smoking

Harmonal Disorders

Hypospadias

• Bone pain, the deficiency of Vitamin D results in inadequacy in putting calcium into the collagen matrix into the bone structure resulting in bone and muscle pain.
• Fatigue, pain in the muscles and bones results in overall fatigue and tiredness.
• Muscle weakness, muscle aches, or muscle cramps
• Depression
• Regular illness or infection
• Hair loss
• Impaired wound healing
• Weight gain
• Anxiety or irritability

What causes Vitamin D deficiency?

itamin D deficiency is a condition wherein there is a reduced amount of Vitamin D in the body. The most common cause of vitamin D deficiency is the lack of sunlight exposure, which may be coupled with poor dietary sources. It can also be caused by

• Medical conditions
  Medical conditions such as Cystic fibrosis, Crohn’s disease or Celiac disease. These diseases do not allow the intestines to absorb enough vitamin D through supplements.
• Weight lossWeight loss surgeries make it very difficult to consume sufficient quantities of certain nutrients, vitamins, and minerals.
• Obesity
  Obesity, Fat cells keep vitamin D isolated so that it is not released.
• Kidney and Liver diseases
  Kidney and Liver diseases reduce the amount of an enzyme needed to change vitamin D to a form that is used in the body.
• Age
  Age, The skin's ability to make vitamin D lessens with age.
• Skin color
  Skin color, Darker skin reduces the body's ability to absorb the ultraviolet radiation B (UVB) rays from the sun. Absorbing sunlight is essential for the skin to produce vitamin D.
• Medications
  Medications such as laxatives, steroids, cholesterol lowering drugs, seizure control drugs.
• Breastfeeding
  Breastfeeding, Infants who exclusively breastfeed need a vitamin D supplement

Overcoming Vitamin D deficiency

The following can help increase the Vitamin D content in the body:

Outdoor activity for 10 to 15 Min

Eating more Vitamin D Rich Foods

Taking Vitamin D Supplements

• Outdoor activity for 10-15 minutes in the sun every day
• Eating more Vitamin D rich foods e.g. mushroom, fish, egg yolk, fortified cereals
• Taking Vitamin D supplements. However, this must be done only after consulting with the doctor.

Toxic effects of excess Vitamin D

Nausea & Vomitting

Frequent Urination

Bone Pain

Weekness

Kidney Problems

• Vitamin D toxicity, also called hypervitaminosis D, is a rare but potentially serious condition, usually caused by megadoses of vitamin D supplements.
• The main consequence of vitamin D toxicity is a buildup of calcium in the blood (hypercalcemia), which can cause nausea and vomiting, weakness, and frequent urination. Symptoms might progress to bone pain and kidney problems, such as the formation of calcium stones.

Daily requirement of Vitamin D

• The amount of Vitamin D needed on a daily basis depends on your age. Average daily recommended amounts from the Food and Nutrition Board for different ages are listed below in International Units (IU):

Birth to Life Stage Recommended Amount	Recommended Amount
Birth to 12 Months	400 IU
Children 1-13 years	600 IU
Teens 14-18 years	600 IU
Adults 19-70 years	600 IU
Adults 71 years and older	800 IU
Pregnant and breastfeeding women	600 IU

How is Vitamin D deficiency diagnosed?

Doctors may order below blood tests:

• Vitamin D 25, Hydroxy
  This test measures the level of vitamin D in the blood. Two forms of vitamin D can be measured in the blood, 25-hydroxyvitamin D and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D. The 25-hydroxyvitamin D is the major form found in the blood and is important for bone health and growth. This test is useful for the diagnosis of Vitamin D deficiency and Hypervitaminosis D. It is also used for diagnosis of causes of Rickets & Osteomalacia and for monitoring Vitamin D replacement therapy.
• Vitamin D 1, 25 Dihydroxy
  1,25-Dihydroxy vitamin D plays a primary role in the maintenance of calcium homeostasis. A part of circulating 25-hydroxy vitamin D is converted to 1,25-dihydroxy form in the kidneys. This test may be useful for evaluating calcium metabolism in individuals with hypercalcemia or renal failure in addition to Vitamin D, 25-Hydroxy testing.