Causes of Vitamin D Deficiency - What Causes Vitamin D Deficiency

Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin mainly found in two forms, vitamin D2 or ergocalciferol and vitamin D3 or cholecalciferol. It is primarily responsible for maintaining the level of calcium and potassium in the body by facilitating their absorption. Therefore, vitamin D is crucial for bone growth and repair. It also strengthens the immune system and inhibits the secretion of parathyroid hormone. It is mainly produced in the skin with the help of ultraviolet radiation of sunlight. So the synthesis of vitamin D in the skin is determined by a number of factors including season, geography, smog, cloud cover and the time of the day, all of which can affect the exposure to sunlight. Liver is the main storage organ for vitamin D.

A deficiency of vitamin D can cause several disorders like rickets, osteomalacia, osteoporosis and can increase the risk of a number of diseases including multiple sclerosis, high blood pressure, cancer, periodontal diseases and peripheral artery diseases. Therefore, in order to prevent such conditions, it is very important to know exactly what causes vitamin D deficiency. Here are some of the common causes of vitamin D deficiency.

What Causes Vitamin D Deficiency?

The most common cause of vitamin D deficiency is inadequate exposure to sunlight, as absorption of ultraviolet radiation of sunlight is crucial for synthesis of vitamin D. Therefore, factors that can prevent exposure to sunlight, can be the important causes of vitamin D deficiency. Such factors include spending most of the time indoors, keeping the whole body covered with thick garments, dark skin and using excessive sunscreen products on skin. Use of sunscreen products actually prevents sunlight from penetrating the skin, while presence of excess melanin in the skin, as in the case of dark skin, can also impair the absorption of ultraviolet radiation.

An important cause of vitamin D deficiency can be insufficient intake of foods like fruits, vegetables and dairy products, which are a rich source of this vitamin. Sometimes, even if you consume a lot of these foods, you may experience a deficiency of vitamin D due to some conditions that can affect its proper absorption. Certain diseases like Crohn's disease and colitis can damage the lining of the digestive tract, and impair the proper absorption of many crucial vitamins and minerals, including vitamin D. So such diseases and problems associated with the intestinal functions can be some of the important vitamin D deficiency causes.

Another important factor for vitamin D deficiency can be the inability of the body to convert it to an active form. Some hereditary and liver and kidney diseases are supposed to be associated with such a condition. In many instances, medications can also cause a deficiency of this vitamin. Such medications include steroids, ulcer medications, drugs to control the level of blood cholesterol and some sleeping pills. Alcohol can also adversely affect the metabolism of vitamin D.

Symptoms of Vitamin D Deficiency

Deficiency of vitamin D in children can cause rickets, which is characterized by retarded growth and deformation of the skull, while in adults it causes osteomalacia. Osteomalacia is characterized by weak bones, bone pain, bone softening and muscle pain. Vitamin D deficiency can also cause periodontal diseases, chronic fatigue, irritability, headache, migraine, brittle nails and dizziness. In addition to these, it is associated with high blood pressure, tuberculosis and depression.

Treatment for Vitamin D Deficiency

Milk and dairy products, egg yolk, salmon, mackerel, tuna, sardines, fish liver oil, soy, Chinese cabbage, seaweed, broccoli, mustard, molasses, cane sugar, legumes, beans, almonds and oranges, are some of the rich sources of vitamin D. So including them in your daily diet coupled with sufficient exposure to sunlight can help you prevent a deficiency of vitamin D. To treat vitamin D deficiency supplementation and medications are also available.