Adequate levels of vitamin D are essential for good health. Vitamin D primarily functions to help the body to absorb calcium, and to maintain normal levels of calcium and phosphate in the blood. Long-lasting, severe deficiency in vitamin D weakens and deforms bones, causing rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults.
Sources of Vitamin D
Vitamin D occurs in several forms, but D2 and D3 are the most important for human health. Exposure to sunlight stimulates the production of vitamin D3 in the skin: as little as 10 minutes of sun exposure per day can stimulate adequate production. Dietary sources provide much of the vitamin D our bodies need. Vitamin D2 occurs in high levels in fish, eggs and fortified milk, but not breast milk. Vitamin D supplements can help those who do not get adequate vitamin D from natural sources.
Recommended Levels
"Adequate intake" of vitamin D requires 5 micrograms (ug) or 200 international units (IU) per day for anyone under the age of 50. Older people need from 10 to 15 ug or 400 to 600 IU of vitamin D per day. Routinely getting less than the recommended amounts can result in chronic vitamin D deficiency and medical problems.
Medical Causes of Deficiency
Many people suffer vitamin D deficiency because of inadequate intake, but in others, deficiency can arise from medical conditions that hamper the ability of the body to absorb vitamin D from the intestines. People with celiac disease, Crohn's disease or cystic fibrosis, or patients who have had all or part of their stomachs removed can suffer from vitamin D deficiency.
Rickets
Rickets occurs in children who have had suffered a severe deficiency of vitamin D over a long period of time. The lack of vitamin D causes calcium deficiency that manifests itself in weak, flexible and fragile bones that bow and curve, and easily break. Other symptoms include bone pain, bad teeth, muscle weakness and poor growth. Children less than 3 years old have the greatest risk of rickets because their growing bodies demand adequate levels of vitamin D, calcium and phosphorus to build bone. In many cases, rickets can be cured with vitamin D and calcium supplementation in as little as three months, although existing bone damage might need surgical repair.
Osteomalacia
Osteomalacia is basically the adult version of rickets. The pain associated with weakened bones mainly affects the lower body, and the combination of pain and muscle weakness reduces mobility. Insufficient exposure to sunlight, inadequate dietary intake of vitamin D, problems with intestinal absorption, liver or kidney disease, and use of some seizure medications can lead to osteomalacia. Vitamin D supplements, and treatment of any underlying disorders, can cure osteomalacia.
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