Numerous symptoms are associated with vitamin D deficiency in adults. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC, getting the proper amount of vitamin D--a fat-soluble vitamin--is important for preventing serious health complications or symptoms. The effects of vitamin D deficiency vary slightly between children and adults. The National Institutes of Health's Office of Dietary Supplements suggests that men and women between the ages of 19 and 50 should consume 200 IU of vitamin D each day.
Decreased Neuromuscular Function
Decreased neuromuscular function is a symptom associated with vitamin D deficiency in adults. According to a 2002 study by M. Pfeifer and colleagues published in the journal "Osteoporosis International," a serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level under 50 nmol/L has been linked with increased body sway. A serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level under 30 nmol/L has been associated with decreased muscle strength. Other common neuromuscular problems associated with low levels of vitamin D, or vitamin D deficiency, include changes in gait, difficulty rising from a chair, inability to climb stairs and widespread muscle pain. Pfeifer and colleagues suggest that a combination of calcium and vitamin D supplements might significantly improve neuromuscular function in elderly individuals who are deficient in these nutrients. Calcium and vitamin D supplementation may also help reduce hip fractures in this population.
Lower Back Pain
Lower back pain is a common symptom of a vitamin D deficiency in adults. A 2003 study by medical doctors Saud Al Faraj and Khalaf Al Mutairi published in the journal "Epidemiology" states that vitamin D deficiency is a major contributer to chronic lower back pain in areas where vitamin D deficiency is endemic, or prevalent. According to the researchers, screening for vitamin D deficiency, along with treatment using supplements, should be mandatory in these particular geographic regions. The Bastyr Center for Natural Health, or BCNH, states that vitamin D deficiency may be an underlying cause for persistent low back pain in some adults. Vitamin D deficiency syndrome can cause bone softening, or osteomalacia, in adults, which in turn may cause chronic lower back pain. The BCNH states that further studies are needed to confirm this mechanism for vitamin D deficiency and lower back pain.
Decreased Bone Mineral Density
Decreased bone mineral density and associated bone problems are common symptoms of a vitamin D deficiency in adults, especially in elderly individuals and postmenopausal women. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, or NOF, vitamin D plays a crucial role in protecting a person's bones. The body requires vitamin D to absorb calcium. Children require vitamin D to help build strong and healthy bones, while adults need vitamin D to keep their bones from becoming weak and prone to fracture. A person with a vitamin D deficiency can lose a significant amount of bone mineral density, or the amount of matter in a square centimeter of bone. Bone mineral density is used as a clinical marker for osteoporosis and fracture risk. Decreased bone mineral density and fractures are especially common among the elderly, who may be sedentary, have a poor diet and get insufficient exposure to sunlight.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Vitamin D
- National Institutes of Health: Vitamin D
- "Osteoporosis International"; Vitamin D and Muscle Function; M. Pfeifer et al.; March 2002
- "Spine"; Vitamin D Deficiency and Chronic Low Back Pain; Al Faraj, M.D. et al.; January 2003
- Bastyr Center for Natural Health: Health Conditions and Concerns
- National Osteoporosis Foundation: Vitamin D and Bone Health
Member Comments