Low Vitamin D Level With Normal Thyroid Function

If concerns about wrinkles and skin cancer have you acting like a vampire or slathering on sunscreen when you venture outside, you may want to rethink your approach. With global concerns over deficiency, vitamin D has become a headliner in health and wellness news, and the body of research pointing to the dangers of deficiency is growing.

Dangers of of Vitamin D Deficiency

While low vitamin D levels have been linked to thyroid disease, there is growing concern that populations with normal thyroid function may be at risk for a plethora of deficiency-related conditions including osteoporosis, cancer, heart disease, depression, mental health problems, complications in childbirth and respiratory problems in newborns. Some health professionals in Britain fear a resurgence in rickets, a condition marked by brittle bones that causes skeletal deformities in children. According to Elina Hypponen of the University of London's Institute of Child Health, supplementing the diets of pregnant women with Vitamin D would "reduce related serious risks to their babies."

Symptoms of Deficiency

Symptoms of vitamin D deficiency are often benign and may be easily misinterpreted. Symptoms in adults include fatigue, lethargy, depression and exaggerated premenstrual mood swings. In infants and children, symptoms include muscle cramps, low circulating blood calcium levels, respiratory problems, fragile bones, and slow or insignificant growth. Deficiency can be induced by inadequate nutrition and lack of exposure to the sun.

Dietary Deficiency

Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin found in egg yolk, fish, fish oil, beef liver, and some grains and cheeses. It is also added to milk and some juices to promote calcium absorption and synthesis. If you are a vegetarian, or if your diet does not include these foods, you may be Vitamin D deficient. In the elderly, conversion of Vitamin D in the kidneys to its active form is often impaired, and a supplement may be necessary.

UV Deficiency

Your body manufactures vitamin D from natural sunlight, but in recent decades the correlation between exposure to UV rays and skin cancer has led medical professionals to warn patients to stay out of the sun. Now, an article published in the December 16, 2010 issue of "BBC Mobile News Health" reports that seven British health organizations, including Cancer Research UK and the National Osteoporosis Society have issued a statement challenging current guidelines. Says Professor Rona Mackie, from the British Association of Dermatologists, "Total sun protection with high factor suncream on all the time is not ideal, in terms of vitamin D levels." Dr. Mackie recommends 10- to 15-minute bouts of sun exposure several times a week to ward off Vitamin D deficiency. Dark-skinned individuals may need longer exposure because the skin's melanin reduces vitamin D absorption.

Treatment and Supplements

Vitamin D deficiency is easily treated by increasing sun exposure, increasing dietary sources or by taking supplements. If you choose to supplement, be advised that not all supplements are created equal. According to "Natural News," vitamin D is fat soluble, so an oil-based soft gel is preferable to a dry tablet. There are also two forms of vitamin D supplements: Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) and Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol). D2 is a synthetic product made from plants exposed to UV light, while D3 is the type your body manufactures and is more effective in treating human deficiency.