Low Vitamin D 25-hydroxy Symptoms

Approximately 70 percent of young people under 21 years of age do not get enough vitamin D each day, according to a study published in the August 2009 issues of "Pediatrics" by Dr. Juhi Kumar and colleagues. If your doctor suspects that you have low vitamin D levels, she may recommend a 25-hydroxy vitamin D test, which evaluates the levels of this nutrient in your blood. Low 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels suggest that you are vitamin D deficient.

Causes

When exposed to sunlight, your skin produces healthy levels of vitamin D. If you don't spend enough time outdoors or consistently use sunscreen or wear protective clothes while outdoors, you may be at risk of developing vitamin D deficiency. Poor consumption of vitamin D-rich foods, such as salmon, tuna, cheese, or egg yolks may also cause vitamin D deficiency, the National Institute of Health's Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) warns. Additional causes of low vitamin D levels include liver and kidney disease, insufficient vitamin absorption by your body and use of certain medications, such as phenobarbital, phenytoin and rifampin.

Symptoms in Children

Children between 1 and 18 years of age require 600 international units (I.U.) of vitamin D each day, according to the ODS. Lack of this vital nutrient may cause a condition called rickets in children. Rickets is characterized by the weakening or softening of the bones of the body. Children with rickets may experience chronic bone or muscle pain, delayed tooth formation, poor growth, skeletal abnormalities or deformities and frequent bone fractures. Contact your pediatrician if your child exhibits any symptoms of low vitamin D levels to ensure he receives prompt and appropriate care.

Symptoms in Adults

ODS health officials recommend adults receive between 600 and 800 I.U. of vitamin D each day. In the absence of appropriate vitamin D consumption, adults may develop unusually soft bones -- a condition called osteomalacia, which is similar to rickets in children. Adults with osteomalacia may experience chronic body pain, particularly within the legs or pelvis or along the spine, accompanied by muscle weakness. Adults who don't consume enough vitamin D may also be at risk of developing a degenerative bone disease called osteoporosis. Adults with osteoporosis may experience severe back pain, stooped posture or fractures along the spinal column, hip, wrist or other bones, MayoClinic.com explains. Persistent back pain may also limit an adult's ability to move about normally without assistance. Seek care from your physician if you experience any of these symptoms of vitamin D deficiency as additional treatment may be necessary to prevent further bone loss.

Treatment

If you have low vitamin D levels, your doctor may recommend adding a vitamin D supplement to your daily diet. Increasing your vitamin D intake may help reduce unpleasant vitamin D deficiency symptoms. You may also benefit from vitamin D supplementation if you suffer from chronic pain, fatigue or mood-related problems, such as depression, according to Pain Treatment Topics. Though treatment with vitamin D supplements is generally safe, you may experience mild side effects during treatment such as nausea or constipation. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience severe side effects such as confusion, vomiting, heart rate changes, unintended weight loss or dry mouth while taking vitamin D supplements. These serious side effects may be indicative of a vitamin D overdose.