Vitamin D aids calcium absorption and use, so it is important for proper bone development and remodeling. Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency occur frequently, but they are often easy to prevent. Deficiencies can cause rickets in children and either osteomalacia or osteoporosis in adults. Vitamin D deficiencies might also impact the immune system.
Lack of Sunshine
The main cause of a deficiency of vitamin D is a lack of exposure to direct sunlight. As little as five minutes of direct, mid-day sun exposure to the arms, back, legs and face at least twice a week can promote adequate levels of vitamin D production, although some people need as much as 30 minutes a day of sun exposure to get enough. UV radiation from tanning beds also induces vitamin D production, but the dangers of skin cancer and other health problems are not worth the risk of using this method to produce vitamin D.
Insufficient Intake
For people who don't get enough sun, it is important to get vitamin D through food sources to make up for the lack of natural production. Fortified milk and other dairy products are the main sources of dietary vitamin D for most people. This nutrient can also be found in canned salmon with bones, fortified cereals and fortified juices. Strict vegetarians, people who are allergic to milk or are lactose intolerance, and people who simply don't like dairy might need to eat some of these other products in order to get enough vitamin D.
Breastfed Babies
Breastfed babies sometimes get a vitamin D deficiency if they do not receive supplemental vitamin D drops. This is because babies often spend little time in the sun and breast milk does not provide much vitamin D. Dark-skinned babies are particularly at risk.
Older Adults
The elderly are prone to developing vitamin D deficiencies for a few reasons. Their bodies cannot process vitamin D as efficiently as younger people, so it takes more exposure to sunshine or additional food sources to get enough. However, older people are less likely to spend a lot of time in the sun or eat foods high in vitamin D.
Fat Malabsorption
The body requires adequate fat in order to metabolize vitamin D, a fat-soluble vitamin. People with cystic fibrosis, liver disease or Crohn's disease sometimes experience fat malabsorption problems that lead to insufficient fat absorption in the gut, which affects vitamin D status.
Medications
Some medications can decrease how well your body absorbs vitamin D. Other medicines cause vitamin D metabolism to speed up, which makes it leave your system faster. Medicines that can affect how the body uses vitamin D and might potentially lead to deficiencies include cholestyramine, colestipol, orlistat, ketoconazole, phenytoin, fosphenytoin, phenobarbital, carbamazepine, and rifampin.
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