Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin responsible for helping your body absorb calcium, which is necessary to build healthy bones. The vitamin is found in foods like fortified cereals, egg yolks, whole-grain bread and fish like pink salmon. Your skin also makes vitamin D when exposed to the sun. If you do not consume enough vitamin D, your bones and overall health can be severely compromised.
Rickets
In children, vitamin D deficiency can be a sign of a condition known as rickets. Malnourished children or those who get little sunlight are more likely to experience rickets. Rickets is a bone-softening disease that can lead to skeletal deformities in children. Although the condition is uncommon for the most part in the United States, babies ages 6 to 24 months can have rickets if they are solely breastfed because breast milk may not have enough vitamin D and newborns are rarely exposed to the sun enough for the skin to manufacture vitamin D. In addition to vitamin D deficiency, children with rickets have symptoms like muscle cramping, a bowlegged appearance, a significant number of bone fractures and delayed growth.
Osteomalacia
Osteomalacia is a bone-softening condition that results from vitamin D deficiency. An adult form of rickets, osteomalacia most commonly occurs in the elderly, who may not get enough sunlight or vitamin D in their daily diets. Symptoms of osteomalacia include bone pain, muscle weakness, abnormal heartbeat and bone fractures, even from very little movement. Osteomalacia can be the sole result of a vitamin D deficiency or it can be a sign of a disease of the kidneys or liver, both of which break down vitamin D into usable substances for the body.
Malabsorption Syndrome
Vitamin D deficiency can be a sign of an underlying condition affecting your ability to absorb vitamin D and potentially other nutrients. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, meaning it can be broken down and stored in the body. If you have a fat malabsorption condition such as cystic fibrosis, a vitamin D deficiency can be a symptom.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
A vitamin D deficiency can be a symptom of inflammatory bowel disease, a condition that affects the body's ability to properly digest food. Inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn's disease, cause you to experience increased instances of diarrhea from foods you eat that are eliminated too quickly before your body absorbs them. In addition to chronic diarrhea, you may experience symptoms like stomach cramping, pains and unexplained weight loss.
Member Comments