When the vitamin D levels in the body drop, the body can become vitamin D deficient. According to a report in the 2009 "Archives of Internal Medicine," vitamin D deficiency is becoming a widespread health issue and as many as 77 percent of Americans are vitamin D deficient. Vitamin D is responsible for bone heath as well as being linked to the immune system and possible prevention in diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, breast cancer and obesity, according to a study in the November 2010 issue of "Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatology."
What is Vitamin D?
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble nutrient that is needed to maintain proper bone, muscle and nerve health and serves as an aid to the immune system. It can be found in limited supply in the foods you eat, with the most common food sources being fortified milk and oily fish, such as salmon. It is most naturally acquired by the body when the skin is exposed to the ultraviolet B rays from the sun. The skin converts this exposure to vitamin D.
What is Vitamin D Deficiency?
Vitamin D is measured in the blood as 25 hydroxyvitamin D, or 25(OH)D. The normal blood serum range is measured in nanograms per milliliter and is between 30 and 80. If you fall below 30 ng/ml, you are considered vitamin D deficient. A deficiency in vitamin D can cause rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. Both of these conditions cause a softening of the bones and can result in bone abnormalities and stunted bone growth.
Symptoms of Vitamin D Deficiency
A deficiency in vitamin D can cause a number of symptoms that can also be found in other diseases and disorders. Vitamin D researcher and physician Michael Horlick believes that many Americans who are currently diagnosed with fibromyalgia may actually suffer from severe vitamin D deficiency. Common symptoms of vitamin D deficiency are muscle pain, weak bones and the potential for easy fracture, reduced energy or fatigue, lowered immunity, depression and sleep irregularities.
Treating Vitamin D Deficiencies
If you believe you are vitamin D deficient, consult with your physician and have your 25(OH)D blood levels tested. If you are vitamin D deficient, your physician will start you on a treatment program to bring your levels within the optimal range. Standard treatment for vitamin D deficiency is an eight-week course of 50,000 international units, or IU or vitamin D taken orally once a week. After eight weeks, your level will be tested, and if you have still not reached optimal levels, the eight-week course will be repeated. If you have reached optimal range, your physician will develop a supplemental maintenance program for you.
References
- "Scientific American"; Vitamin D Deficiency Soars in the U.S., Study Says; Jordan Lite; March 23, 2009
- Office of Dietary Supplements; Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Vitamin D
- Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatology; Does Vitamin D Affect Risk of Developing Autoimmune Disease?: A Systemic Review; M.A. Kriegel et al.; November 2010
- Women to Women; Is Vitamin D Deficiency Casting a Cloud Over Your Health?; Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP; April 20, 2011
- University of California Television; D-Lightful Vitamin D: Bone & Muscle Health and Prevention of Autoimmune and Chronic Diseases
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