Consequences Of A Lack Of Vitamin D

Vitamin D enables the body to use calcium, but you'll find very little of the vitamin in most natural foods. Instead, your skin synthesizes vitamin D through a reaction with sunlight. The consequences of a lack of vitamin D can be serious and even life-threatening. Calcium's role in bone strength means that a vitamin D deficiency can damage your skeleton. A deficiency could also lead to heart, blood glucose and even mood problems.

Rickets and Osteoperosis

Vitamin D's major role in bone health means that a deficiency can quickly lead to problems. In children, a lack of vitamin D can cause rickets -- a sometimes painful deforming of the bones. Later in life, bone density tends to decrease naturally. The consequences of a lack of vitamin D include an increased risk of osteoporosis. Breastfeeding infants or infants fed on bottles should get around 400 IU of vitamin D per day. Men and women over age 70 should aim for at least 800 to 1,000 IU each day to combat osteoporosis risks.

Heart Failure

Harvard Health Publications report on several studies that appear to show that low vitamin D levels can trigger heart disease. One study in particular concludes that men with a lack of vitamin D are twice as likely to have a heart attack as men with normal levels of the vitamin. Similarly, risks of sudden heart failure also increased in men with a vitamin D deficiency. Heart complications are a particularly serious potential consequence of a lack of vitamin D.

Diabetes

A lack of vitamin D may lead to type 2 diabetes. A 2008 review published in "Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism" suggests that a vitamin D deficiency may make you more sensitive to glucose levels. It may also interfere with insulin synthesis, an important factor in diabetes. However, no evidence suggests that vitamin D can cure diabetes at the time of publication -- although the University of Maryland points out that 2,000 IU doses of vitamin D given to infants every day might help to prevent diabetes in the long term.

SAD

If you live in an area that gets little sun, or if you rarely venture outside, your chances of a vitamin D deficiency increase. Some people feel lethargic, unwell or depressed during the winter months. In some cases, this could relate to SAD -- seasonal affected disorder. The lack of vitamin D from sunlight may play a role in these symptoms. Light therapy may help stimulate the skin to produce more vitamin D, or you might need to take supplements.

Dosage

At the time of publication, guidelines from the Endocrine Society recommend that anyone over age 1 and up the age of 70 should get 600 IU of vitamin D every day. Infants need only 400 IU, while people over 70 need 800 IU or more. Not many foods offer rich sources of vitamin D, though fatty, oily fish such as salmon and mackerel do contain the vitamin.