How to Cure Vitamin D Deficiency?

• Written by Mudit Handa

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Vitamin D is crucial for the proper functioning of the human body. Severe vitamin D deficiency may negatively affect your body, especially your bones and muscles. However, the good news is that you may cure vitamin D deficiency naturally. 

This article will talk about what is Vitamin D deficiency, its causes, consequences and various ways to prevent it. Keep reading!

What is Vitamin D Deficiency? 

Vitamin D is a nutrient that our bodies synthesise from sunlight and natural fatty foods with animal origins such as egg yolks, beef liver, fatty fish, fish liver oil and certain dairy products and plant-based food like mushrooms. Our liver and kidneys play a vital role in converting the synthesised Vitamin D into a form which may be used by our body. 

Vitamin D is vital in maintaining the levels of calcium in our bodies, which is required for the growth of our bones. It also plays vital roles in the growth of our cells, maintaining the balance of our hormones and supporting the functioning of our body’s immunity. When our body doesn’t receive the sufficient amount of vitamin D, it starts showing the vitamin D deficiency signs.

What are the Symptoms of Deficiency of Vitamin D?

There are a number of vitamin D deficiency signs, the main ones being as follows:

• Your hair starts thinning or your hair loss increases
• You feel low in energy and fatigued easily
• Your muscles feel weak and you suffer from muscle spasms and pain in the bones
• You fall ill frequently and contract infections easily
• Wounds heal slower
• You suffer from bone loss and fractures
• You are affected by depression, feel sad easily and experience mood swings
• You suffer from loss in concentration levels and from impairment in your memory functions

These symptoms reflect the effect that low vitamin D levels have on the functioning of your brain, your immunity and the production of hormones. 

Vitamin D Requirement and Range for Deficiency

The amount of daily intake of vitamin D necessary for the smooth functioning of your body depends on your age and stage in life. The requirement may be expressed in units of micrograms (mcg) or International Units (IU). The recommended daily intake of vitamin D as per your age is as below:

• Newborn child: Birth to 12 months age: 10 mcg (400 IU)
• Child: 1 years to 13 years age: 15 mcg (600 IU)
• Teenager: 14 years to 18 years age: 15 mcg (600 IU)
• Adults: 19 years to 70 years age: 15 mcg (600 IU)
• Senior adults: 71 years plus age: 20 mcg (800 IU)
• Pregnant women including teenagers in the breastfeeding stage: 15 mcg (600 IU)

Vitamin D levels in your blood are measured by a blood test which checks for the level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in your blood. This level is measured in units of nanomoles per litre of your blood (nmol/L) or as units of nanograms per millilitre of your blood (ng/mL). 1 nmol/L is equivalent to 0.4 ng/mL. 

The levels of vitamin D that are considered to be adequate and deficient are as below:

• 50 nmol/L (20 mg/mL) to 125 nmol/L (50 mg/mL): Adequate for the overall health and bone growth
• 30 nmol/L (12 mg/mL) to 49 nmol/L (19.6 mg/mL): Inadequate with a risk of deficiency
• 30 nmol/L (12 mg/mL) and below: Severe vitamin D deficiency range and may negatively affect your health and result in weak bones
• 125 nmol/L (50 mg/mL) and above- Too high from the ideal range and may result in health problems

Vitamin D Deficiency Causes

The following are the causes of vitamin D deficiency:

• Limited exposure to the sun caused by spending less time outdoors in the sun.
• Darker skin with increased levels of melanin reduces the production of vitamin D.
• Obesity or the state of being overweight is the excess levels of fat in the body that isolates vitamin D, keeping it less available for use by the body.
• Age is a factor as once you cross the age of 50 your skin reduces in its ability to synthesise vitamin D along with reduced synthesis capacity of your liver and kidney.
• Conditions and diseases of your gastrointestinal system like celiac, gastric bypass and IBD reduce the capacity to absorb vitamin D.
• Diseases of your kidney or liver disrupt the process of activation of vitamin D in your body.
• Certain disorders in your autoimmune system like thyroiditis, lupus and arthritis result in low levels of vitamin D in your body.

Certain medicines and medications too may cause deficiency of vitamin D in your body. Such medicines and medication include the following:

• Laxatives that are used to treat constipation by softening and loosening your stool
• Drugs such as cholestyramine and colestipol  used to lower the levels of your low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, also known as bad cholesterol
• Steroids like prednisone  used to treat among other conditions, asthma, arthritis, allergic reactions and inflammation of your bowels
• Drugs such as phenobarbital and phenytoin that are used to prevent seizures in people suffering from epilepsy
• Drugs used to treat tuberculosis such as rifampin
• Drugs used for weight loss such as Orlistat

How to Fulfil Vitamin D Deficiency? 

There are different ways to treat your vitamin D deficiency by fulfilling its required dose. They may be broadly categorised as:

• Through the intake of prescription supplements
• Cure vitamin D deficiency naturally through your diet
• Cure vitamin D deficiency naturally by increased exposure to sunlight

One of these ways or combination of these to treat D vitamin deficiency will be determined by consulting with your doctor only. 

Medications to Treat Vitamin D Deficiency

• You may treat your vitamin D deficiency by taking over-the-counter supplements such as cholecalciferol.
• You may also take the mineral magnesium as a supplement as it helps in the activation of vitamin D in your body.
• In case you are suffering from a severe deficiency of vitamin D, your doctor may prescribe orally taking vitamin D in stronger doses. Such doses may be up to 50000 IU.
• Your doctor may prescribe you vitamin D in the form of injections if so necessary.

Intake Vitamin D-Rich Foods in Your Diet

If you wonder what food is highest in vitamin D  consider including the following foods in your diet that are known to be rich in vitamin D:

• Fatty fish such as salmon, trout, tuna, sardines and mackerel are a very rich source of vitamin D.
• The liver of the cow (beef liver) is rich in vitamin D.
• Egg yolks are an excellent source of vitamin D.
• Cod liver oil is rich in vitamin D and has traditionally been added to the diet to treat deficiency of this vitamin.
• Mushrooms are a good source of vitamin D for vegetarians and vegans.
• Yogurt is a good source of vitamin D among the other nutrients it contains.
• Cow milk contains vitamin D.
• Certain foods are fortified with vitamin D. Almond, oat and soy milk, breakfast cereals, orange juice, and other foods may contain fortified vitamin D sources.

Other Natural Remedies to Treat Vitamin D Deficiency

Vitamin D is also known as the ‘Sunlight Protein’ as your body produces vitamin D from the cholesterol present in your body when you are out in the sunlight. As a result, your doctor may recommend that you stay outdoors, exposed to the sunlight for longer hours to allow your body to produce vitamin D naturally. However, do take precautions by applying sunscreen and also understanding and adhering to the time you may safely be out in the sunlight.

Vitamin D deficiency may be cured within a period as per your age, the nature of the severity of the deficiency you are suffering from and your overall health condition. On average, a doctor prescribes supplements such as cholecalciferol for a period of up to 10 weeks for adults and a period of up to 12 weeks for children.

The natural methods may take slightly longer, but these are to be adhered to for successfully maintaining the optimum level of vitamin D in your body.

In Conclusion

Vitamin D deficiency does not have symptoms which are alarming in nature, but overall you will feel uneasy. It is advised you seek medical attention to be able to identify whether you are suffering from this deficiency. Your doctor may require you to undertake some blood tests to identify the underlying causes of your symptoms. Vitamin D deficiency is treated through prescription supplements and by modification of your diet and lifestyle.

Furthermore, keep your health insurance cover active and renewed on time to avoid claim rejection in times of a medical emergency. With an active and comprehensive plan like Care Health Insurance you can cover the diagnostic tests along with in-patient treatment expenses.

>> Also Read: How to deal with Vitamin C Deficiency?

Disclaimers: The above information is for reference purposes only. Kindly consult your general physician for verified medical advice. The health insurance benefits are subject to policy terms and conditions. Refer to your policy documents for more information.