Vitamin D deficiency can cause serious problems. Vitamin D is not actually a vitamin; it is a pro-hormone. However, most people call it ‘vitamin D’. There are two major types of vitamin D: D2 and D3. Vitamin D3 is believed to be more effective in treating vitamin D deficiency, compared to vitamin D2. Vitamin D is very important for growth and development of bones.
Vitamin D
● Vitamin D is called the ‘sunshine vitamin’. It is produced in the human body during the exposure to sunlight. Doctors say that twenty minutes in the sun without any sunscreen, at least four times a week, will be quite enough to keep your vitamin D levels normal.
Other sources of vitamin D include foods like:
- Dairy products
- Fish liver oil
- Tuna
- Animal meat
- Eggs
● If you are a vegetarian, you may lack vitamin D. You should talk to your nutritionist about vitamin D supplements. However, do not take any supplements on your own. Your doctor has to measure your vitamin D levels before you start taking any supplements.
● Even if you consume these foods, you should still use other methods to get vitamin D. The amounts that are found in these foods are simply not sufficient. Spending time in the sun will be the best way to get vitamin D.
Vitamin D Deficiency Symptoms
● Vitamin D deficiency can result is serious problems. The most common symptoms of this condition include:
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Bone fragility
- High cholesterol levels
- Hypertension
- Rickets in children
- Depression
● Some of these symptoms are quite non-specific. This can make the problem worse, because treating the symptoms will not treat the cause. If you have any of these symptoms, you should visit your doctor and check your vitamin D levels.
● According to some researches, this condition is closely related to obesity. Several researches have shown that vitamin D deficiency can increase the risk of certain types of cancer.
● The best way to prevent this condition is to spend time in the sun or to take vitamin D supplements.
● This condition can be treated with supplements of vitamin D. In some cases, large doses are required. In cases of severe deficiency, the treatment can last for months. It is very important to follow the doctor’s instructions and check vitamin D levels regularly.
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