Vitamin D is extremely important and is critical to human survival. Unfortunately, over half of Americans are deficient in vitamin D. According to Medical News Today, the number of vitamin D-deficient people worldwide is estimated at 1 billion. Individuals who are failing to incorporate vitamin D into their diets are raising their risk of illness, and in some cases a lack of vitamin D will manifest itself in various symptoms.
Weak Bones and Rickets
One symptom of a vitamin D deficiency is weak bones. The strength of an individual's bones is dependent on their density and size. The density of bones depends on the amount of phosphorus, calcium and other minerals that a person is getting. Adequate amounts of vitamin D are essential for calcium absorption and controlling phosphate levels.
One rare symptom of vitamin D deficiency is rickets. Rickets can cause bone tenderness or pain, dental and skeletal deformities, progressive weakness and impaired growth. Rickets is rare in the United States; however, when it does occur it is commonly seen in children ages 6 to 24 months.
Pain
According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, another symptom of vitamin D deficiency is chronic low back pain. Researchers from Saudi Arabia discovered that test subjects with low back pain who were examined over a 6-year period showed clinical improvement once vitamin D levels were properly met.
Illness
Vitamin D deficiency can manifest itself in different illnesses. Low levels of vitamin D have been associated with diabetes, Crohn's disease, hypertension and multiple sclerosis. In addition to this, those who are not getting enough vitamin D are more likely to develop and die of breast, colon, prostate, pancreatic and other cancers.
Considerations
It is true that vitamin D can be absorbed by the skin through exposure to sunlight; however, many people do not get an adequate amount of vitamin D from sun exposure. This is especially true for individuals who live in climates with little exposure to sunlight, must stay indoors or work indoors during the daylight hours.
Prevention
The National Institutes of Health recommends several sources of food that are high in vitamin D. The top foods include mushrooms, salmon, mackerel, sardines, tuna fish and orange juice fortified with vitamin D. One tablespoon of cod liver oil also contains more than enough of an individual's daily dosage of vitamin D.
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