Direcion of Health

Tag: Vitamin D

  • 8 Common Signs of Vitamin D Deficiency

    8 Common Signs of Vitamin D Deficiency

    Vitamin D is essential vitamin for health of body. Due to its diverse functions inside body it has vital importance for proper health.vitamin D deficiency

    It is always best to identify vitamin D deficiency through proper blood test. But there are some early signs and symptoms which can be identifies without proper lab test. It is better to know the sign of deficiency of vitamin D as these signs are actually warning. These signs warn a person that he must go for proper diet and sources to maintain the level of Vitamin D.

    Here are 8 early signs and symptoms to identify Deficiency of vitamin D.

    1.     Fatigue

    The very first sign of vitamin D deficiency is continuous fatigue and tiredness. A person suffering from its deficiency often feels tired and fatigued. He can’t engage himself in any physical work. It becomes hard for such person to do any work that requires energy. They feel low in energy and tired. There is continuous tiredness although they take rest. But there tiredness doesn’t go with rest. The actual reason behind this continuous fatigued might be Vitamin D deficiency because it is involved the energy production. So if a person who is feeling tired must not overlook this symptom and go for professional gaudiness.

    2.     Pain in muscles

    Another identified able sign of vitamin D deficiency is pain in muscles. It is important to mention that vitamin D is involved in the strengthening of muscles. It is also needed by the muscles for contraction. So if the body is deficient in this vital vitamin then it may induce pain in muscles. There is also muscles tiredness. Whenever you feel continuous pain and ache in muscles then you must consider that it might be due vitamin D deficiency. It is advised to seek professional help if you feel continuous ache and pain in muscles.

    3.     Weakness of bones

    Vitamin D has well known role in the health of bones. Due to its multiple roles it is also essential vitamin that enhances the absorption of calcium body. So vitamin D and calcium together are needed for the proper strength of bones. When vitamin D deficiency arises it also causes the weakness of bones. Bones becomes more fragile and weak. When bones get weak then there is more chance of fracture and dislocation. Its deficiency increases the chance of fracture If exposed to little challenging environment.

    4.     Pain in bones

    Vitamin D is involved in the calcium absorption in bones. It is also needed for bones for bone health. When vitamin D deficiency gets serious bones and joints starts to ache. A person suffering from vitamin D deficiency experiences difficulty in movements as well. There is consistent pain in bones especially joints. A person who has vitamin D deficiency experience difficulty in walking and standing as it effects movements of bones as well. If you are experiencing pain in bones then you must go for professional help. It is considered to a warning sign of vitamin D deficiency.

    5.     Sick after short intervals

     

    If a person is having deficiency vitamin D then it may lead to sickness. A person my get sick again and again after short interval of time. The reason is that vitamin d is involved in the immunity function as well. When body is deficient in this vitamin then body becomes unable to fight against invaders and infections. The chance of getting infection increases.

    So a person with its deficiency become vulnerable to these infections and gets sick quickly. His immunity has been compromised. For the recovery of such patient it is necessary to provide them with vitamin D. it will enhance their immunity.

    6.     Depression and anxietydepression

    Vitamin D has an active role in the mood regulation as well. If a person is feeling sad and depressed then may be the culprit behind this is vitamin. It is studied that it has participation in the brain function and mood regulation. If a person is experiencing depression and anxiety then he must check his level of vitamin D. it will get a better insight to your psychological health.

    7.     Slow healing of wounds

    Body has many systems for the regulation and maintenance of body. One system is wound repairing and healing. This system enables a person to get rid of wound through healing process. Vitamin D has major contribution in the healing of wounds. If body has not enough amount of vitamin D in the system then it may slow downs the healing process. If you are experiencing the slow healing of wounds then it is suggested to consult to a health professional for better guidance.

    8.     Hair fall

    Hair play vital role in the appearance of a person. Hair fall is one of the most common causes of  vitamin D deficiency. This vitamin is involved in the growth cycle of hair. If body is not having enough quantity of this vital vitamin then it may lead to thinning of hair. These thin hairs are more likely to fall. If you are experiencing this unexpected hair fall then it is suggested to check your Vitamin D level to get better understanding.

    Sources of Vitamin D

    Vitamin d is vital vitamin for the functioning of body. When you experience any of above sign then you need to consult to health professional to check your level of vitamin D. Here are some major sources of vitamin D through which you can cure the above symptoms.

    Mainly there are two sources of Vitamin D.

    1.   Sun rays

    Sun rays are the best source to get vitamin D. When rays of sun strike the exposed part of the skin it naturally synthesizes vitamin D. It is produce in two steps. So it is beneficial for a person who is having deficiency of vitamin D expose his skin to direct sunray to naturally synthesize it.

    Food with Vitamin D 

    There is other ways to increase the level of vitamin D other than sun rays as well. The best source is to take it through diet. You need to add these sources into your diet to increase its level. There is another ways to increase the level of vitamin D other than sun rays as well. The best source is to take it through diet. You need to add the following dietary sources into your diet.vitamin d

    ·       Fish

    There are some fishes which have vitamin D in them. This vital vitamin is present in fatty fish like salmon, mackerel and sardines. They can provide with the best source to improve vitamin D deficiency.

    ·       Yolk of egg

    Egg is the best and easy source to increase the level of vitamin D in blood.  Vitamin D is present in the yellow portion of the egg which is known as egg yolk. If you want to increase the vitamin D in body then you can add eggs in your diet.

    ·       Milk

    Milk is very rich in its composition,. It has many essential minerals and vitamins. If you take a glass of milk daily it will help you to stay healthy an. It will also fulfill your bodily needs of vitamin D deficiency.

    ·       Yogurt

    Yogurt is a product of milk. It is also very healthy for functioning of body. There are some people who doesn’t like the taste of milk or have some other issues with drinking milk. Such people can take yogurt in place of milk to fulfill their body needs. It also has vitamin d in its constituent.

    ·       Fortified food

    There are many cereals and foods which are fortified with vitamin D. people who are suffering from vitamin D deficiency can take these fortified foods to meet their bodily needs. There are some Orange juices as well which are fortified with it.

    These are some common signs and symptoms for deficiency of vitamin D. if you experience above mentioned symptoms then consult it with health professional to seek proper help. Proper blood test is still is still necessary to confirm the level of vitamin D.

  • Essential Insight of Vitamin D

    Essential Insight of Vitamin D

    Introduction

    Vitamin D is an important vitamin for the health of bone. It performs many functions in the body. During the span of life bones continues to reform and reshape. Vitamin D is considered to have vital role in the formation and reshaping of bones.  It also helps and promotes other minerals absorption within blood. When sun rays strikes the uncovered skin these UV rays initiates the synthesis of vitamin D in the liver and kidney.

    Importance for body

    Vitamin D

    1. It increases absorption of calcium and phosphorus within blood. it assists the absorption of these minerals inside the gut.
    2. It allows mineralization of bone and prevents involuntary muscle contraction which may additionally lead to cramps and spasms.
    3. It is also needed for bone formation. It helps to prevent thinning or misshaping of the bone.
    4. It reduces inflammation and promotes the growth of many processes such as cell growth, metabolic functioning and immune function.
    5. It is also suggested that this vitamin has role in regulation of mood and depression control.

    Need of vitamin D

    As we know that vitamin is very important vitamin for the growth of bones so its sufficient amount is needed for the proper functioning of the body.

    Here is general table that depicts how much quantity of this vitamin is needed for the body. The unit in which its intake is measured is International Unit (IU)

    Age Male Female
    1-12 months 400IU 400 IU
    1-70 years 600 IU 600 IU
    Above 70 years 800 IU 800 IU

    Forms of vitamin D

    Mainly there are two forms of vitamin.  Both forms have different structural formula.

    1.      Vitamin D 2

    This vitamin is human made. It is added to foods to make them enrich of this vitamin. It is also present in the supplements which are used to increase its intake. It is derived from fungi and yeast.

    2.     Vitamin D3

    This form of vitamin is synthesized inside the body. When rays of sun strikes the skin it triggers the syntheses of vitamin D. it is absorbed in inactive form. It passes through two steps to get in inert form. First step occurs in liver and second in kidney. It is also present in animal products. It is more effective than D2.

    3.     Vitamin D Complex

    It is form of supplement which contains both vitamin D2 and D3. It may contain other nutrients as well which support absorption of vitamin D.

    Sources of Vitamin D

    Essentially there are 3 main sources to obtain this vitamin. This is fat soluble vitamin.

    1.     Food with Vitamin D

    There are a few foods which naturally have this vitamin. Including these foods in diet can help to overcome its deficiency. Flash of fatty fish such as trout, salmon have good amount of it.

    Liver oil of fish and beef liver also contains this vitamin as their part of nutrition.  Egg yolk, cheese and some mushrooms also have vitamin D.

    Some foods are fortifies with vitamin D to make them enrich of this vitamin. For example most of the milk are fortifies with it.

    2.     Sun Exposure

    One can meet its bodily need of this vitamin by exposing his skin under the direct rays of sun. People with dark skin and older people synthesized less amount of D3. 5-30 minutes are enough to absorb enough of UV rays to synthesize vitamin D.

    Although vitamin can be synthesized by exposing skin through direct sun ray but it is not advisable to expose the skin for longer period of time because it can cause other skin diseases such as allergies, irritation and skin cancer.

    3.     Supplements

    There are supplement which provide a good amount of vitamin D.  D2 is manufactured by uv rays in yeast and d3 is produced in wool of sheep. Lichens are also used for its syntheses.

    These supplements are helpful in maintaining level of vitamin inside body.

    Deficiency of vitamin D

    Deficiency of this particular vitamin can be characterized by fewer amounts present in diet, kidney is not converting it into inert form, exposure to sun is limited or digestive system is not absorbing it.

    Children with its deficiency develop a disease called as Rickets. This is a bone disease in which bone mineralization doesn’t occur. Due to which bone becomes weak and soft. And children suffers from bone deformities, delay in growth, dental problems.

    Osteoporosis is also bone disease which is caused by deficiency of this vitamin. Bones are continuously reforms throughout the life. When bones deform and muscle fibers associated with them weakens which is the main reason of osteoporosis.

    Despite the fact that osteoporosis is due to much less calcium however vitamin D facilitates in absorption of calcium so we are able to say that deficiency of vitamin additionally leads to osteoporosis.

     

    Symptoms of Deficiency

    It is very important to have sufficient supply of vitamin for overall health of body. but when body to not gets enough of it may arises some early symptoms. These symptoms are as follows

    1. Pain in bones and joints is very common symptoms of its deficiency. Joints and muscles starts to pain when they do not get enough supply of vitamin D.
    2. It also affects the health of muscles. They feel tired and fatigued as they gets weaken with its deficiency.
    3. It also in some cases it also causes depression because it is involved in the pathophysiology of brain.
    4. It also participates in regulation of blood pressure vascular cell growth, and inflammatory and fibrotic pathways. So it may be associated with health of heart and its functioning.

    People at Higher of Vitamin D deficiency

    There are certain people who do not have sufficient supply of this vitamin… they are at more risk of developing symptoms as compared to others.

    These groups are as follows:

    1.     Breast feeding infants

    Breastfeeding infants are at more risk of its deficiency. The reason is that human milk does not contain enough of it to meet needs of infants. So it is necessary to provide them with vitamin D drops to meet their requirement.  A mother can also take supplements to increase level of vitamin in the milk.

    Sun exposure is not good for infants. It is suggested to cover them properly before exposing them to direct sun. so it is advisable here that provide infants with supplements unless they are able to take fortified milk  to meet their bodily needs.

    2.     Older adults

    With age requirements of vitamin increases because now skin is unable to synthesize enough vitamin D to meet needs of body. After age of 70 they needs more amount of it so it is necessary for older people to take supplements to meet their bodily requirements.

    3.     People with less Sun Exposure

    When skin is not exposed to sun then it cants synthesize this vitamin. People who live in areas with less sun rays and who prefer to stay inside are more vulnerable to its deficiency. People working in indoor environments and who covers themselves completely while going under the sun may have more chances to develop its deficiency.

    4.     Dark Skin people

    There’s a pigment in the outer layer of skin known as melanin. This pigment is causes the darkish skin tone. This pigment inhibits synthesizes of vitamin D that results in its deficiency.

    5.     Less Fat Absorption

    There is certain group of people who suffers from diseases such as liver disease, cystic fibrosis, celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis do not have ability to absorb fat soluble substances in the gut. As we know vitamin D is fat soluble vitamin so it does not absorbed by the gut.  It results in less absorption and unavailability of this particular vitamin.