Also called: Hypovitaminosis D, Low Vitamin D
What is vitamin D deficiency?
Why do I need vitamin D and how do I get it?
Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium. Calcium is one of the main building blocks of bone. Vitamin D also has a role in your nervous, muscle, and immune systems.
You can get vitamin D in three ways: through your skin, from your diet, and from supplements. Your body forms vitamin D naturally after exposure to sunlight. But too much sun exposure can lead to skin aging and skin cancer, so many people try to get their vitamin D from other sources.
How much vitamin D do I need?
The amount of vitamin D you need each day depends on your age. The recommended amounts, in international units (IU), are
People at high risk of vitamin D deficiency may need more. Check with your health care provider about how much you need.
What causes vitamin D deficiency?
You can become deficient in vitamin D for different reasons:
Who is at risk of vitamin D deficiency?
Some people are at higher risk of vitamin D deficiency:
Talk with your health care provider if you are at risk for vitamin D deficiency. There is a blood test which can measure how much vitamin D is in your body.
What problems does vitamin D deficiency cause?
Vitamin D deficiency can lead to a loss of bone density, which can contribute to osteoporosis and fractures.
Severe vitamin D deficiency can also lead to other diseases. In children, it can cause rickets. Rickets is a rare disease that causes the bones to become soft and bend. African American infants and children are at higher risk of getting rickets. In adults, severe vitamin D deficiency leads to osteomalacia. Osteomalacia causes weak bones, bone pain, and muscle weakness.
Researchers are studying vitamin D for its possible connections to several medical conditions, including diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer, and autoimmune conditions such as multiple sclerosis. They need to do more research before they can understand the effects of vitamin D on these conditions.
How can I get more vitamin D?
There are a few foods that naturally have some vitamin D:
You can also get vitamin D from fortified foods. You can check the food labels to find out whether a food has vitamin D. Foods that often have added vitamin D include
Vitamin D is in many multivitamins. There are also vitamin D supplements, both in pills and a liquid for babies.
If you have vitamin D deficiency, the treatment is with supplements. Check with your health care provider about how much you need to take, how often you need to take it, and how long you need to take it.