Vitamin D Deficiency Symptoms

As with all of the essential vitamins and minerals, there are certain benefits to be obtained from ensuring that your body is getting the regular dose of vitamin D that it needs. However, for those of us that don't get the vitamin D that we need there is the unattractive prospect of experiencing vitamin D deficiency symptoms, or 'vit d deficiency symptoms' as they otherwise known. This page is going to help you to recognise exactly what the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency are, as well as what vitamin d deficiency causes are, and how to keep your vitamin D levels topped up with information on vitamin d deficiency treatment.

If you are interested in low vitamin D symptoms then you may also find the information on our vitamin D foods and also vitamin D benefits useful as well.

What are the vitamin D deficiency symptoms?

Before we are go on to talk about the causes and treatment of vitamin D deficiency, we are going to get straight to the point and answer the key question 'what are the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency?'. Lacking in vitamin D is looked at as two different issues medically, less seriously as somebody suffering from low vitamin D, and more chronically as a severe vitamin D deficiency. Symptoms can differ in children to grownups and because these are not always present it is often the case that a vit D deficiency is only diagnosed in the more severe cases.

However, below we have listed the vitamin D deficiency symptoms that you should be looking out for:

Symptoms of lack of vitamin D in adults:

Aches and pains both vague and severe
Weakness that can effect how you walk
Pain in bones, most commonly in the hips, pelvic region, feet and ribs

Lack of vitamin D symptoms in children and infants:

* Breathing problems
Cramping and muscular spasm
Increased irritability
Vit D deficiency can cause a prolonged teething period
Stunted growth, height is more commonly an issue
Children may be late or unable to start walking properly
A more chronic vitamin D deficiency can lead to soft leg bones or skull, legs can appear bowed and this condition is commonly known as 'Rickets'

A vitamin D deficiency and low vitamin D symptoms can be diagnosed by a doctor or medical professional so it is vital to consult one if you believe that this may be a problem for you or your child.

Vitamin D deficiency causes

Now that we have explained that the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency are we will go on to talk about what causes vitamin D deficiency. You may find our next section just as useful as this explains who is most at risk of developing vitamin D deficiency symptoms.

There are thee main vitamin D deficiency causes and these have been highlighted below:

Increased need for vitamin D - Some people will require more vitamin D than others because there are certain factors inhibiting the way that their body deals with, and/or synthesizes vitamin D. Our next section goes into more depth as to who is in the 'at risk' category.

Not enough vitamin D in your diet - One of the causes of vitamin D deficiency symptoms is that there is not enough vitamin D in the diet. The simple solution to this is to find out what foods are high in vitamin D and then make sure that you eat more of these on a regular basis. The best source of any nutrient is through natural food sources and it is no different in the case of D vitamins. In order to find out which foods contain vitamin D please check out our vitamin D foods list page.

Your body is not able to create enough vitamin D - Some people are not able to create enough vitamin D due to age,medication, illness or other inhibiting factors. In the below section not only do we go into further detail on the people who have an increased need for vitamin D, but we also explain who may not be able to create enough.

Who can display the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency?

In this next section we are going to provide you with information on who can display the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency. Below we have listed who is most at risk of developing a deficiency of vitamin D, if you fit into one of these categories and you have been experiencing one, or several, of the vitamin D deficiency symptoms that we have listed above then it is very important that you seek medical advice, so that you can get a diagnosis and then if necessary begin to top up your vitamin D levels.

People who stay inside a lot and do not get exposure to sufficient sunlight.
People that when they are outside do not expose their skin to sunlight, wearing veils, hoods, hats and cloaks etc...
Those with darker colored skin.
People that use high factor suncream, however there are benefits from using this as your skin needs to be protected from harmful ultra violet rays. This is referring to an over-use.
Older people are more at risk due to their skin finding it harder to produce the necessary amount of vitamin D.
Certain medical conditions can have an adverse effect on how the body copes with and synthesizes vitamin D, these include Crohn's disease and Coeliac disease.
Women who are breast feeding.
Babies who are breast fed from women who are lacking in their vitamin D levels.
It is also possible for vitamin D deficiency symptoms to occur in people that are bound to certain medication, these include: some anti-HIV drugs, phenytoin and primidone.

The above list shows the people that are more likely to develop vitamin D deficiency symptoms, due to their increased need for vitamin D. If you do feel as though you may fit into one of the categories but you are not experiencing the symptoms then it is not going to hurt to put the effort in to regularly get the vitamin D that you need. For more information please see further down the page in our section on how to top up your vitamin D levels.

How are low vitamin D levels diagnosed?

If you fear that you are suffering from mild or severe vitamin D deficiency symptoms then it is critical that you speak to your doctor, or a health professional immediately. Information online can help point you in the right direction to recognising what the problem is, however self diagnosis and treatment can be very dangerous. If you seek medical help then they will be able to diagnose low vitamin D levels by taking a simple blood test. Leaving any symptoms undiagnosed by a professional can be a serious risk to your health so we really do urge anyone that believes they are experiencing the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency to seek help.

Vitamin D deficiency symptoms - How much vitamin D do I need a day?

To find out the answer to the question 'how much vitamin D do I need a day, please see our vitamin D benefits page where we have a table highlighting this for you.

Vitamin D deficiency treatment

Now that we have covered what causes vitamin D deficiency symptoms, what they are and who is most likely to be at risk from developing them, we are going to cover what the common measures of vitamin D deficiency treatment are. The logical solution of course is to get more vitamin D inside of us, however for some people the solution is not so simple due to factors that can have an effect on how their body handles vitamin D. However, when you have been diagnosed with actually suffering from the symptoms of vit d deficiency then your doctor will go through the best course of treatment for you as an individual. This may include:

Eat more vitamin D foods
Take vitamin D supplements
Vitamin D injections
Vitamin D can be taken medicinally as a liquid, powder, or a tablet, these can vary in dosage

Following treatment of vitamin D deficiency your body will have been able to catch up and re-stock it's levels of vitamin D. However, in order to prevent such vit D deficiency from happening again you are going to have to maintain a regular dose of vitamin D. This vitamin D dosage will likely be lower than that of the treatment, however necessary for your long term health.

How to top up your vitamin D levels

There could be several reasons why you want to top up your vitamin D levels, not just because you think, or have had confirmed, that you are suffering from low vitamin D symptoms. Many people just want to ensure that they are getting enough of all of the essential vitamins and minerals each day in order to prevent the chance of ever being struck down by the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency, or any other nutritional deficiency for that matter. In this section we are going to explain the best ways to ensure that you are getting your regular dose of vitamin D.

Sunlight - As strange as it may sound, sunlight is actually a brilliant source of vitamin D. When your skin is exposed to sunlight vitamin D is synthesized and that means that your body is developing this critical nutrient all by itself without you actually having to consume anything. This is why it is important that you get out of the house every single day in order to ensure that you are exposed to real sunlight, as indoor artificial light will not do the trick to help keep up your vitamin D levels I'm afraid. This is an easy and free way to help prevent the chances of coming down with the symptoms of vit D deficiency.

Vitamin D foods - As you will see on our vitamin D foods list page, there are a range of foods that are all brilliant natural sources of vitamin D. If you make an effort to incorporate these foods into your diet then you are making sure that you are regularly getting the vitamin D that your body needs and there is little to no chance of you developing vitamin D deficiency symptoms.

Supplements - You can get almost any nutrient from supplement these days through supplements, so in order to help keep your vitamin D levels up to avoid a vit D deficiency, take multi-vitamin supplements that include vitamin D. You can buy vitamin supplements online for next to nothing or alternatively get them next time you are at your local pharmacy. Beware that vitamin D supplements can have an effect on some medications so please consult a medical professional before starting to take them.

We do encourage you to look at the above sources of vitamin D as a collective and not as an 'either or' option when it comes to getting the vitamin D that you need. Don't take for granted that a walk out in the daylight each day will get a sufficient amount of vitamin D, or that supplements alone will do the trick. A combination of these vitamin D sources is the best way to ensure your vitamin D levels are kept up to prevent the inset of low vitamin D symptoms.

In this section we have explained the best ways to top up your vitamin D levels, but for further information on why this is important(besides preventing the chances of vitamin D deficiency symptoms of course), please have a look at our page on the benefits of vitamin D as there are many wonderful things that it can do for your health. Making a conscious effort to keep your levels of vitamin D up as well as the necessary levels of all of the other essential vitamins and minerals that we have mentioned on this site, you are going a long way to ensuring the successful long term health of your body.

More than the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency

There is much more to our website than just information on the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency so please take the time to look around at all of the free information that we have on offer while you are online. Just like any kind of nutritional deficiency, low vitamin D symptoms can be serious detrimental to your health so it is important that you seek help and guidance from your doctor or a medical professional if you think that you may be suffering from vit D deficiency symptoms. Although we have highlighted what vitamin D causes are and also how you can go about vitamin D deficiency treatment, there is no substitute for professional medical advice. If you are interested in making an effort to top up your vitamin D levels then you are going to find out page on vitamin D foods helpful.