Vitamin D Deficiency Can Cause Serious Illness

According to CDC almost 8 percent of the U.S. population is deficient in vitamin D, and a quarter population is at risk of having vitamin D deficiency. More than half of the patients in nursing homes have low vitamin D levels.

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin used by the body for normal bone development and maintenance by increasing the absorption of calcium, magnesium, and phosphate.  Many studies have displayed an association between vitamin D deficiency and the following infectious diseases: cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, depression, and COVID 19.

Vitamin D deficiency affects both adults and children. So why are we not paying attention to the issues given that it is so easy to fix the problem and prevent the devastating consequences of vitamin D deficiency.

Dr. Nooristani, CEO of Balance7 lists the reasons for having low Vitamin D

• Decreased Dietary Intake and/or Absorption.
• If you are suffering from certain malabsorption syndromes such as celiac disease, short bowel syndrome, gastric bypass, inflammatory bowel disease, chronic pancreatic insufficiency, and cystic fibrosis may lead to vitamin D deficiency.
• Lack of Vitamin D Exposure 
• Majority of vitamin D is absorbed through the skin via sunlight while the rest comes from our diet. 
• Decreased Endogenous Synthesis.
• Your body is not producing enough vitamin D. examples includes Individuals with chronic liver disease such as cirrhosis, kidney failure etc. 
• Liver Breakdown
• If you are taking medications that are cleared by the liver such as phenobarbital, carbamazepine, dexamethasone, nifedipine, spironolactone, clotrimazole, and rifampin, will decrease vitamin D levels. 
• Organ Resistance.
• Genetic misfortune in high-risk individuals with an organ resistance to vitamin D can also have low vitamin D levels.

The symptoms of Vitamin D should be divided in 2 categories

Short Term Symptoms

• Fatigue, not having burst of energy despite getting enough rest.
• Not sleeping well
• Bone pain or achiness
• Depression or feelings of sadness, anxious
• Hair loss, with some headaches
• Muscle weakness
• Mental fogginess
• Loss of appetite
• Getting sick more easily (low immune system)

Long Term Symptoms

• Osteoporosis and Osteopenia (brittle bones)
• Cardiovascular disease
• Cancers
• Diabetes
• Depression

Dr. Nooristani recommends the below list of food, drinks and supplements to help increase Vitamin D

• Fatty fish such as salmon, tuna, and mackerel
• Milk
• cereals
• Beef, cod liver
• Cheese
• Oatmeal 
• Mushrooms
• Egg yolks
• Breakfast cereals
• Orange juice
• Other dairy products, such as yogurt
• Soy drinks
• Twenty minutes of sunshine daily with over 40% of skin exposed is required to prevent vitamin D deficiency.
• Vitamin D supplements
• Balance7 

If you have any of the above symptoms, please visit your healthcare provider.