9 Top Health Complications due to Vitamin D Deficiency
What is Vitamin D?
Vitamin D is among one of the four fat-soluble Vitamins.
It comes in two forms: Vitamin D2 and Vitamin D3.
Vitamin D2 is also called “Ergocalciferol”
Vitamin D3 is also called “Cholecalciferol”
Vitamin D3 is the one that our body makes when exposed to the sun. This is the reason why it is sometimes cited as “The Sunlight Vitamin”.
Reasons for Vitamin D Deficiency
Sunny Side Up Please!!!!
Vitamin D is our ‘Sunny Side Up’ Vitamin. Its deficiency has become a serious concern for health professionals and enthusiasts with almost 1 billion people Vitamin D Affectees around the World.
There are a number of factors that cause Vitamin D Deficiency.
No Sunlight Exposure
As the World has got hit by a massive Covid-19 Pandemic with is not slowing down anytime soon. Most of us are indoors.
We all have turned to the digital world to do our daily chores, studies, and office work.
Due to almost no Sunlight exposure, there has been a drastic drop in Vitamin D levels in a number of people around.
Insufficient Vitamin D in the Diet
There are a number of Good Vitamin D Sources which include fatty fish, fortified food like cereals, egg yolks, some greens, etc.
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Many people do not add these things to their everyday diet so their Vitamin D levels drop drastically.
What is the Recommended Daily Dose of Vitamin D?
Recommended Daily Dose ranges from 400-800 IU/ Day. Taking up to 2,0000 IU/ day of Vitamin D is also marked safe to keep an optimal Vitamin D blood level.
9 Top Health Complications due to Vitamin D Deficiency
1. Vitamin D Deficiency and Weight Gain
It is a possibility that Vitamin D Deficiency can lead to Weight Gain.
2. Vitamin D Deficiency and Hair Loss
It has been found that people aged between 18 to 45 years had hair loss also known as Alopecia had Vitamin D Deficiency.
So, it has been said that Vitamin D deficiency is closely linked to Alopecia.
3. Vitamin D Deficiency and Pregnancy-related complications
It has been found through research that Vitamin D deficiency in pregnant ladies lead to a number of health conditions like Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (it normally happens from 24 to 28 weeks of pregnancy), Premature birth (it happens before 37 weeks of gestational age), Preeclampsia (it is a pregnancy condition characterized by very high blood pressure as well as it can also cause other organs damage like liver and kidney), and increased risk of miscarriage.
So, those who are trying to conceive and are expecting shall keep their Vitamin D levels in close check.
4. Vitamin D Deficiency and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
IBS and Gastrointestinal disorders are found hand in hand in with Vitamin D deficiency.
Gastrointestinal disorders include Celiac disease (It is an immune disease in which a person cannot eat gluten-A protein found in wheat, barley, and rye) as it may damage the small intestine), those who got a part of their intestines removed, Crohn’s disease (It is an inflammation of digestive tract), pancreatic enzyme inefficiency.
5. Vitamin D Deficiency and Irregular Menstrual Cycles
It has been found through studies that Vitamin D Deficiency and irregularity in menstrual cycles are interlinked. The health condition is called Amenorrhea (No Menstrual Periods) and Oligomenorrhea (having periods after 35 days).
6. Vitamin D Deficiency and Hormonal Imbalance
Vitamin D Deficiency and Estrogen Imbalance
In Women, it has been found through studies that Vitamin D Deficiency and Estrogen Deficiency are co-related.
It leads to mood swings, depression, and hot flashes to name a few.
Vitamin D Deficiency and Parathyroid Imbalance
Vitamin D Deficiency results in legs turning to Jell-O. You would wonder that how is it possible as it can happen only after looking at your crush. We will tell you how!
As the Vitamin D level drops, Intestinal Calcium Absorption lessens consequently a drop in calcium level in blood.
As a result, Parathyroid Glands waken up and start releasing more Parathyroid Hormone which pulls the calcium out of the bones, hence weakened bones resulting in Osteoporosis and Osteopenia.
7. Vitamin D Deficiency and Kidney Diseases
Vitamin D from the Sun, food or dietary supplements is changed to its active form through Kidneys.
Those who are going through renal issues or have chronic kidney damage tend to have low vitamin D levels.
8. Vitamin D Deficiency and Albuminuria
It was found through research that those people who have had insufficient Vitamin D had high levels of Albumin in their urine. Albumin is a protein that is found in the blood.
This condition is termed Albuminuria and it is a primary indication that the kidneys have started to malfunction as a healthy kidney helps in the protein to be used for other body functions.
9. Vitamin D Deficiency and Liver Diseases
Vitamin D level directly affects bile production. Bile is a digestive fluid that detoxifies the body by helping in the digestion of food in particular the fat content in food.
It also helps in getting rid of Bilirubin which is a by-product of RBC Breakdown.
Cholestasis is a health condition characterized by low bile secretion due to the liver or hepatic malfunctioning.
Vitamin D Toxicity
When Vitamin D is taken more than the Required Daily Dose then it may lead to Vitamin D Toxicity which a rare condition but there are chances of it happening.
So, always take your Vitamin D supplement after consulting with a healthcare practitioner.
Vitamin D Toxicity is characterized by a health condition called Hypercalcemia in which calcium accumulates in blood resulting in polyuria, nausea, vomit, weakness, bone pain, and calcium stones production.
Excess Vitamin D and Heart
A high amount of Vitamin D in blood also causes Irregular Heartbeat which is medically termed Atrial Fibrillation.
It was found through studies that the heartbeat jumped three times more in the presence of a high level of Vitamin D in blood.
Take-Away Points
Vitamin D Deficiency can lead to a number of health conditions which include Alopecia, Weight Gain, Complications in Pregnancy, Kidney and Liver diseases, Hormonal Imbalance, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
If one takes Vitamin D more than he needs, then it may lead to Vitamin D Toxicity due to which one can experience high heartbeat, nausea, vomit, weakness, frequent urination, calcium stones, and bone pain.
One shall first get his Vitamin D blood level checked and then only start taking Vitamin D supplements after discussing with a Doctor.