If you are an older adult with
Vitamin D deficiency can lead to a loss of bone density, which can contribute to osteoporosis and fractures (broken bones). 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.
Symptoms when vitamin D is low
Most people with vitamin D deficiency are asymptomatic. However, if you're exhausted, your bones hurt, you have muscle weakness or mood changes, that's an indication that something may be abnormal with your body.
When vitamin D levels are low and the body isn't able to properly absorb calcium and phosphorus, there is an increased risk of bone pain, bone fractures, muscle pain and muscle weakness. In older adults, severe vitamin D deficiency (levels less than 10 ng/mL) may also contribute to an increased risk of falls.
How Long Does It Take To Recover From Vitamin D Deficiency? It can take a few weeks for your vitamin D levels to rise once you start taking supplements. Expect a 4-6 week recovery time if you don't have any underlying health issues that could slow down the recovery phase.
Having inadequate levels of vitamin D may correlate with unintentional weight gain. A study on women over the age of 65 found that participants with a lower vitamin D level experienced more weight gain. A systematic review of 23 different studies found similar associations between vitamin D deficiency and obesity.
Besides boosting mood and promoting calcium absorption, recent studies have shown that vitamin D may also aid in weight loss. For people with extra belly fat, a vitamin D supplement may be beneficial.
Does Vitamin D Deficiency Make You Tired? Yes, if you're not getting enough vitamin D you will likely experience low energy and feel tired. An observational study, this one in 200 female nurses, found that only 9.5% of them had normal vitamin D levels, while 89% were found to have vitamin D deficiency.
While too little vitamin D can cause brain fog, weakness, and frequent infections, taking too much in supplement form (overdosing on vitamins from food is unlikely) can cause dangerous adverse effects, including kidney failure, she explained.
Recent findings: Low vitamin D levels are associated with increased symptoms of depression and anxiety. For this reason, vitamin D screening should be performed in the prevention and treatment planning of these mood disorders.
Growing evidence has demonstrated that vitamin D has a role in sleep regulation [12]. Specifically, vitamin D deficiency (VDD) can increase risk of sleep disorders and is associated with sleep difficulties, shorter sleep duration, and nocturnal awakenings in children and adults [13,14,15].
When to take vitamin D. It just plain doesn't matter, as long as you take it with food, says Dr. Manson. Her advice: Take it when you'll remember to take it — morning, noon or night — and take it with a meal, she says.
Sunlight is the best way to increase your Vitamin D levels naturally. Due to this reason, Vitamin D is sometimes referred to as "Sunshine Vitamin." To get the best out of it, you should spend atleast 15 to 20 minutes under the sun. Make sure the sunlight touches your skin for the designated amount of time.
Low vitamin D and weight gain are related in other ways too – Studies have suggested that vitamin D plays a major role in releasing leptin, the hormone controlling the hunger senses and fat storage in the body. Vitamin D deficiency affects both senses, leading to weight gain.
IBS and Vitamin D deficiency
Symptoms include a combination of diarrhoea or constipation, bloating, urgency (the need to use a restroom in a hurry), white or yellow mucus in the stool and the sensation of incompletely passing stools.
A vitamin D deficiency may also contribute to unintentional weight gain. Chances are you're familiar with vitamin D's effects on bone health. Higher levels of the vitamin can help your body support strong skeletal functions, while lower levels can lead to conditions like osteoporosis.
B-complex vitamins: These help metabolize carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, activating stored energy instead of letting it turn to fat. Niacin, vitamin B-6, and iron: This impressive trio increases your body's production of the amino acid L-carnitine to help burn fat.