What does the body need with vitamin D and symptoms of vitamin D deficiency

Vitamin D is a critical element in the body. It is necessary for the absorption of phosphorus and calcium. And without these elements it is impossible to have strong bones. It also affects the immune system. The lack of this substance makes a person vulnerable to external infections. The body obtains this substance both from food and through synthesis in the skin. Researchers note that there are receptors for this vitamin in every cell. What the shortage entails and how to get rid of it – we’ll tell you in our article.

Symptoms of Vitamin D Deficiency

There are no characteristic symptoms that would directly indicate a lack of vitamin D. There are no obvious changes in organs and tissues. All manifestations may indicate other pathologies in the body. However, there are some symptoms that are worth paying attention to. It is somewhat different in children and adults. So, in people over 18 years of age, indirect symptoms of vitamin D deficiency may include:

• weakness;
• sweating;
• irritability;
• decreased performance;
• loss of appetite;
• sleep disorders;
• dryness and burning in the mouth;
• pain in joints, spine and muscles;
• early skin aging;
• tooth decay and chips on enamel;
• imbalance.

For children, the symptoms will be somewhat different. Doctors note that vitamin deficiency may be more critical for children than for adults. Parents should be wary in the following cases:

• the child sweats a lot (especially critical if this happens to the head, neck and palms);
• the baby is irritated, crying for no apparent reason;
• gets tired quickly;
• sleeps poorly, wakes up often;
• loses weight;
• rashes appear on the skin;
• hair and nails grow poorly;
• often and seriously ill with respiratory infections;
• muscle tone is unusually low.

If you do not pay attention to all this, then children will have serious disorders. Infants will have a slower time closing the fontanelle and teething. In older children, the structure of the skull, spine and chest will change, and the legs will become valgus. That is, what is popularly called “X”.

Pathogenesis of vitamin deficiency D

Deficiency usually develops when a person does not receive enough sunlight and has a poor diet. At the same time, doctors often emphasize that natural products are not able to compensate for the lack of vitamin. Therefore, specialized additives are needed. Or products that are specially enriched with the necessary element. So, there are three causes of vitamin D deficiency:

1) A person is not exposed to the sun enough.

This usually affects clients of nursing homes and simply elderly people. It is difficult for them to go outside and walk in the fresh air. In addition, in winter in northern latitudes, due to lack of sunlight, residents may also lack vitamin D. Another group that is at risk is Muslim women. This is due to clothing requirements. As a rule, these women have their bodies completely covered. People with dark skin produce the vitamin less well. Therefore, they need to increase their time in the sun.

2) The body is unable to absorb enough vitamin D from food.
Under normal conditions, it is absorbed with fats from the small intestine. This is a fat-soluble element. However, there are diseases when this process is disrupted. Absorption also deteriorates in old age.

Vitamin D rich foods:

Salmon, salmon – one serving weighing about 100 g contains 526 IU (international units) of vitamin D. This is 66% of the daily value.
Sardine in 100 g, 177 IU is 22% of the daily value.
Herring in 100 g – 216 IU per serving, 27% of the daily value.
Canned tuna – 268 IU per 100 g, 34% of the daily value.
Egg yolk contains 5% of the daily value.
Butter – 52 IU per 100 g.
Beef liver – 45 IU per 100 g.

3) The body is unable to convert vitamin D into its active form.
In order for a vitamin deficiency to be corrected, it must be converted into an active form. The kidneys and liver are responsible for this process. Diseases of these organs, as well as various hereditary diseases, can disrupt the transformation. This process can also be affected by certain medications.

Classification and stages of development of vitamin D deficiency

Two forms of vitamin D are important for humans:

• Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol). Typically used in supplements that provide a high dose of the drug. It is obtained from plants and yeast precursor products.
• Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). This is the variant that is formed in the skin under the influence of ultraviolet radiation. The most active form of the vitamin.

However, both of these forms are inactive in the body. They must be processed in the liver and kidneys. The result is calcitriol. It promotes the absorption of calcium and phosphorus from the intestines. With a vitamin D deficiency, less calcium and phosphate are absorbed into the body. Therefore, a lack of the substance leads to bone problems. Children develop rickets, and adults develop osteomalacia. The most severe stage is the development of osteoporosis.

How is vitamin D deficiency diagnosed?

Vitamin D deficiency can be diagnosed in two ways:

– using blood tests;

– through x-ray examination.

The doctor may suspect a deficiency of the required element in the patient and send him for a blood test to detect a deficiency of both vitamin D itself and calcium and phosphorus. Sometimes additional analysis may be required to exclude pathologies with similar symptoms.

In addition, radiographs are used to clarify the diagnosis. Characteristic bone changes can be seen before symptoms become noticeable.

Vitamin D standards (children, adults, pregnant women, nursing mothers)

Most often, vitamin D is consumed for preventive purposes. To maintain the required level, you need to take such

daily dose of vitamin D:

– infants up to one year – 400 IU (international units);
– children over one year of age and adults – 600–800 IU;
– people over 50 years old – 800–1000 IU;
– pregnant and lactating women – 800–1200 IU.

The therapeutic dose of the vitamin can be tens of times higher than the preventive dose. Taking higher doses without medical supervision is dangerous.

Complications of vitamin D deficiency in children

The main complication of vitamin D deficiency in children is rickets. This is a disease in which the bones become soft and may become deformed. This is critical for the child, since the skeleton does not develop as required. The disease develops mainly in children aged 2 months to 3 years.

Complications of vitamin D deficiency in adults

In adults, vitamin D deficiency over a long period of time can cause osteomalacia. This is a condition in which softening of the bones occurs. At the same time, the total volume of bone substance increases, pain occurs in the damaged bones and muscle weakness.

In some cases it may develop osteoporosis – it also reduces the strength of bone tissue. As a result, the risk of fractures increases significantly. Unlike osteomalacia, this process is irreversible.

Preventing Vitamin D Deficiency

To prevent vitamin D deficiency, it is necessary to take specialized supplements. They are necessary even when it seems that the body is receiving enough ultraviolet radiation. It is also almost impossible to replenish reserves from food.

At the same time, vitamin D is especially important for people who are at risk. Elderly people are advised to take vitamin D regularly as a preventive measure.

In the US and Canada, drinking milk (but not cheese and yogurt) is fortified with vitamin D. Breakfast cereals can also be fortified.

It is especially important for breastfed newborns to start taking vitamin D supplements. Breast milk contains little to no vitamin D. Supplements are given until the baby is 6 months old. Children who receive formula do not need additional prophylaxis. This product contains a sufficient amount of vitamin.

Sources:

1) Vitamin D deficiency in Russia: first results of a register-based non-interventional study of vitamin D deficiency and deficiency in various regions of the country. L.A. Suplotova, V.A. Avdeeva, E.A. Pigarova, L.Ya. Rozhinskaya and E.A. Troshina. Journal “Problems of Endocrinology” for 2021

2) The feasibility of using vitamin D hormone for preventive and therapeutic purposes (literature review). “Russian Medical Journal”, dated 10.29. 2018

3) Possibilities of clinical use of vitamin D and its active metabolites. E.G. Zotkin, G.Ya. Schwartz. Journal “Effective pharmacotherapy. Endocrinology”, 2020.
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6) The Role of Vitamin D in Fertility and during Pregnancy and Lactation: A Review of Clinical Data. Pilz S, Zittermann A, Obeid R, Khan A, Pludowski P, Trummer K, Lerchbaum E, Perez-Lopez FR, Karras SN, Merz W. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018