
If you’ve had weight-loss surgery, it’s important to see your healthcare provider regularly so they can monitor your vitamin D levels and other nutrient levels. Weight-loss surgeries that reduce the size of your stomach and/or bypass part of your small intestines, such as gastric bypass surgery, make it difficult for your body to absorb sufficient quantities of certain nutrients, vitamins and minerals. Weight-loss surgeries and vitamin D deficiency A lack of either of these enzymes leads to an inadequate level of active vitamin D in your body. Kidney disease and liver disease: These conditions reduce the amount of certain enzymes (hepatic enzyme 25–hydroxylase from your liver and 1-alpha-hydroxylase from your kidneys) your body needs to change vitamin D to a form it can use.Obesity often requires taking larger doses of vitamin D supplements to reach and maintain normal levels. Fat cells keep vitamin D isolated so that it’s not released.

Obesity: A body mass index greater than 30 is associated with lower vitamin D levels.Cystic fibrosis, Crohn's disease and celiac disease: These conditions can prevent your intestines from adequately absorbing enough vitamin D through supplements, especially if the condition is untreated.Medical conditions that can cause vitamin D deficiency include: Medical conditions that can cause vitamin D deficiency Several different biological and environmental factors can also put you at a greater risk of developing vitamin D deficiency, such as older age and the amount of melanin (pigment) in your skin. There are several specific causes of vitamin D deficiency, including: Your body isn’t properly absorbing or using vitamin D.Not getting enough vitamin D in your diet and/or through sunlight.In general, the two main causes of vitamin D deficiency are: However, you may have no signs or symptoms of vitamin D deficiency. Muscle weakness, muscle aches or muscle cramps.Lack of vitamin D isn’t quite as obvious in adults. Children with a mild vitamin deficiency may just have weak, sore and/or painful muscles. Incorrect growth patterns due to bowed or bent bones.Severe lack of vitamin D in children causes rickets. What are the signs and symptoms of vitamin D deficiency? About 1 billion people worldwide have vitamin D deficiency, while 50% of the population has vitamin D insufficiency.Īpproximately 35% of adults in the United States have vitamin D deficiency.Īnyone can have vitamin D deficiency, including infants, children and adults. Vitamin D deficiency is a common global issue.
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Vitamin D deficiency may be more common in people with higher skin melanin content (darker skin) and who wear clothing with extensive skin coverage, particularly in Middle Eastern countries. Who does vitamin D deficiency affect?Īnyone can have vitamin D deficiency, including infants, children and adults. Since a child’s bones are still growing, demineralization causes bowed or bent bones.

Rickets is the same as osteomalacia, but it only affects children. Osteomalacia and osteoporosis put you at an increased risk for bone fractures. This can further result in osteomalacia (soft bones) in adults and rickets in children.

To try to balance calcium levels in your blood (via secondary hyperparathyroidism), your body takes calcium from your bones, which leads to accelerated bone demineralization (when a bone breaks down faster than it can reform). This leads to secondary hyperparathyroidism (overactive parathyroid glands attempting to keep blood calcium levels normal).īoth hypocalcemia and hyperparathyroidism, if severe, can cause symptoms, including muscle weakness and cramps, fatigue and depression. With chronic and/or severe vitamin D deficiency, a decline in calcium and phosphorus absorption by your intestines leads to hypocalcemia (low calcium levels in your blood). More specifically, you need vitamin D so your body can use calcium and phosphorus to build bones and support healthy tissues. It plays a crucial role in maintaining the balance of calcium in your blood and bones and in building and maintaining bones.

Vitamin D is one of many vitamins your body needs to stay healthy. Your geographical location may also prevent adequate vitamin D exposure through sunlight).ĭespite all these methods to get vitamin D, vitamin D deficiency is a common worldwide problem.
