Severe Vitamin D Deficiency: Vitamin D Deficiency Related Disorders

Severe Vitamin D Deficiency: Vitamin D Deficiency Related Disorders









Vitamin D is unique among vitamins; firstly it can be synthesized in the skin from the sunlight. If there is enough exposure to sunlight you are safe from suffering vitamin D deficiency. Secondly vitamin D in biological active form is a hormone called calcitriol. Vitamin D is converted to this hormone in liver and then in kidney, before it performs its role in the body.

Severe Vitamin D Deficiency can be due to

• Low intake of food which are rich in vitamin D.
  
  
  They are egg yolk, fish oil, fish, milk, cheese, liver, and certain grains.


• Lack of exposure to sunlight.


• Kidney disorder, where vitamin D cannot be converted into its active form. It is observed in old age.


• Obesity.


• Where the absorption is difficult, as in case of crohn’s disease, celiac disease, cystic fibrosis etc.


• Pregnancy, where there is increased demand of vitamin D.


• Dark colored skin.


• Certain medicines such as carbamazepine, phenytoin, barbiturates etc.


• Strict vegetarian diet are also at the risk of moderate to severe vitamin D deficiency

Symptoms of Severe Vitamin D Deficiency

• In children it can cause rickets, where the skull and bones are soft.
  
  
  The legs are curved and appear bow leg.


• Late development of teeth.


• Poor growth of bones and stunted growth in children.


• Repeated infections of upper and lower respiratory tract in children.


• Breathing difficulty due to weak bony cage and thorax muscles.


• In adults severe vitamin deficiency may cause pain in the bones, difficulty in walking and climbing stairs.


• Severe deficiency may cause osteomalacia in adults.


• Bone becomes brittle and chances of fracture increases as there is calcium deficiency observed with vitamin D deficiency.


• Mood swings and depression is noted in severe vitamin D deficiency.


• Chronic fatigue.

Treatment of Severe Vitamin D Deficiency

• Severe deficiency of vitamin D requires supplementation in the form of medicine.


• Alter the diet; eat more of vitamin D containing foods.


• Sunlight exposure for few hours is necessary.