What are the symptoms of a vitamin D deficiency?

A person may not realize that they have a vitamin D deficiency, but there are some symptoms to look out for:

Frequent infections or illnesses

Vitamin D helps support the immune system — it plays a role in regulating immune function and inhibiting inflammatory reactions. It can also help prevent infections in the upper respiratory tract.

Fatigue and muscle weakness

Because vitamin D is key to bone health, an insufficient amount can cause bone and muscle weakness, which can lead to fatigue.

Bone and joint pain

Vitamin D can increase bone mass and prevent bone loss. If someone has bone and joint pain, it may indicate a vitamin D deficiency.

Fractures

Adequate vitamin D in the body helps maintain bone strength by supporting the absorption of calcium. This is particularly important for females after menopause, which can cause bone density to decrease and the risk of osteoporosis to increase.

Depression

Lower levels of vitamin D may increase the risk of depression. This is because there are vitamin D receptors in the brain, and the research indicates that the vitamin has a protective anti-inflammatory effect.

Slow wound healing

If wounds take longer than usual to heal, it might be a sign of low vitamin D levels because it regulates growth factors and other compounds that form new tissue. People with leg ulcers were more likely to have vitamin D deficiencies.

Symptoms of a vitamin D deficiency in children include:

• irritability
• lethargy
• bone pain or fractures
• deformities of the teeth
• developmental delays

Vitamin D is important for health. Some of its roles in the body include: 

1. helping with the absorption of calcium
2. maintaining healthy bones
3. regulating genes and cell growth
4. preventing rickets and osteoporosis. The condition of rickets tends to occur in babies and preschool-age children, though it can arise in older kids. It affects the development of the bones, wrists, knees, and joints in the ribs, and it can cause bowing of the legs.
5. modulating the immune system
6. preventing cardiovascular disease - According to 2013 research, there is a connection between vitamin D levels and the risk of cardiovascular disease — conditions such as hypertension and metabolic syndrome.. This may be because vitamin D protects the heart and combats inflammation.
7. preventing autoimmune disease.Vitamin D is a natural immune modulator, and low levels of the vitamin may be connected to autoimmune diseases, including:

• type 1 diabetes
• multiple sclerosis
• rheumatoid arthritis
• Crohn’s disease

Some sources of vitamin D include milk, white mushrooms, cooked sockeye salmon, cod liver oil and cooked rainbow trout.