How serious is a vitamin D deficiency?

How serious is a vitamin D deficiency?

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.

Can you live with low vitamin D?

Researchers found that people with the lowest levels of vitamin D in their blood had the highest chances of dying. Although chances of dying due to heart disease rose with decreasing levels of vitamin D, dying from other causes was more likely, too.

What happens if vitamin D deficiency goes untreated?

If left untreated over time, vitamin D deficiency can lead to serious bone disorders. For example, severe and long-term vitamin D deficiency may result in rickets or osteomalacia.

How long should you take 50 000 units of vitamin D?

For vitamin D deficiency: 50,000 IU per week for 6-12 weeks has been used. However, some patients require higher doses for longer periods of time to maintain optimal blood levels of vitamin D.

What are the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency?

The majority of patients with vitamin D deficiency are asymptomatic; however, some symptoms to watch for are generalized weakness, fatigue, muscle aches, muscle twitching (fasciculations), osteoporosis, osteomalacia, and depression.

What should my vitamin D level be to be healthy?

Pinpointing a “healthy” vitamin D level is tricky. To sum up, they estimated that a vitamin D level of 20 ng/mL or higher was adequate for good bone health, and subsequently a level below 20 was considered a vitamin D deficiency. In my practice, and in most, it is not uncommon to see a vitamin D level less than 20.

How many people in the world have vitamin D deficiency?

It is important to note that vitamin D deficiency is a major global public health issue. About 1 billion people worldwide have vitamin D deficiency, while 50% of the population has vitamin D insufficiency.[1]

Why do obese people have lower vitamin D levels?

Obesity: A body mass index greater than 30 is associated with lower vitamin D levels. Fat cells keep vitamin D isolated so that it is not released. Vitamin D deficiency is more likely in obese people. Obesity often makes it necessary to take larger doses of vitamin D supplements in order to reach and maintain normal D levels.

Can a vitamin D deficiency be left untreated?

As in your niece’s situation, vitamin D deficiency is often diagnosed with a blood test, because a lack of vitamin D typically doesn’t cause any obvious signs or symptoms until the deficiency is severe. If left untreated over time, vitamin D deficiency can lead to serious bone disorders.

What are the symptoms of a vitamin D deficiency?

Symptoms and Health Risks of Vitamin D Deficiency. Symptoms of bone pain and muscle weakness can mean you have a vitamin D deficiency. However, for many people, the symptoms are subtle.

How many people in the world are vitamin D deficient?

Vitamin D deficiency is very common. It’s estimated that about 1 billion people worldwide have low levels of the vitamin in their blood ( 2 ). According to a 2011 study, 41.6% of adults in the US are deficient. This number goes up to 69.2% in Hispanics and 82.1% in African-Americans ( 3

What should vitamin D level be for healthy people?

A level of 20 nanograms/milliliter to 50 ng/mL is considered adequate for healthy people. A level less than 12 ng/mL indicates vitamin D deficiency.