Vitamin D deficiency

Vitamin D is an important vitamin for human health. Vitamin D is essential for bone formation, absorption and use of calcium and phosphorus in the digestive tract, and especially for growth in children. Vitamin D is taken into the body through foods of plant and animal origin. A significant portion (80-90%) is synthesized in the skin during sun exposure, while a small portion is ingested with foods containing vitamin D such as fish oil, salmon, mackerel and tuna.

*The World Health Organization recommends 400-800 IU/day of vitamin D in adults regardless of the level of vitamin D in the blood.

The causes of vitamin D deficiency can be listed as follows:

• Inadequate intake or absorption
• insufficient dietary intake
• Insufficient sunlight exposure
• Small intestine diseases (Celiac disease, inflammatory bowel diseases, etc.)
• pancreatic insufficiency
• Nephrotic syndrome

Groups at Risk for Vitamin D Deficiency:

• seniors
• insufficient exposure to the sun
• Those with dark skin color
• Obesity
• Use of drugs that accelerate vitamin D metabolism
• Osteoclasis
• Bone softening
• Spontaneous fracture formation
• Chronic renal failure
• chronic liver disease
• hyperparathyroidism

Vitamin D Deficiency Symptoms

• Constant heat and cold problem
• Slow weight loss or inability to lose weight while losing weight
• General tiredness and weakness
• Pain in your whole body or bones in certain areas
• Balance problem and loss of strength
• Frequent headache
• Depression
• ever-changing mood
• Nail and hair loss
• Pain in thin joints
• Sweating
• Bruising in custody
• sleep problems

For the prevention and treatment of vitamin D deficiency, natural sunlight supplementation (as the absorption of vitamin D will be better when the sun’s rays are upright) is optimal between 10:00 in the morning and 15:00 in the afternoon and 15-30 minutes a day.

Vitamin D taken in appropriate doses is generally considered safe. However, an overdose of vitamin D can be harmful to the body.

Due to excessive intake of vitamin D; nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, constipation, weakness, weight loss, confusion, disorientation, heart rhythm problems, kidney damage can be seen. In addition, high-dose vitamin D; It can cause tissue and joint calcifications, kidney stone formation, high blood pressure and increased calcium in the blood. Take vitamin D supplements in consultation with your doctor.