Vitamin D (calciferol) is a nutrient that is formed in the skin when exposed to the sun. It has many very important functions in the body, m.in. it regulates calcium and phosphorus metabolism, supports the immune system, and even affects mood. Living in a temperate climate zone and spending more and more time indoors is conducive to its deficiencies. It is estimated that vitamin D deficiency affects over 90% of Poles! Find out what vitamin D is responsible for, what are the symptoms of its deficiency and what supplementation looks like.
Vitamin D – role in the body
The main function of vitamin D is to maintain normal levels of calcium and phosphorus in the body. It also affects the proper development of bones and keeping them in good shape. It also stimulates cells to produce antibodies that protect the immune system and reduces the risk of hypertension, cancer and autoimmune diseases. It is also helpful in maintaining healthy muscles and joints.
Vitamin D deficiency
Vitamin D deficiency can cause rickets in children and osteoporosis in adults. It may also be associated with high blood pressure and a higher risk of allergies. In pregnant women, it can contribute to gestational diabetes, preeclampsia or premature birth. If low levels of vitamin D in the body persist for a long time, it can lead to cardiovascular, autoimmune, neurological diseases, as well as infections.
Vitamin D deficiency – symptoms:
- muscle weakness and cramps;
- pain and frequent fractures of bones due to their demineralization;
- chronic fatigue;
- sleep problems;
- depressed mood and even depressive states;
- hair loss
- frequent infections; slow wound healing;
- rickets (in children).
Excess vitamin D
An excess of vitamin D in the body is extremely rare. In healthy people, it is practically impossible to develop hypervitaminosis. A diet rich in vitamin D, frequent exposure to the sun, as well as proper supplementation will not lead to excessive accumulation of vitamin D in the body. Hypervitaminosis can occur in people who are hypersensitive to vitamin D or who have a mutation in the gene responsible for its metabolism. High levels of vitamin D cause an increase in calcium levels in the body. If left untreated, hypervitaminosis can lead to the formation of calcium deposits and irreversible changes in the tissues of the heart, lungs and kidneys.
Excess vitamin D – symptoms:
- dry mouth;
- metallic taste in the mouth;
- Headaches;
- lack of appetite;
- nausea and vomiting;
- diarrhoea or constipation;
- trouble concentrating;
- polyuria; sleepiness.
Vitamin D and other diseases
Many studies have shown a link between vitamin D deficiency and depression. The researchers behind the 2013 meta-analysis noted that study participants suffering from depression also had low levels of vitamin D. The same analysis found that, statistically, people with low vitamin D levels were significantly more likely to develop the disease. Studies have shown that both deficiency (concentration ≤20 ng/ml) and suboptimal concentration (21-29 ng/ml) of the metabolite 25(OH)-vitamin D may be associated with an increased risk of developing depression and deterioration of the effectiveness of antidepressant treatment.
Vitamin D is important for healthy brain function, which is why insufficient levels of nutrients may play a role in depression and other mental illnesses. An earlier study had identified vitamin D receptors in the same areas of the brain that were responsible for the development of depression.
Does vitamin D help treat SARS-CoV-2? In the few years of the pandemic, scientists have managed to conduct many studies that show a link between vitamin D levels in the body and infection. According to those published on the Frontiersin.org website, people with vitamin D deficiency are 80% more likely to be infected with COVID-19 compared to patients with sufficient levels of this vitamin in their blood. And according to a study published in the Endocrine Society Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, more than 80% of 200 patients at a hospital in Spain who tested positive for COVID-19 were also deficient in vitamin D.
Vitamin D participates in the absorption of calcium and phosphorus. These elements are essential to keep your bones in good condition. Low levels of vitamin D translate into lower absorption of calcium and phosphorus by the bones. Vitamin D deficiency is one of the causes of osteoporosis. Women over 50 and men over 60 are particularly at risk of contracting the disease due to hormonal changes, so it is worth getting tested in this direction.
The symptoms of vitamin D deficiency are not always characteristic, which means that they can also be symptoms of various diseases. In addition, in the case of a slight deficiency, these symptoms do not have to be present at all. Therefore, before the planned supplementation, it is worth performing a blood test and determining the level of vitamin D. On the basis of the obtained result and medical history, the medical specialist will be able to select the optimal dose of vitamin D.