Vitamin D deficiency
Vitamin D is one of the essential vitamins in the body that is responsible for the balance of minerals in the body, especially calcium and phosphorous.
Vitamin D enhances the absorption of minerals in the intestine, prevents excessive loss of these minerals in the kidneys, and controls the entry and exit of minerals into and out of the bones.
In addition, vitamin D helps regulate cell growth, inhibits the growth of cancer cells, and increases the activity of the immune system.
The main sources of vitamin D
Sources of vitamin D include:
Self-production in the skin under the influence of ultraviolet radiation
As the raw material dehydrocholesterol 7 (7 - Dehydrocholesterol) turns into some intermediate compounds to eventually turn into vitamin D.
some types of foods
Vitamin D is found in foods that are of animal and plant origin, such as the following:
liver.
yolk.
fish oil.
It is recommended to consume 400-600 IU of vitamin D, and this amount can also be provided by exposure to the sun.
Important information about vitamin D
Vitamin D is a member of the steroid hormone family and must go through several changes in both the liver and kidneys before it can be functional.
These changes include the following:
The vitamin undergoes a hydroxylation process in the liver, resulting in hydroxyvitamin D25 (D25).
The vast majority of vitamin D is converted to this compound, and the determination of this substance in the blood reflects the vitamin D status of the body.
The vitamin goes through an additional hydroxylation process in the kidneys to obtain hydroxyvitamin D 1,25 (D 1,25), which is the active compound of vitamin D in the body.
Women and vitamin D
Decreased estrogen levels in postmenopausal women negatively affect mineral production in the body, which may increase the risk of osteoporosis.
Symptoms of vitamin D deficiency
Symptoms of vitamin D deficiency include the following:
chronic fatigue
Chronic and continuous pain in different parts of the body.
Autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, and arthritis.
Osteoporosis.
Increased risk of heart disease and high blood pressure.
Causes and risk factors for vitamin D deficiency
Causes of vitamin D deficiency include the following:
Malnutrition.
Insufficient exposure to sunlight
Low ability to absorb vitamin D in the intestine.
The efficiency of endogenous production of vitamin D declines with age.
Liver diseases.
Kidney failure.
Genetic diseases affecting vitamin D production.
People most at risk of vitamin D deficiency
There is a group of people who are most susceptible to vitamin D deficiency, as follows:
old age.
Obese people.
lactating women.
People who live in cold regions.
People with certain diseases, such as cystic fibrosis and some inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn's disease).
Complications of vitamin D deficiency
Complications of vitamin D deficiency include:
Osteoporosis disease that results in severe deformities in the skeleton and limb bones, especially in children.
Muscle and bone weakness.
Diagnosing Vitamin D Deficiency
A diagnosis of vitamin D deficiency is made through a blood test that helps determine the levels of the vitamin in the blood.
Vitamin D deficiency treatment
Vitamin D deficiency can be treated through the following:
sun exposure
Eat foods rich or fortified with vitamin D.
Take vitamin pills.
Intravenous vitamin injection.
Prevention of vitamin D deficiency
Vitamin D deficiency can be prevented by taking good amounts of sun exposure and eating foods that contain good amounts of it.
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