Do I Have Vitamin D Deficiency?

Do you get sick more often than usual (especially from a cold or flu)?

Do you feel extremely tired with no energy at all?

Do you have a pain in your bones or a lower back pain?

Do you have muscle weakness, muscle aches, or muscle cramps?

Do you have mood changes, such as depression, or perhaps seasonal depression that occurs during the colder months?

Have you noticed that your wounds heal quite slowly?

Do you have a diagnosis of low bone mineral density (bone loss)?

Do you have a severe hair loss?

Are you over 50 or have a dark-colored skin?

Do you stay home a lot and rarely get outside during the day?

Are you overweight (your body mass index (BMI) is over 30)?

Do you have cystic fibrosis, Crohn’s disease, celiac disease or any kind of kidney and liver disorder?

Based on your answers it is unlikely that you have vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D deficiency is a health condition that refers to an insufficient amount of vitamin D in your body. A distinctive feature of vitamin D is that your skin can actually produce it by using sunlight. Young people with fair skin can produce vitamin D quickly and easily when exposed to the sun, unlike people with darker skin and those over 50. Vitamin D deficiency affects around 1 billion people worldwide and it is a global health problem. Food high in vitamin D includes fatty fish and fortified dairy products.

Based on your answers there is a possibility that you have vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D is necessary for the proper growth of bones and teeth, the functioning of muscles and the nervous system. Vitamin D deficiency can be caused by insufficient exposure to sunlight, slow production of vitamin D in your skin, eating a diet low in vitamin D or some gastrointestinal, kidney and liver disorders. For healthy adults, the recommended daily intake (RDI) of vitamin D is between 600 and 800 IU per day. You can get vitamin D by being exposed to the sun for 15-20 minutes, three days per week, through food and supplements.

Based on your answers there is a high possibility that you have vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D deficiency means that there is not enough vitamin D in your body. Diagnosing this condition includes a medical examination and blood tests to measure your levels of vitamin D. The goal of treatment is to achieve and maintain a sufficient amount of this vitamin in your body. You should eat more food that contains vitamin D, expose yourself more to the sun and you must take supplements. Be careful not to overdo it with supplements; always talk to your doctor first if you want to take higher doses of vitamin D.