Vitamin D Deficiency in Adults: Know when to Test and How to Treat

Vitamin D deficiency is a serious condition that affects a lot of people, especially the elderly. It occurs when the individual has low blood levels of vitamin D and can affect bone health, increase the risk of infections and cancer, as well as increase cholesterol. To prevent this from happening to you, it’s important to know what the symptoms are and how to treat your condition. It’s also recommended for children aged six months old or older to have their Vitamin D levels checked regularly by a physician or other health care professionals.

Where do you get Vitamin D?

Vitamin D supplements are available over the counter in most stores that sell vitamins, and you can also bring the medication to your doctor’s office to have it filled. You can also get it from UVB rays from the sun, but only for a few hours a day. The other option is to get your Vitamin D levels checked at your doctor’s office.

How do I know if I’m deficient?

If you start to feel tired even after a full night’s sleep, or you feel as though you are lacking energy, your Vitamin D levels may be low. However, there are other symptoms to look out for as well, such as:

 

  • Bone weakness- At first, the bones weaken and can lead to a fracture. As time goes on, it can become more difficult to stand or walk due to brittle bones and osteoporosis.
  • Dry or Scaly skin- Dry skin is another symptom that occurs when the body doesn’t have enough Vitamin D. This will make your skin look dry and wrinkly.
  • Dark circles- Dark circles under your eyes are also a sign of vitamin D deficiency.
  • Attention Deficit Disorder- Although it’s not a direct cause of this condition, some studies have shown that children who are deficient in Vitamin D are more likely to have Attention Deficit Disorder.

 

If you find these symptoms, make sure to do a Vitamin D test.

How can I prevent this condition?

There are several different ways to prevent Vitamin D deficiency. One of the easiest things you can do to prevent this condition is to make sure you’re getting enough sunlight. If it’s too cold outside or you don’t like going out into the sun, vitamin manufacturers are coming out with Vitamin D supplements that you can purchase at most stores. 

 

For example, some manufacturers offer a Tummy Plus gummy vitamin D supplement for kids and adults. Other ways include:

 

  • Eat more foods that are rich in Vitamin D -One of the best ways to get Vitamin D is to eat foods that are rich in Vitamin D, such as wild-caught fish, fortified cereals, and dairy products.

 

  • Talk to your doctor about increasing the dosage – If you’re unable to get enough sunlight or if you aren’t eating foods that are rich in Vitamin D, talk to your doctor about increasing your daily intake. This will ensure that your body gets enough of this valuable vitamin.

What are my treatment options if I have Vitamin D Deficiency?

There are three possible treatment options. The doctor may prescribe you high supplement of 100,000 IU (international units) twice daily. This is a very easy and safe option, but there are some risks involved with taking this much of a supplement.

 

Alternatively, the doctor may advice you to take a moderate vitamin D supplement such as Vitamin D hydroxy 25 that is somewhere between 50,000 and 10,000 IU. This will help you to reach the right amount of vitamin D for your body type.

 

The third option is that the doctor may ask you to get a Vitamin D test done. If you’re deficient, your doctor will prescribe how much Vitamin D you should take per day to correct the deficiency.

Nearly 75% of adults are deficient in vitamin D, so it’s important to talk to your doctor about how much vitamin D you should be taking each day.

 

If you know that you aren’t getting enough sunlight, then you need to take the proper supplements and get enough vitamin D for your body type.

To Sum It Up

There are three main ways to treat your vitamin D deficiency: taking supplements, getting more sunlight, and dieting. Vitamin D deficiency is a newer health issue that we’ve been seeing as our lifestyles change and we become less active. 

 

The first and most effective treatment for this condition is to increase your intake of vitamin D through food or supplements like Vitamin D hydroxy 25. Studies show that eating a cup of cod liver oil can get you from 30% to 80% of your daily vitamin D intake needs. Vitamin D foods include fish, eggs, fortified foods (cereals, orange juice), and mushrooms.

 

Sunlight is the most common way to get vitamin D but sun exposure needs to be between 10 am and 2 pm regularly for it to have any effect. Your skin acts as a significant filter of UV light and you should avoid unprotected exposure that can cause skin cancer. Therefore, you should try and take supplements if you are not getting enough sunlight or if you will be outside for a long period during the day on the advice of a doctor. Also, keep taking Vitamin D test every 3 months.

 

Maintaining a healthy weight is also very important. If you are overweight or obese, you will have trouble absorbing vitamin D from food sources and your levels will most likely be lower. According to epidemiological studies, vitamin D deficiency is found in more than 75% of overweight people with more than 90% of the obese population being deficient in vitamin D.

- Advertisement -

Comments are closed.