Top 5 Common Signs of Vitamin D Deficiency

A few years ago, I was at work, sitting at my desk,  trying to finish my lesson plans for the week. I had been nursing a migraine for the better part of the day and it seemed as if it getting worse. I kept looking at my watch, counting down the minutes when I could clock out and go relax in my warm comfortable apartment. 

A sudden chill in my body, a loss of feeling in both my thumbs, and change of pink to blue at the tips of my all my fingers pushed that thought far, far back in my mind. I quickly realised something was very wrong. Getting up in a panic to signal one of my colleagues about what was happening to me was the worst thing I could have done in that moment. It was then that I realised I couldn’t stand without feeling faint or dizzy. 

The fear I experienced in those seconds gave me enough time to ask to be taken to the emergency room right away. It was here that the doctors, after having my blood drawn and analysed, told me that my body was deficient in Vitamin D. I had never heard of a sickness like this before, and it seemed fairly odd that I would be experiencing some form of vitamin deficiency. Me? The healthiest person I know in my family and friend group.

To better understand my diagnosis, I researched what Vitamin D deficiency is and how it affects your body. The more I read about it, the more I was startled to find how easy it is for it to happen to someone, and completely miss the signs associated with this disease.  

Vitamin D deficiency, also known as Hypovitominosis D, means that you are not getting enough vitamin D to stay healthy. To ensure that you are getting a healthy dose of this important vitamin, several factors are considered and taken into account.  One of the easiest ways to determine how much your body needs is by looking at your age.

The recommended amounts, in international units (IU), are

• Birth to 12 months: 400 IU
• Children 1-13 years: 600 IU
• Teens 14-18 years: 600 IU
• Adults 19-70 years: 600 IU
• Adults 71 years and older: 800 IU
• Pregnant and breastfeeding women: 600 IU

Top Signs of Vitamin D Deficiency

• Fatigue
• Weak Immune System; getting sick quite often
• Hair loss
• Bone and Muscle pain; achy joints and muscles
• Depression or anxiety 

Who is at risk of Vitamin D Deficiency?

• Breastfed infants
• Older adults
• People with dark skin 
• People with disorders such as Crohn’s disease or celiac disease
• People who have obesity
• People with hyperparathyroidism 
• People who take medicines that affect vitamin D metabolism

Food sources of  Vitamin D 

There are a few foods that naturally have some vitamin D:

• Fatty fish such as salmon, tuna, and mackerel
• Beef liver
• Cheese
• Mushrooms
• Egg yolks

Vitamin D can be found in fortified foods and in many multivitamins, but for the specific purpose of increasing your vitamin D dosage,  there are also vitamin D supplements. Both in pills and a liquid for babies. Remember to consult your doctor before taking any pills or supplements.