Vitamin D deficiency – what are the most common causes?

Vitamin D deficiency means the body cannot find usable (active) vitamin D to function properly and stay healthy.

Vitamin D deficiency can lead to serious complication , as it is a very important vitamin for the body to perform its function properly. There many reasons to result in vitamin D deficiency, here I focus only on the most common causes. The sunshine vitamin, is another name , as sun is a very important source for vitamin D.

Vitamin D deficiency: most common causes

Vitamin D is obtained mainly from sunlight, lack of sunlight (in some countries) could be the main cause for its deficiency. Other causes of vitamin D deficiency:

Not enough vitamin D:
– Vegetarians lack the intake of vitamin D which is found mainly the animal-based sources. This includes fish, fish oils, egg, yolks, fortified milk, and beef liver.
– Less exposure to sun: using Sunscreens , and those living at north where there is no sun.

Less Utilization of Vitamin D:
– Less absorption in Digestive canal; Old age , the kidney’s function reduces ; cannot convert vitamin D to its active form, resulting in vitamin D deficiency
– Disease that affects vitamin D metabolism. Liver disease, renal disease, celiac disease, and inflammatory bowel diseases are some examples. Also, Overweigh (Obese people).
– Medications that affects vitamin D metabolism: Antiepileptic drugs, (such as phenytoin and phenobarbital), may affect vitamin metabolism.
– Defective absorption of vitamin D. Crohn’s disease, cystic fibrosis, and celiac disease are diseases with impaired absorption.

Medications that can cause a vitamin D deficiency?

• Laxatives.
• Steroids (such as prednisone).
• Drugs to lower Cholesterol (such as cholestyramine and colestipol).
• Drugs used to control Seizures (such as phenobarbital and phenytoin).
• Tuberculosis drug (rifampin).
• Weight-loss drug (orlistat).

Why vitamin D is important?

Vitamin D is an important vitamin that our body needs for the following reasons:

• Calcium absorption and metabolism: Calcium is the main building mineral for bones. Vitamin D is required to maintain the level of calcium in the body. Obviously, when the level of calcium in the body increases or decreases, the risk of various health problems increases a lot. So, the level of calcium in the body must be kept right. Vitamin D is a hormone that controls blood calcium levels which is essential for the functioning of the body. Intake of enough Calcium, without vitamin D, will not help in building strong bones and muscles.
  So, Lack of vitamin D can lead to softening of bones and deformity of bones. In medical language this disease is called rickets.
• It has important role in immune system, and also in nervous and muscle systems.
• Vitamin D helps maintain blood glucose balance. 
• Vitamin D plays an important role in the prevention and treatment of diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and multiple sclerosis.
• Lack of vitamin D can lead to more problems in the body. Severe asthma, especially in children, and rapid loss of consciousness in the elderly.
• Lack of vitamin D makes the mood irritable. 
• Vitamin D has a role in the prevention of almost all types of cancer

Daily requirements depends on age:

• Firs year: 400 IU
• from 1 to 70 years old: 600 IU
• Above 70 years: 800 IU

References:
– https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/vitamin-metabolism
– https://www.webmd.com/osteoporosis/features/the-truth-about-vitamin-d-drug-interactions