Definition

Vitamin D deficiency is a low level of vitamin D in the body. Vitamin D is found in a few foods. It is also produced when the skin is exposed to the ultraviolet rays of the sun. Vitamin D is stored in the body's liver and fatty tissues.

This health problem can lead to rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. These are two diseases that weaken bones.

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Causes

Vitamin D deficiency can be caused by:

• Problems producing vitamin D from the skin's exposure to sunlight
• Not getting enough vitamin D in the diet or from supplements
• Not absorbing enough vitamin D from the digestive tract
• Problems with the process of converting vitamin D to a form that the body can use

Risk Factors

Things that may raise the risk of this problem are:

• Lack of direct sun exposure from things like:
  • Spending a lot of time indoors, such as in long term care facilities
  • Wearing clothes that cover most of the skin
  • Living in northern latitudes during the winter
  • Having darker skin
• Not eating enough foods that contain vitamin D
• Having conditions and procedures that affect the body's ability to absorb vitamin D from the digestive tract, such as:
  • Celiac disease
  • Inflammatory bowel disease
  • Bariatric surgery
• Problems that affect the process of converting vitamin D to a form that the body can use, such as:
  • Taking anti-seizure medicines
  • Severe liver disease
  • Chronic kidney disease
  • Vitamin-D dependent rickets (an inherited condition)
  • Hypoparathyroidism (underactive parathyroid)
  • Nephrotic syndrome (kidney condition)
  • Peritoneal dialysis

Symptoms

People with mild to moderate deficiency may not have symptoms. Those with a severe deficiency may have:

• Bone and muscle pain
• Hip pain
• Muscle weakness
• Problems walking, climbing stairs, and getting out of a chair
• Frequent falls

Diagnosis

The doctor will ask about your symptoms and health history. A physical exam will be done. You may also be asked about your diet.

Your level of vitamin D will be tested. This can be done with blood tests.

Treatment

The goal of treatment is to increase vitamin D levels. This can be done with:

• Vitamin D supplements
• Ultraviolet light therapy

Prevention

The risk of this problem may be lowered by:

• Eating foods that contain or are enriched with vitamin D, such as milk, juices, and cereal
• Getting some sun exposure