Vitamin D Deficiency, Dosage and Health Benefits

Having a deficiency of vitamin D causes rickets in children. It affects bone health which can cause skeletal deformities. However, adults who are suffering from Vitamin D deficiency may cause bone pain, muscle weakness. This might also lead to a risk of developing osteomalacia, which is described as soft and weak bones.

• Helps to maintain bone health:

Vitamin D helps to absorb calcium which promotes bone health and prevents bone loss. Vitamin D is very essential for the management of your body’s calcium and phosphorus levels these two minerals are very important for maintaining healthy bones. 

Vitamin D helps to decrease the risk of fractures. It also helps to reduce the risk of rickets in children which can cause bowlegged appearance due to the softening of the bones.

Vitamin D deficiency can cause osteomalacia in children and young adults which refers to a marked softening of bones that can lead to bowing during growth, mainly in weight-bearing bones of the legs. In older adults, osteomalacia can also lead to fractures. 

• Reduce the risk of contracting the flu :

Vitamin D deficiency in an individual can increase the chances of getting sick during the cold and flu season as its deficiency weaken the defense and increase the awareness of illness Because vitamin D plays an important role in boosting your immune system. 

Supplementing with Vitamin D helps your body in boosting immune health by energizing the commonly occurring antimicrobial peptides, which plays an important role in suppressing attacking microbes and protect the body. These antimicrobial peptides are present in immune cells in the upper and lower respiratory tract. So, they are able to protect the body from bacteria that cause common immune and respiratory infections like colds and flu and fight against the viruses. 

So supplementing with vitamin D reduce the occurrence and symptoms of cold and flu. 

• Helps to reduce depression :

A study has been found that Vitamin D helps to regulate mood and reduces depression. 

The research found that vitamin D is important to brain function, so insufficient nutrient levels may cause depression and other mental illnesses like anxiety. 

If your depression is because of vitamin D deficiency then supplementing with vitamin D may relieve your symptoms. So, if you having symptoms of depression consult your doctor about the treatment he will prescribe which is most suitable for you. 

• Helps to reduce cancer growth:

A study found that people who are taking vitamin D supplements are recovering from cancer and had a lower risk of dying. 

A review of 63 observational studies found that vitamin D may be an easy and less costly way to reduce the cancer risk as there is a strong connection between vitamin D and cancer like prostate cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and, colon cancer shown promising results. 

• Weight loss :

Studies show that a higher risk of obesity is correlated with lower blood levels of vitamin D. However, studies on supplementing with vitamin D may curb obesity have so far been unresolved. 

There are many different theories about the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and obesity. Among which few theories claim people who are consuming fewer vitamin D-rich foods are at high risk of obesity.

Although there is some evidence shows that people who are getting enough vitamin D may promote weight loss and reduce body fat percentage. 

Taking enough vitamin D from a supplement or naturally through sun exposure can lessen weight by altering the storage and formation of fat cells and increasing the levels of serotonin and testosterone. 

Vitamin D has numerous benefits, it is necessary for many functions in our body. It helps with the regulation of calcium and phosphate in our bodies. It is vital for the growth and strength of our bones. 

Rickets, osteomalacia, and osteoporosis can be prevented by Vitamin D. It is also important for the healthy functioning of our immune system.