Vitamin D Deficiency
Why Would I Be Deficient in Vitamin D?
– If you don’t get enough exposure to sunlight. Here in Canada there are roughly 4 months of the year (summer) when you can get enough vitamin D from the sun. Even during those months you need to expose at least your arms and legs, since the face does not make D well. And you must not use a sunscreen, nor be too well washed: since vitamin D is made from the oils on your skin, if you wash all the natural oils off of your body, with a hot, soapy shower, the sunlight has nothing to work on. If you are pregnant or obese, you have higher than normal requirements for vitamin D. If you don’t take a vitamin D supplement odds are you are deficient (unless you live in a sunny climate and sunbath properly), since it is almost impossible to get enough vitamin D from the foods we eat.
-If you are dark-skinned, you are likely to be deficient in vitamin D. Dark skinned people need to get much more sun exposure to get the same amount of vitamin D as a fair-skinned person.
-If you are elderly, you have thinner skin than you did when you where younger. This means that you cannot produce as much vitamin D as you once did, and thus will require extra sun exposure, or supplementation.
-Babies fed on breast milk alone, who don’t receive a vitamin D supplement, are likely to be deficient in vitamin D, unless their mother supplements with it.
-If you have advanced kidney disease (especially if you need dialysis), your body will be unable to make the active form of vitamin D, and you will require a supplement.
Symptoms of Vitamin D Deficiency
Vitamin D deficiency symptoms can be as vague as fatigue, and general aches and pains. In fact, some people may not show any obvious symptoms at all, even though they are still at increased risk for the diseases linked to vitamin D deficiency.
Here is an overview of the most common ailments linked to insufficient D.
- Acne
- Anemia
- Asthma and respiratory diseases, in both adults and children
- Autism
- Bone pain
- Cancer (breast, colon, lung, lymphoma, prostate)
- Cardiovascular disease
- Crohn’s Disease
- Dental cavities
- Depression
- Diabetes
- Ear infections in children
- Fatigue
- Frequent infections
- Frequent colds and flu
- Hypertension
- IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)
- Osteoporosis
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Muscle weakness
- Periodontal disease
- Psoriasis
- Rickets in children
- SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder)
- Schizophrenia
A vitamin D blood test is the only way to know if we are getting enough vitamin D or not. Please view our post on Vitamin D testing for more information.
More information
For more information on Vitamin D see our blog posts:
Optimal Blood Levels of Vitamin D
Do We Need Vitamin D in the Summer?
Vitamin K2, Prostate Cancer and Vitamin D3
NutriStart Quick D
Quick D is made with some of the safest, most stable and natural ingredients available.
- Vitamin D3 – Cholecalciferol – the biologically active form from natural sources
- Emulsified liquid form is the most absorbable type of D3
- No unpleasant taste or capsules to take
- Glass bottle and dropper
- Convenient and easy to take
- Organic sunflower oil – a stable and healthy natural base
- Cost effective – with over 960 drops in each bottle, its one of the most economical options on the market.
- Vegetarian friendly
View NutriStart Quick D Vitamin D3