Vitamin D Deficiency: Symptoms by Age | Augsburg Allgemeine

Vitamin D is one of the fat -soluble vitamins and can be stored by the body and even produced itself. To do this, however, he needs sun rays. If you are not enough outdoors, you can only produce a little vitamin D a day. Over time, the vitamin D reserves are used up and there is a deficiency. What symptoms can occur?

What effect has vitamin D in the body?

Vitamin D is best known for its effect on the bones. However, it is now clear that vitamin D has numerous tasks in the body and that a deficiency can have a significant impact on health. There are different forms of vitamin D, according to metabolic expert Helena Orfanos-Boeckel, the calcitriol is vital. “If it lacks or have too much of it, it makes you seriously ill,” writes the internist in her guide “nutrient therapy”. Calcidiol is also important, but “we don’t die in a defect,” says Orfanos-Boeckel.

As the Society for Applied Vitamin Research (GVF) writes, vitamin D is not only relevant for the preservation of bones and teeth, but is also required for the muscles, a powerful immune system and the regulation of calcium level. It also seems important for the nerve metabolism and is therefore also an important vitamin for the psyche.

Symptoms: When do you speak of a deficiency?

The vitamin D content in the body is determined using the blood values. The decisive factor is the 25-hydroxyvitamin d. However, these values ​​”are subject to strong seasonal fluctuations,” writes the Robert Koch Institute (RKI). If too low values ​​are measured, this does not mean that there is a long-term vitamin D deficiency. According to the RKI, there is only talk of a defect if the body could not produce vitamin D over a longer period of time – this is the case in this country, for example, in winter – and the symptoms are clearly commented.

From the blood values ​​of a defect depends on the source. Kai-J. Lüthgens from Labor Enders Speaks of a vitamin D deficiency from the values ​​of less than 20 nanograms per milliliter, while the RKI still speaks of “suboptimal care”. Everything below 10 nanograms per milliliter is considered a severe vitamin D deficiency and can have serious consequences. According to Helena Orfanos-Boeckel, the recommended mirror lies with blood values ​​of over 30 nanograms per milliliter.

According to the internist, the healthy target values ​​are 50 to 70 nanograms. The RKI already speaks of a possible oversupply from the blood values ​​of over 50 nanograms per milliliter. On request, Kai-J. Lüthgens, specialist for laboratory medicine in Stuttgart: “There are hardly any different information and recommendations on the normal range as with 25-oh vitamin D.”

Vitamin D deficiency: What symptoms can appear in children and adolescents?

According to the Society for Vitamin Research (GVF), vitamin D is required, among other things, to build the bones and teeth and for a powerful immune system. A deficiency can be noticeable based on serious symptoms. Children can train rachitis in the event of severe chronic deficiency. In the case of the disease, the bone substance is weakened and the legs can lead to strong deformations. According to the RKI, a defect in children can also trigger the following symptoms:

• Bone growth disorders
• reduced muscle strength
• Muscle weakness
• Muscle cramps
• higher susceptibility to infections

According to the medical specialist lexicon MSD Manual, muscle cramps can occur especially in infants if the mother has already suffered from a vitamin D deficiency. This is then transferred to the child because it does not absorb enough vitamin D via breast milk. According to the MSD Manual, muscle cramps in infants are often the first sign of rachitis. The cramps also appear on the face or in hands and feet.

From the age of one year, children who suffer from rachitis, O and X legs or curvature of the spine can develop in children who suffer from vitamin D deficiency. O or X legs can also occur as a symptom for young people in the event of a severe vitamin D deficiency. You can also have pain when walking.

Vitamin D deficiency: Overview of symptoms of adults

A vitamin D deficiency has a strong impact on bone health. This also applies to adults. According to the RKI, the following symptoms can occur:

• Bone pain
• Deformations of the supporting bones
• Muscle weakness
• Force reduction

According to the MSD Manual, the spine, the pelvis and legs can become weak.

The RKI writes that studies found a connection between a vitamin D deficiency and high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus type 2 or cancer. Whether the vitamin D deficiency is actually the cause would have to be investigated. Finally, the German Cancer Research Center evaluated some studies and came to an exciting result: Vitamin D should be able to increase the chance of survival for cancer.

Low vitamin D status is also associated with higher susceptibility to infect, neurological diseases, intestinal inflammation and an increased risk of stroke, since patients with these diseases often had inadequate vitamin D levels.

Pharmacist Hugo Schurgast and Professor Michael Zimmermann list the following symptoms in their guide “Burgerstein Handbook nutrients”:

• Skin and hair: Skin problems such as acne, neurodermatitis and psoriasis, hair loss, hives, white skin stains (vitiligo).
• Fertility: Problems with fertility in men and women, erection problems, low testosterone levels, difficulties in artificial fertilization.
• Respiratory diseases: Frequent infections such as tonsillitis and pneumonia, respiratory diseases such as COPD, lung problems in premature babies.
• Gastrointestinal: Inflammatory bowel diseases, irritable bowel, gastric bacteria (helicobacter pylori), stomach ulcers (can be reduced by vitamin D or better treated).
• Leber: Fat liver (without alcohol), liver damage, increased risk of liver cirrhosis and liver diseases such as hepatitis B.
• Psyche: Depression, concentration problems (ADHD), autism, serious mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, irritability.
• Sleep: Sleep quality, breathing interfers in sleep (sleep apnea).
• Teeth, gums, mouth: Frequent inflammation in the mouth, sensitive or damaged gums, poor dental health.

Seniors suffer from these symptoms with vitamin D deficiency

In older patients, long -term undersupply can contribute to osteopenia (low bone density) or osteoporosis (bone loss) in accordance with the GVF. Bone breaks can occur more often – even with slight vibrations.

According to the MSD Manual, seniors need higher amounts of vitamin D than younger people because the skin no longer produces as much vitamin D, even if they are outdoors.

Prevent symptoms: Who should have your vitamin D level tested?

People with chronic diseases in the digestive tract or with liver or kidney diseases should have their vitamin D levels examined. Some medications can also affect vitamin D metabolism, for example antiepileptics or cytostatics.

According to the RKI, not only people with certain diseases belong to the risk group, but also:

• People who are rare outdoors. Only a small part of the daily requirement is covered with nutrition. The rest comes over the sun’s rays. Incidentally, a myth persists: Avocados have no vitamin D.
• People who cover themselves for religious or cultural reasons.
• People with darker skin types who are not very sensitive to UV. Due to the high pigmentation of the skin, more UV rays are required to produce vitamin D. In Germany, the exposure required is difficult even in summer.

Vitamin D: Symptoms of an overdose

With acute vitamin D overdosing, the following symptoms can occur according to the MSD Manual:

• Lack of appetite
• nausea
• Vomit
• Feeling of weakness
• nervousness
• Hypertension

With a longer overdose, the calcium content in the blood is too high. The body then stores the trace element in kidneys and lungs, among other things. The surplus is treated by discontinuing the vitamin D tablets.

If you are interested in vitamin D, you can read on here: Take vitamin D correctly, you should know.

By the way: The word “side effect” is strictly wrong for vitamin D.