5 unusual symptoms caused by vitamin D deficiency

In Lithuania, we constantly hear that we, who live in the northern part of Europe, are constantly lacking in vitamin D, surrounded by myths and legends. We probably all know that we get enough vitamin D in the summer, but in other seasons, vitamin D is quite foreign to us. And unfortunately, we don't accumulate enough vitamin D during the summer. Therefore, in order not only to not experience the symptoms caused by vitamin D deficiency, but also to take advantage of the benefits of vitamin D, we must take care of the amount of this vitamin in our bodies.

There is a lot of information on the Internet about the symptoms caused by vitamin D deficiency - pain in the joints, muscles, fatigue, illness. But did you know that there are a number of symptoms caused by vitamin D that few people talk about? In this article, we will share 5 unusual symptoms caused by vitamin D deficiency.

1. Skin condition problems
Lack of vitamin D on the skin is usually manifested by skin redness, dryness, and itching. However, these are not the only symptoms that can be caused by a lack of this vitamin. The consequences can be much more complex, for example, a lack of vitamin D due to a change in hormones can cause and promote acne and accelerate skin wrinkling. And while the milder symptoms (redness, dryness, and itching) will be eliminated by increasing the vitamin D rate, the more complicated symptoms may not be relieved so easily. So you should try to get ahead of the events.

2. Hair loss (alopecia)
Hair loss, or alopecia, is an autoimmune disorder that causes the immune system to attack and destroy hair follicles. As a result of these processes in the body, our hair on the head (and sometimes on the whole body) begins to thin or fall out. You probably have a question - how exactly does vitamin D affect this? Vitamin D is metabolized in our skin by keratinocytes, i.e. i.e. skin cells that process keratin, a protein found in hair, skin, and nails. When the body does not get enough vitamin D, the keratinocytes in the hair follicles cannot regulate hair growth and shedding.

3. Depression
Although there is no study that proves a direct link between depression and vitamin D deficiency, anecdotal evidence suggests this conclusion. A study by Malaysian researchers, "Vitamin D and Depression: Evidence for an Indirect Treatment Strategy," indicates that a large proportion of people with depression also have low levels of vitamin D in their blood. Also, some studies show that some people experience reductions in depressive symptoms when their vitamin D levels are increased.

4. Insomnia or hypersomnia
Lack of vitamin D is often associated with sleep disorders and poor sleep quality. Deficiency can manifest in both insomnia and hypersomnia (sleepiness). Vitamin D in children and adults can also make it harder to fall asleep, shorten sleep duration, and promote nighttime awakenings. This is because vitamin D receptors are located in areas of the brain that regulate the sleep-wake cycle. This cycle is called the circadian rhythm, a natural, internal process that signals our body when we should get up or go to sleep.

5. Eczema
Many of us have probably come across red patches appearing on the skin that look like a rash. Meet Eczema, a non-infectious, chronic skin inflammation that makes our skin red, itchy and cracked. Vitamin D regulates both the immune system and skin barrier function. Both of these factors are extremely important for the development of eczema. Thus, regulating vitamin D levels can not only prevent the onset of eczema, but also alleviate an existing eczema problem.

Vitamin D for children - should we care?

In short, yes. Vitamin D is also an extremely important vitamin for children. In children, the lack of this vitamin can manifest itself in irritability, fatigue, bone and muscle pain, disturbed sleep and passivity. In addition to these relatively easy-to-treat symptoms, a child's lack of vitamin D can manifest itself in much more serious symptoms - delay in starting to walk, anemia, herpes.

Excess vitamin D can be dangerous
Too much vitamin D can increase the amount of calcium in your blood and lead to hypercalcemia, which can lead to weakened bones, liver stones, and heart and brain problems. Also, hypercalcemia can cause excessive urination, nausea, vomiting and general weakness.

Therefore, it is important for both adults and children, both in the warm and cold periods of the year, to monitor their vitamin D levels in the blood. This is easy to do with a vitamin D test. The price of the vitamin D test is not high compared to other tests, so it is recommended to perform this test a couple of times a year. Be healthy!