What Causes Vitamin D Deficiency ?
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Vitamin D is an important vitamin that the body makes in the skin when the skin is exposed to sunlight. The vitamin helps in the absorption of potassium and calcium in the body. It also helps to strengthen the immune system of the body and plays a crucial role in bone formation and mineralization. Besides that, Vitamin D helps to regulate the hormones produced by the parathyroid gland.
The vitamin is primarily stored in the liver and it is soluble in fat. If you suffer from Vitamin D deficiency, you can end up with health issues like osteomalacia, rickets, osteoporosis, multiple sclerosis, cancer and elevated blood pressure.
So, what causes Vitamin D deficiency? Some of the common causes of Vitamin D deficiency are as follows:
As mentioned earlier, the vitamin is produced in the skin when the skin is exposed to sunlight or ultraviolet rays. Therefore, if you do not get sufficient amount of exposure to sunlight on a daily basis, you could end up with Vitamin D deficiency. Also, people who have dark skin can also suffer from a lack of this vitamin. This is primarily because the skin contains melanin, a pigment that prevents the ultraviolet rays from reaching the skin for the production of the vitamin. Therefore, people with dark skin are more prone to Vitamin D deficiency. Also, people who use a lot of sunscreen or wear thick full length clothes have the same problem.
Another cause of Vitamin D deficiency is not eating food that contain Vitamin D. This means not eating fruits, green leafy vegetables and dairy products. Sometimes, even if you consume these foods, you may have intestinal problem that inhibits the absorption of the vitamin. This is commonly seen in people who are suffering from celiac disease.
At times the body is not able to convert the vitamin into its active form. This can be due to a liver disease, kidney disease or even a hereditary condition. Certain medications like the ones used to control cholesterol or treat ulcers also tend to cause a lack of Vitamin D in the body.
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