The National Institutes of Health (NIH)- Office of Dietary Supplements, defines vitamin D as a “nutrient found in some foods that is needed for health and to maintain strong bones. It does so by helping the body absorb calcium (one of the bone’s main building blocks) from food supplements.” Healthline explains that vitamin D is also called the “sunshine vitamin” because it is produced in the skin in response to sunlight and is fat-soluble “in a family of compounds that includes vitamins D1, D2, and D3.
Healthline also reports that while it is found in certain foods like fatty fish and fortified dairy products, our recommended daily intake of 400-800 IU of vitamin D is difficult to achieve through diet alone. Thus, vitamin D deficiency is a common health issue worldwide. This is more so for people with dark skin, who are elderly, overweight, and stay indoors, as these are some of the increased risk factors.
Some of the signs and symptoms of a vitamin D deficiency are:
- Frequent viral infections including colds and flu.
- Chronic fatigue and tiredness.
- Lower back and bone pain.
- Depression
- Slow wound healing.
- Bone loss.
- Hair loss.
- Muscle pain.
To schedule an appointment at any of our convenient Primary Medical Care Center community clinics, you may visit our website at www.primarymed.com, or call (305)751-1500 for our Miami-Dade clinic, or (954)289-0000 for our Broward clinic.
Source: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/vitamin-d-deficiency-symptoms#section4
https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-Consumer/#h1