What Causes Vitamin D Deficiency?

If you’re a vegan, lack exposure to sunlight, or are an older adult, you may be at risk of vitamin D deficiency.

Considering vitamin D, otherwise known as the “sunshine” vitamin, is one of the most important nutrients we need for normal functioning of our body, it’s surprising that it’s also one of the most lacked nutrients.

It has been reported that vitamin D insufficiency affects close to 50% of the global population because of lifestyle and environmental factors.¹

Insufficient vitamin D intake can lead to all kinds of problems, and eventually to a more serious deficiency, which can lead to negative consequences on our bone health.¹

This article sets out to shed some “sunshine” on the common causes of vitamin D deficiency, the health complications of insufficient intake, who is more at risk of deficiency, and how best to combat this risk!

Firstly, let’s take a look at why vitamin D is important.

The Importance of Vitamin D

Vitamin D is essential for many important processes in the body, including:

• Helping to absorb calcium to maintain healthy bones and teeth
• Protecting us from bone diseases
• Ensuring proper functioning of our muscles
• Helping our immune system and nervous system function
• Aiding cell growth²

We get vitamin D mostly from sunlight, which is why it’s referred to as the “sunshine vitamin”. We synthesize vitamin D through exposure to sunlight (UV rays), though it is also found in small amounts in some foods, including:

• Oily fish
• Red meat
• Liver
• Egg yolks
• Fortified cereals, milks, and juices

As vitamin D is only found in small amounts in food, it can be difficult to get our recommended daily amount.

Additionally, as sunlight is our primary source of vitamin D, it’s no surprise that lack of sunlight, particularly in the winter months, results in insufficient vitamin D levels.

Though, what are the health risks of insufficient vitamin D, and vitamin D deficiency?

Health Risks of Vitamin D Deficiency

Consuming inadequate amounts of any nutrient would result in some kind of health issues, whether that be feeling fatigued, weak, or generally unwell.

Insufficient nutrient intake can often be addressed by making changes to your diet and lifestyle changes; however, nutrient deficiencies are a different battle altogether and can have more serious health implications.

Vitamin D deficiency can eventually lead to loss of bone density, which can contribute to the cause of bone diseases such as osteoporosis.²

Severe vitamin D deficiency can result in even worse consequences. In children, it can cause rickets, a rare disease that causes the bones to become soft and bend.²

In adults, a severe deficiency can lead to osteomalacia, which causes weak bones, weak muscles, and bone pain.

This is why it’s key to consume adequate amounts of vitamin D, and to address any potential insufficiencies.

So, what factors would cause a deficiency?

How to Get More Vitamin D

Vitamin D is likely one of the most highly recommended supplements, particularly through the winter months.

While we can definitely boost our levels by exposing ourselves to sunlight, and consuming more foods that contain vitamin D, supplementation on top of this is often necessary.

So, what is the best way to take it as a supplement?

Vitamin D can be found as a supplement in the form of vitamin D3, which is the most effective form.³

This can be taken as an individual supplement, or as part of a multivitamin, such as NutriGenesis® Multi, which provides 1000IU per day.

The current recommended daily allowance for vitamin D is 400-800IU per day, though this is even thought to be too low for adults.³

If you want to find out more about “How Much Vitamin D Do I need?”, check out our linked guide!