The Importance of Vitamin D
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that plays a vital role in helping bone formation. Vitamin D deficiency leads to osteoporosis in adults, rickets and arches in children, accompanied by chronic pain in the bones and muscles. The normal level is vitamin D 30 and above / L or 75 nm / l, and its benefits are:
- Plays an important role in maintaining calcium and phosphate levels in the blood and their deposition in the bones.
- It has a role in strengthening the immune system, and resisting the activity of cancer cells.
Sources of Vitamin D
- Sun rays are the main source of vitamin D, where most of the body is made when exposed directly to the skin.
- Natural food sources include eggs, meat, oily fish such as salmon, sardines, dairy products and some kinds of mushrooms.
- Vitamin D-fortified foods are added to foods such as powdered milk and cirilac for children.
The body gets vitamin D by the sun
Studies have shown that the best time to exposure to the sun is between 10 am to 3 pm, and the length of time required to exposure to the sun, according to several factors, including: skin color, as the owners of light skin need less time than the owners of dark skin, 15-20 minutes, with the need to expose the largest possible area of skin to the sun as well as focus on a specific area.
The most vulnerable groups of vitamin D deficiency
- Who are not exposed to sunlight for sufficient periods.
- Pregnant and lactating women. Pregnant women are required to take vitamin D supplements.
- Seniors aged 65 years and over.
- Babies at six months and five years of age are more likely to have vitamin D deficiency because they do not take milk in recommended amounts.
- Dark-skinned people.
Causes of vitamin D deficiency
- Do not be exposed to sunlight for sufficient periods as mentioned above.
- Progress in life The vitamin D-manufactured substance is lower in human skin.
- Menopause in women.
- Obesity, which leads to the accumulation of fat and poor distribution in the body.
- Liver, kidney and epilepsy patients.
- The presence of certain diseases in the intestine, leading to poor absorption in them.
Complications arising from vitamin D deficiency
- Complications in children are summarized as follows:
- The delay in walking and the appearance of teeth, where the lack of it reduces the absorption of calcium.
- Orthodontics of the legs and spine.
- As for adults, we summarize it as follows:
- Osteoporosis and osteoporosis are more prone to fractures, and joint friction increases.
- Increase the incidence of diabetes and high blood pressure.
- Weak muscles, especially in the elderly.
- The decrease is associated with increased incidence of depression and schizophrenia.
- Increased risk of rheumatism.
Symptoms Of Vitamin D Deficiency
- General fatigue and pain in the muscles and bones.
- Fractures in the bones and especially the hip joint in the elderly.
- Increase autoimmune diseases.
- Recent studies have shown that vitamin D deficiency is associated with the appearance of acne and hair loss.
Treatment of vitamin D deficiency
The patient is initially given tablets or capsules of 50,000 IU per week for eight weeks, and 5000 IU day after day for two months, then the vitamin D level is checked. If less than 30 ng the dose is repeated for eight weeks, 800-1000 IU or 50,000 units per month, with an emphasis on adequate exposure to direct sunlight for 15-20 minutes per day as mentioned above.