The importance of vitamin D to good health is well documented.  A sufficient amount is helpful in boosting the body’s immune system, regulating blood pressure and maintaining calcium balance.  Vitamin D is commonly known to be absorbed through the skin from sunlight or taken as supplements.  It can also be found in some foods like egg yolks, cream and butter.

In the United State, fluid milk, evaporated milk and most dried milk has been enriched with vitamin D.  Also, orange juice and cereal products are fortified with this vitamin.  The food source which has the highest concentration is fish liver oil.  Even so, recent studies suggest a huge increase of Americans who are deficient in this vitamin.  The studies further revealed that as many as three-quarters of teens and adults in this country are deficient.

Vitamin D deficiency has adverse affects on the entire body.  The symptoms of this deficiency include, but are not limited to:

  • Depression
  • Weight loss
  • Diabetes
  • Heart disease
  • Muscle weakness

Another symptom that a shortage of vitamin D can cause is susceptibility to autoimmune diseases.  These conditions include rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes and multiple sclerosis patients.  Changes in vitamin D levels influence no less than 229 human genes, as discovered by researchers in Canada and the UK.  This same study indicated that worldwide one billion people are affected by this deficiency.

Osteomalacia is yet another vitamin D deficiency concern.  This extreme condition causes abnormal bone malformation and softening.  Phosphorus and calcium deficiencies can also result in this condition.  It is treated with vitamin D and calcium supplements.  Osteomalacia has been known to occur more commonly after the winter season, when exposure to sunlight has been restricted.

Strict vegetarians are one common group of people susceptible to this deficiency.  This is because, as a whole, they do not ingest dairy foods which are fortified with vitamin D.

Alcoholics, darker skinned people as well as liver or kidney disease patients are also at increased risk.  Another common risk group is people who have inadequate pancreatic function, such cystic fibrosis or pancreatitis.  In pregnant women, pelvic contractions cause by rickets can occur as well as perinatal death.

According to the National Institute of Health Office, the level of vitamin D added to food is specified by law.

Because the vitamin is extremely stable, foods which have been fortified with vitamin D will not deteriorate if warmed or kept for a long time.  Such products will usually indicate that it is stable to oxidation and heat on the packaging.  Eating these foods has been known to cause improvement in vitamin D levels in the body.

The prevention of this deficiency, in most cases, can be achieved through eating healthy food. In fact, dietary guidelines point out food should supply most nutrient needs as it contains compounds which are beneficial to health.  There are instances when supplements to the diet are necessary.  A doctor can assess which course of action is best according to patient need and medical history.