Half of the population in the U.S. suffers from vitamin D deficiency even though many people are not even aware of the symptoms. Here are five warning signs of vitamin D deficiency that may put people at risk for developing medical conditions such as cancer.
1. Head sweating
Head sweating for no apparent reason is a classic sign of vitamin D deficiency, according to Natural News. This particular warning is actually the way pediatricians can tell if a baby is low in vitamin D.
2. Psoriasis
Vitamin D plays an important role in the treatment of psoriasis, which is an autoimmune disorder. Many experts recommend a daily dose of fermented cod liver oil, as many do not realize that psoriasis is largely related to vitamin D deficiency.
3. Mood swings and depression
The brain hormone serotonin, which is responsible for mood elevation, increases upon exposure to the sun and decreases upon lack of exposure to the sun. Since sunlight is the cheapest form of vitamin D, the lack of it can lead to mood swings.
Studies have also shown that depression is a physical reaction of vitamin D deficiency. A 2006 study confirmed that 80 elderly patients with the lowest levels of vitamin D were 11 times more likely to experience depression.
4. Muscle weakness and exhaustion
A study from Harvard University stated that vitamin D deficiency could cause muscle weakness especially in people over the age of 60. The National Institutes of Health also reported that a vitamin D deficient person would have problems with proper muscle functions.
Vitamin D is also important for the body to be able to produce energy, according to the Healthy Home Economist. People who are diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome are generally low in vitamin D, which can explain why people who are vitamin D deficient often experience exhaustion.
5. Aching joints and bone pain
A study conducted by Greg Plotnikoff, MD, senior consultant at the Allina Center for Health Care Innovations said that 93 percent of people who complain of chronic pain tested positive for extremely low vitamin D. Calcium cannot be absorbed by the body without enough vitamin D which explains why the skeletal system may suffer from vitamin D deficiency.
