Vitamin D is a vitamin that plays a very important role in the metabolism of calcium and phosphorus in our body, and is necessary for the development of our skeletal system and the healthy continuation of bone mineralization.
What Foods Contain Vitamin D?
Nutritionally, vitamin D is mostly found in fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, sardines, liver and egg yolk, parsley, broccoli, milk and dairy products.
The main source of vitamin D; It is the D3 form that is activated by the effect of sun rays on the skin.
Under normal conditions, 90%-95% of the vitamin D in the human body is synthesized in the skin by the effect of sunlight. Vitamin D taken with food is of no great importance.
Vitamin D deficiency affects all systems of the body and invites many diseases. Today’s living conditions, working indoors, spending less time outdoors, and malnutrition increase vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D deficiency is a factor that affects all age groups and causes important health problems.
What are the Findings that May Occur in Vitamin D Deficiency?
The most important symptom is retardation in growth and development. Frequent infections, diarrhea, flaking of the scalp, delayed healing of skin wounds, tooth decay, fatigue, weakness, headache, bone pain, behavioral disorders, swelling in the joint areas, bruises under detention, excessive sweating, difficulty in losing weight and constant chills are other common are symptoms.
In people with vitamin D deficiency; It can lead to health problems such as cancer, chronic fatigue, diabetes, hypertension, depression, rheumatism and heart diseases. Vitamin D deficiency also negatively affects bone density and can lead to a disease called rickets in children.
Rickets refers to the softening and weakening of bones due to vitamin D deficiency. This disease can cause permanent disorders in the bone structure such as curvature of the legs, thickening of the wrists and ankles, growth retardation, and breastbone deformities.
Sunlight is the main source of vitamin D and if it is used adequately, there is no need to take additional vitamin D, those who cannot benefit from the sun’s rays enough can be treated with drugs in the form of drops or ampoules.
High levels of vitamin D can lead to calcium deposits in organs and soft tissues. In addition, excess vitamin D can lead to increased calcium in the blood, kidney diseases, kidney stones and vascular problems. Excess vitamin D can cause poisoning, and kidney failure and heart failure as a result of this poisoning can cause death.
For this reason, before taking vitamin D treatment, a doctor should be consulted and the appropriate vitamin D deficiency treatment should be done in appropriate doses.