Four out of 10 people living in the U.S. likely have a vitamin D deficiency. And, if you’re deficient in vitamin D, you probably don’t feel very well. The good news is, it’s an easy fix. UnityPoint Health Medical Director Julia Jenkins, DO, breaks down the deficiency and offers her expert medical advice, including good sources of vitamin D, to keep you feeling amazing year-round.
What Does Vitamin D Do?
Vitamin D has a lot of health benefits. It is key in absorbing calcium to maintain bone health and strengthen your bones, which helps fight against osteoporosis. But more than that, it also helps support a healthy brain, heart, teeth and lungs. Vitamin D keeps your immune system strong and can help regulate insulin levels. It keeps your energy levels up and enhances your mood, too.
Newer studies suggest low levels of vitamin D can be linked to numerous health problems including diabetes, pain in your muscles and bones, high blood pressure, multiple sclerosis and even some types of cancer. Studies of children receiving vitamin D supplements during the winter suggest a reduced risk of Influenza A.
Can Vitamin D Prevent/Treat COVID-19?
“There is a lot of interest in how vitamin D could potentially help prevent or even treat COVID-19. We know that vitamin D is an important part of the body’s immune system, both by making it stronger in general, and by preventing it from overreacting when challenged with an infection. If you do get diagnosed with a COVID-19 infection, consider asking your doctor if you should take a vitamin D supplement,” Dr. Jenkins says.
Everyone should be vitamin D aware during the COVID-19 pandemic. The public health requests to stay home may be causing you to stay indoors more, which can lead to low vitamin D levels. Anyone with a known vitamin D deficiency should follow the recommendations of their doctor regarding supplements, evaluations and lab work to ensure the deficiency is corrected.
If you don’t have a vitamin D deficiency, or don’t know if you are vitamin D deficient, it’s still a good idea to include foods in your diet with naturally occurring or fortified vitamin D. There can be consequences to taking too much vitamin D, so high levels of vitamin D supplements aren’t meant for the average person.
What are Vitamin D Deficiency Symptoms?
The symptoms of vitamin D deficiency are often very subtle, so many people don’t know they are deficient. But, some of the effects of vitamin D deficiency include:
- Fatigue or tiredness
- Bone pain
- Joint pain
- Muscle pain
- Sour mood
- Low energy
- More frequent illness
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Weight gain
- Hair loss
Vitamin D deficiency in babies and children can lead to a disease called Rickets. It is a serious bone problem causing bowed legs. Dr. Jenkins says low vitamin D levels in children have also been associated with allergies, asthma and eczema. In adults, it can lead to osteoporosis or osteopenia (soft bones).
Who is More at Risk for a Vitamin D Deficiency?
People who spend most of their time indoors, such as older individuals, or those who live in a facility like a nursing home, have increased risk. People with darker skin, or those with light skin who minimize exposure to sunlight, are also at risk. Certain medical conditions can increase the likelihood of vitamin D deficiency. Those with GI tract diseases, like celiac disease, and those who’ve had bariatric surgery, are more likely to have a deficiency. Finally, people with chronic kidney and liver disease are at risk.
How Much Vitamin D Do I Need Per Day?
There are three ways to improve the amount of vitamin D in your system. Simply adding an over-the-counter vitamin D supplement can make improvements in just three to four months’ time. Vitamin D with a strength of 2000 international units daily is the recommended dose for most adults. However, you’ll want to chat with your doctor to find what’s right for you.
What Foods Have Vitamin D?
You can also get more vitamin D from foods by adjusting your regular diet. Some vitamin D food sources include:
- Fatty fish like salmon, tuna, herring or sardines
- Cheese
- Milk
- Egg yolks
- Beef liver
- Cod liver oil
- Shrimp
- Mushrooms
Other processed foods with added vitamin D usually say “fortified with vitamin D” on the package. These products include dairy products, orange juice and cereal.
Can I Get Enough Vitamin D From The Sun?
Finally, you can take in vitamin D by spending time outside in the sunshine. People in the Midwest may not be able to get enough vitamin D from sunlight alone. It breaks down very rapidly, so in colder months, when we don’t see the sun frequently, we likely don’t get enough natural vitamin D production. If you are using the sunshine for a vitamin D boost, you only need about 10-15 minutes in direct sun to reap the benefits. Remember, too much sun is a risk factor of skin cancer. Wear sunscreen and you’ll still get your daily dose.
How Can I Test for Vitamin D Deficiency?
To check for a deficiency, a simple blood test will do the trick. Talk to your doctor about getting the test scheduled with your lab. “The most accurate way to measure how much vitamin D is in your body is the 25-hydroxy vitamin D blood test. Many experts place the ideal level between 40 and 80 ng/mL with levels below 20 ng/mL as deficient,” Dr. Jenkins says.
However, you’ll want to check with your insurance company before getting too far down the road. Dr. Jenkins says, in her experience, the test isn’t always covered and it could set you back 100 to 200 dollars. “There are also at-home vitamin D test kits you can order online. I see more patients doing these types of tests to save money and time. The average kits can cost anywhere between 70 and 120 dollars,” Dr. Jenkins says.
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