Vitamin D Deficiency
Why it Matters?
New research reveals that neonatal vitamin D levels may significantly influence the risk of developing neurodevelopmental disorders like ADHD, autism, and schizophrenia later in life.
What You Should Know?
Vitamin D (also referred to as calciferol) is a fat-soluble vitamin that is naturally present in a few foods.
The foods with the most vitamin D are fatty fish (like salmon and tuna), liver, mushrooms, eggs, and fish oils.
A healthy vitamin D levels range between 20 and 40 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL), with a blood test called 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) being the standard for measuring vitamin D status.
Major Causes of Deficiency:
Reduced sun exposure due to indoor lifestyles
Extreme climates (hot summers/cold winters) discourage outdoor activities, lowering UVB exposure.
Air pollution blocks Ultraviolet B (UVB) rays
Obesity traps Vitamin D in fat tissue, reducing its availability in the bloodstream.
Diabetes and other metabolic conditions impair Vitamin D absorption.
Low milk consumption (14% urban, 8% rural) impacts calcium absorption, worsening bone health.
Impacts of Vitamin D Deficiency:
Severe vitamin D deficiency leads to rickets in children, osteomalacia in adults, and osteoporosis in the elderly.
Deficiency weakens immunity, increasing infection risk and possibly triggering autoimmune disorders.
It is linked to higher chances of heart diseases, suggesting vitamin D’s role in heart health.