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Causes of Vitamin D Deficiency

The sun is a major contributor to our acquirement of vitamin D. However, while we all love sitting in sunshine, we are continuously being warned about the potentially damaging affects of our nearest burning star. Not only are we advised to seek shade, but some of us live in parts of the world famous for lack of sunshine, making a sunny day a rare occurrence. However, sunlight is not our only source of vitamin D and there are many causes of vitamin D deficiency.

Why Do We Need Vitamin D?

Vitamin D is vital to our bodies for numerous reasons. It is a powerful antioxidant and anti-carcinogen. It aids our bodies’ calcium absorption, making sure we have strong healthy teeth and bones. It also maintains the immune system, nourishes skin, hair and nails and is said to be preventative for numerous conditions such as depression, diabetes and some cancers. With this in mind, what causes vitamin D deficiency and what can we do to absorb more?

Causes of Vitamin D Deficiency

Nutrition- Like all vitamins, vitamin D is absorbed through the food that we eat. If our diet is not varied or missing essential nutrients, it is likely that we will miss out on all vital vitamins.

A strict vegan diet could potentially lead to not having enough vitamin D, as it is found in foods such as meat, fish and eggs. If you are following a vegetarian diet, you can absorb vitamin D through dairy products. However vitamin D can also be found in some grains such as wheat, oats, wheat germ as well as nuts.

Sun- The sun is a vital source of vitamin D. Not surprising we need it, considering all life on earth would not exist without it.

Not getting enough sunlight exposure can lead to vitamin D deficiency. Many factors can contribute to not getting enough sunlight. For example, the seasons, latitude, time of day or sunscreen can all affect the amount of ultraviolet ray exposure we receive reducing our supply of vitamin D.

Aging- As we age, our bodies change and can cease to function effectively in absorbing and breaking down certain vital minerals and vitamins.

This may happen if the digestive tract cannot absorb the vitamin or the kidneys cannot convert vitamin D.

Medical Conditions- Some conditions are also contribute to low levels of vitamin D, such as chronic pancreatitis, celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, cystic fibrosis, gastric or small bowel resections, fistulas, colitis, renal disease or a malfunctioning parathyroid gland.

Vitamin D is important for many functions of the human body. If you think you may suffer from vitamin D deficiency, it would be a good idea to see a nutritionist or health professional to get some advice with regard to your diet and investigate the potential causes. In the mean time, make sure you are doing what you can to provide a sufficient amount of vitamin D for your body.

About the author: The article ‘Causes of Vitamin D Deficiency’  has been written by  Outofstress.com Expert Author ‘Iva Dragostinova’. All rights reserved. If you want to reproduce this article in your ezine or website, please send a request at ‘reprints@outofstress.com’