| Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that | | | | adults. Rickets results when the lack of |
| possesses both the characteristics of a | | | | vitamin D affects the body's ability to |
| vitamin and a hormone. It is necessary for | | | | absorb calcium and phosphorus. Early signs of |
| growth, especially for normal growth and | | | | a deficiency include nervousness, painful |
| development of bones and teeth in children. | | | | muscle spasms, leg cramps, and numbness of |
| | | | the arms and legs. |
| It protects against muscle weakness and is | | | | |
| involved in regulation of the heartbeat. It | | | | Eventually, malformations of the bones may |
| is also important in the prevention and | | | | develop due to bone softening. Bowed legs, |
| treatment of breast and colon cancer, | | | | knock-knees, scoliosis, a narrow rib cage, a |
| osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and | | | | protruding breastbone, and/or beading at the |
| hypocalcemia. It enhances immunity and is | | | | ends of the ribs as well as tooth decay, |
| necessary for thyroid function and normal | | | | delayed walking, irritability, restlessness, |
| blood clotting. | | | | and profuse sweating. Fortunately, rickets is |
| | | | now very rare in the U.S. It is usually seen |
| It can be found in three forms including | | | | in children aged six to twenty-four months. |
| vitamin D2 (ergocaliciferol) which comes from | | | | |
| food sources, vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) | | | | Vitamin D deficiency in adults is referred to |
| which is synthesized in the skin as a | | | | as osteomalacia and is most often related to |
| response to the exposure to the sun's | | | | the body's inability to properly absorb |
| ultraviolet rays, and a synthetic form | | | | phosphorous and calcium. It is most likely to |
| vitamin D5. Vitamin D3 is considered the | | | | occur in pregnant women and nursing mothers, |
| natural form and is the most active. | | | | whose nutritional requirements are higher |
| | | | than normal, or individuals with |
| Ergocaliciferol, the form we get from food, | | | | malabsorption problems. |
| is not fully active and requires conversion | | | | |
| by the liver and kidneys to become fully | | | | Osteomalacia may also affect people whose |
| active. This is why people with liver or | | | | diets are extremely low in fat such that |
| kidney disorders have a higher risk for | | | | adequate bile cannot be manufactured and |
| developing osteoporosis. | | | | vitamin D cannot be absorbed. This condition |
| | | | can be caused by kidney failure. It is |
| Exposing the skin to the sun's ultraviolet | | | | difficult to diagnose osteomalacia and it |
| rays causes a cholesterol compound in the | | | | often misdiagnosed as osteoporosis. |
| skin to be transformed into a precursor of | | | | |
| vitamin D. Exposing the face and arms to the | | | | Less severe deficiencies may result in loss |
| sun for fifteen minutes three times a week is | | | | of appetite, a burning sensation in the mouth |
| an effective way to ensure an adequate amount | | | | and throat, diarrhea, insomnia, vision |
| of vitamin D for the body. | | | | problems, and weight loss. The New England |
| | | | Journal of Medicine published a study which |
| However, it has been found by researchers | | | | reported there are indications that vitamin D |
| that the limited amount of sunlight during | | | | deficiency is much more widespread than |
| the winter months in the upper third of the | | | | previously thought. This is especially the |
| U.S. continent cannot produce adequate | | | | case in older adults. |
| amounts by exposure to sunlight. Therefore, | | | | |
| supplementation is required to ensure | | | | In a group of people who had few risk factors |
| adequate amounts during the winter months. | | | | for deficiency, 57% were found to have |
| | | | below-normal levels of vitamin D and 67% of |
| A severe deficiency of vitamin D can cause | | | | those who reported a vitamin D intake below |
| rickets in children and osteomalacia in | | | | the RDI had moderate to severe deficiencies. |