Who is most likely to have vitamin D deficiency?
Vitamin D deficiency is currently underdiagnosed in the United States. Talk to your health-care professional. If you are at risk of vitamin D deficiency, a simple blood test can determine whether or not vitamin D deficiency is present. This test is not recommended for everyone but is commonly used for people who may have signs of weakened bones or who may have risk factors for vitamin D deficiency.
Can vitamin D deficiency be treated?
Fortunately, vitamin D deficiency is easy to treat with a variety of supplement preparations. Because abnormally high doses of vitamin D can be toxic, it is important to discuss dosages of vitamin D with your health-care professional, who can determine a course of vitamin D supplementation that is best for you.
- Those who have limited sun exposure are at risk for abnormally ow levels of vitamin D, as are people who do not consume dietary sources of vitamin D, particularly in combination with low sun exposure. Human milk and most infant formulas have only very low levels of vitamin D. However, exposure to the sun is not recommended as a source of vitamin D for infants and children due to the long-term risks of skin cancer. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends vitamin D supplementation starting at 2 months of age for exclusively breastfed infants.
- Some gastrointestinal diseases and condition affect the body's ability to absorb vitamin D from foods. These include gastric bypass surgery, cystic fibrosis, celiac disease, and Crohn's disease.
- People with kidney or liver disease may have lower levels of vitamin D because these organs play a vital role in creating the biologically active form of vitamin D in the body.
- Those with dark skin may have a decreased ability to synthesize vitamin D in response to sunlight. The skin pigment melanin has been shown to inhibit the production of vitamin D by the skin.
- People who are obese (have a BMI of 30 or greater) may have lower levels of vitamin D because fat cells extract vitamin D from the blood.
Vitamin D deficiency is currently underdiagnosed in the United States. Talk to your health-care professional. If you are at risk of vitamin D deficiency, a simple blood test can determine whether or not vitamin D deficiency is present. This test is not recommended for everyone but is commonly used for people who may have signs of weakened bones or who may have risk factors for vitamin D deficiency.
Can vitamin D deficiency be treated?
Fortunately, vitamin D deficiency is easy to treat with a variety of supplement preparations. Because abnormally high doses of vitamin D can be toxic, it is important to discuss dosages of vitamin D with your health-care professional, who can determine a course of vitamin D supplementation that is best for you.
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