by Tim Harry

Created on: July 21, 2008   Last Updated: May 17, 2010

Vitamin D is an essential element of a healthy body. One of the thirteen vitamins needed by the human body, a deficiency of Vitamin D can lead to issues in both teeth and bones.

It is actually unusual to have a deficiency in Vitamin D as the impact of sunlight on the skin allows the body to create the vitamin. It doesn't matter whether it is a cloudy day as the UV rays still enables the body to produce the required amount. Additionally Vitamin D can also be found in oily and fatty fish, like Salmon and Tuna, liver, dairy products and cod liver oil. Despite the ease in which it is possible to get sufficient levels of the vitamin into the body, it is not unknown for people to suffer from Vitamin D deficiency.

There is a range of reasons why someone might be suffering from Vitamin D deficiency. The most likely cause is a lake of intake, combined with a lack of sunlight exposure. There are many people who work during the night, and thus sleep during the day, and can therefore miss out on a large number of hours of natural sunlight. This is generally easily resolved through increased intake of supplements or Vitamin D rich foods as well as time spent outside during daylight hours. Even a few hours before or after going to sleep can make a huge difference for those working during the night. It is though difficult for that small number of people who cannot go outside through afflictions related to exposure to sunlight. .

There are other causes of Vitamin D deficiency though and there are actually a number of medical disorders, including Crohn's disease and cystic fibrosis, which will prevent the body from being able to absorb the vitamin. There are also a number of kidney and liver disorders that will prevent the body from converting the vitamin as the body requires. Drug use, as well as steroid abuse, can also impact on the body's natural ability to absorb Vitamin D.

It should though be fairly easy to diagnose if someone is suffering from Vitamin D deficiency. Must sufferers will experience muscle pain as well as a generally feeling of fatigue. Doctors may also diagnose a deficiency if they see a patient who is vulnerable to a large number of breaks of the bone, due to weak bones.

It may not seem immediately obvious why a deficiency of Vitamin D may cause a problem, but the vitamin does play a vital role in the body's organ systems. Vitamin D plays a key role in ensuring that the immune system works as it should, as well as allowing for the formation of bones as they should. Thus deficiency can lead to many bone softening diseases, including osteomalacia in grown ups, and the more common disease of rickets in children. These impacts though have long been known, there has been though been more recent research showing further issues with Vitamin D deficiency. The most recent studies have indicated a link to colon cancer, breast cancer, as well heart attacks in men.

In general terms though, a deficiency of Vitamin D can normally be easily resolved with a boost in intake. Where there are further complications then it should also be possible for medical treatment to resolve the issues involved.

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