Vitamin D Deficiency (Not Enough Vitamin D)

Mrs Majid March 10, 2025

Why Do People Get Vitamin D Deficiency?
People can have low vitamin D if:

They don’t get enough vitamin D from food.
They don’t go out in the sun much.
Their kidneys can’t turn vitamin D into the form their body needs.
Their body can’t absorb vitamin D from food properly.

Also, people who are allergic to milk, can’t digest lactose (the sugar in milk), or eat only plant-based foods (like vegans and some vegetarians) may not get enough vitamin D.

What Happens to Kids Without Enough Vitamin D?
When children don’t have enough vitamin D, they can get a disease called rickets.

Rickets makes their bones soft and weak.
Their bones may bend or grow the wrong way.
They may have bone pain, grow slowly, and have problems with their teeth.
Some babies may have seizures (shaking), muscle spasms, and heart problems.

Rickets is more common in babies who:

Are only breastfed and don’t get extra vitamin D.
Have darker skin (like Black children) because dark skin makes less vitamin D from the sun.

What Happens to Adults Without Enough Vitamin D?
Adults can get osteomalacia, which makes their bones soft and weak too.
They may have:

Bone pain and deformities.
Muscle spasms and seizures.
Problems with teeth.

Is Rickets Still Common?
Long ago, rickets was very common. But when people started adding vitamin D to milk and foods like cereals and margarine, rickets became rare in the U.S.
However, now rickets is coming back in some countries, including the U.S. and Europe, especially among people from Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. This might be because of different genes, foods they eat, or spending less time in the sun.
Should Everyone Get Tested for Vitamin D Deficiency?
Some doctors check vitamin D levels during regular checkups. But experts say there isn’t enough proof that testing everyone makes people healthier. So, it’s not recommended to test every person for vitamin D deficiency if they don’t have symptoms. Learn more

vitamins