KEY POINTS

  • Vitamin D is very important for the proper functioning of a host of body processes
  • When you lack the vitamin, your body will exhibit it through certain symptoms
  • Having flu-like symptoms can be a sign of a deficiency 

The sunshine vitamin performs several crucial functions in your body. This includes regulating your body’s calcium and phosphate levels. These nutrients are very important as they help keep your teeth, muscles, and bones healthy. This means that deficiency in vitamin D can cause several health issues, particularly in these areas.

One of the most common problems associated with vitamin D deficiency is bone deformities, such as rickets in children and bone pain in adults due to a condition called osteomalacia. The sunshine vitamin also plays a big role in supporting the ability of the immune system to keep illness-causing viruses and bacteria at bay.

Vitamin D Deficiency Gives Rise to Flu-like Symptoms

A review examining the role being played by vitamin D in supporting vital functions of the immune system showed that it interacts directly with the cells in-charge of fighting infection. If you are becoming ill more often than normal and are experiencing flu-like or cold-like symptoms, the culprit may well below levels of vitamin D.

vitamin d deficiency flu like symptoms
vitamin d deficiency flu like symptoms Mojpe - Pixabay

Many large observational studies have provided evidence that supports this relationship. Researchers discovered there is a strong link between respiratory tract infections like pneumonia, bronchitis, or colds, and vitamin D deficiency.

Many studies found taking vitamin D supplement dosages of up to 4,000 IU per day lowers your risk of acquiring respiratory tract infections. In another study involving people suffering from chronic lung disorder or COPD, researchers discovered that only those who were found to be severely deficient in vitamin D experienced considerable benefits. This was after they took a high-dose vitamin D supplement for a year.

Other Symptoms of Vitamin D Deficiency

Aside from physical deformities, deficiency in vitamin D may also negatively impact your psychological wellbeing. In several review studies, researchers were able to establish the relationship between depression and deficiency in vitamin D, mostly in older adults.

In an analysis, researchers conclude that 65% of observational studies established a strong relationship between depression and low blood levels. Several controlled studies have also strengthened this conclusion by showing that providing vitamin D to deficient individuals helped improve depression. This includes the seasonal depression that usually happens during winter months.