From the Guidelines
Vitamin D deficiency often presents with subtle symptoms including bone pain, muscle weakness, fatigue, and mood changes like depression, and treatment typically involves vitamin D supplementation with dosages varying based on deficiency severity. The symptoms of low vitamin D can be diverse, including:
- Bone pain
- Muscle weakness
- Fatigue
- Mood changes like depression
- Increased susceptibility to infections
- Hair loss
- Delayed wound healing
Treatment options for vitamin D deficiency, as recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force 1, include:
- Oral vitamin D supplementation, with commonly available forms being vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) and vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol)
- Increasing dietary vitamin D intake
- UVB exposure, although this is not generally recommended due to the increased risk of skin cancer
According to the Institute of Medicine, daily dietary vitamin D intake of 600 IU in adults aged 18 to 70 years and 800 IU in adults older than 70 years should be sufficient to meet the needs of 97.5% of the adult population 1. The most effective treatment approach is oral vitamin D supplementation, with dosages ranging from 1,000-2,000 IU of vitamin D3 daily for moderate deficiency, and higher therapeutic doses of 50,000 IU weekly for 6-8 weeks followed by maintenance therapy for severe cases. Increasing sun exposure and consuming vitamin D-rich foods like fatty fish, egg yolks, and fortified dairy products can also help maintain adequate levels 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
The early and late signs and symptoms of vitamin D intoxication associated with hypercalcemia include: Early: weakness, headache, somnolence, nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, constipation, muscle pain, bone pain, metallic taste, and anorexia, abdominal pain or stomach ache Late: polyuria, polydipsia, anorexia, weight loss, nocturia, conjunctivitis (calcific), pancreatitis, photophobia, rhinorrhea, pruritus, hyperthermia, decreased libido, elevated BUN, albuminuria, hypercholesterolemia, elevated SGOT (AST) and SGPT (ALT), ectopic calcification, nephrocalcinosis, hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias, dystrophy, sensory disturbances, dehydration, apathy, arrested growth, urinary tract infections, and, rarely, overt psychosis.
The symptoms of low vitamin D are not directly stated in the provided drug labels, but the symptoms of vitamin D intoxication or hypercalcemia are listed. To determine the symptoms of low vitamin D, we would need to look at the opposite of the symptoms of hypercalcemia or vitamin D intoxication. However, the provided drug labels do not directly support this answer. Key points about vitamin D deficiency symptoms cannot be drawn from the provided information. No conclusion can be made about the symptoms of low vitamin D based on the given drug labels 2.
From the Research
Symptoms of Vitamin D Deficiency
- The symptoms of vitamin D deficiency are unspecific and very common, making it challenging for physicians to diagnose 3
- Chronic deficiency is associated with rickets/osteomalacia/osteoporosis, as well as a higher risk of hypertension, type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, or cancer 4
- Vitamin D deficiency can cause a variety of health issues, but the effects of vitamin D supplements have had mixed results 5
Treatment Options for Vitamin D Deficiency
- Increasing consumption of foods naturally containing and fortified with vitamin D can rarely treat hypovitaminosis D 3
- Vitamin D supplementation may be beneficial, but the intake of vitamin D should be under the supervision of health professionals to avoid overdosing 4
- Dietary supplements of vitamin D are usually recommended, as an adequate intake of vitamin D is hard to achieve through diet alone 6
- Government and scientific societies have published their recommendations for vitamin D intake, which vary from 400-1000 IU/d (10-25 μg/d) for an average adult 7
Sources of Vitamin D
- Vitamin D can be endogenously synthesized under ultraviolet B radiation in the skin, or ingested through dietary supplements and dietary sources 6
- Rich sources of vitamin D include fish, mushrooms, Reindeer lichen, and fish liver oils, as well as fortified foods such as milk, yoghurt, and orange juice 6
- Dark chocolate, cheese, beef liver, and eggs are also dietary sources of vitamin D, although in smaller amounts 6