Six Side Effects of Vitamin D Deficiency

Vitamin D helps support a strong immune system and builds healthy bones. But what happens to your body if you don't get enough vitamin D? These are six things to be aware of if you become vitamin D deficient.

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Vitamin D helps keep the bones in your body healthy in multiple ways. It helps your body's absorption of calcium. If your body is deficient in iron, your bones may ache. It's a condition called osteomalacia, caused by inflammation will cause bone pain.

Another side effect of the deficiency is getting sick more often. Vitamin D directly interacts with the cells that are responsible for fighting infection in your body. Without the boost from vitamin D, your immune system can suffer. Numerous studies have shown a link between a deficiency and respiratory tract infections like colds, bronchitis, and pneumonia.

If you feel tired all the time, this could also be a sign of a vitamin D deficiency. Chronic fatigue and sleep disorders are common if you have a deficiency. Case studies have shown that low vitamin D blood levels can cause fatigue and headaches.

Depression is also a sign of low vitamin D, especially in older adults. They show that taking a vitamin D supplement can help improve mental health.

Vitamin D can also play an important role in male and female reproductive health. A healthy level of vitamin D had higher live birth rates than women with lower vitamin D levels.

Your risk of type 2 diabetes can also increase if you have a vitamin D deficiency. The vitamin helps the body's insulin sensitivity and regulation.

If you think you need more vitamin D in your life, be sure to spend more time outdoors in the sun, eat lots of fish, or take a supplement.