Vitamin D deficiency can develop if a person isnt getting enough of the vitamin from sunlight. The body creates vitamin D from sunlight on the skin when outdoors, and from late March and early April to the end of September, most people should be able to get all the vitamin D they need from sunlight.<\/p>\n
But between October and early March, when the weather changes and daylight hours are shorter, some people risk not getting enough sunlight.<\/p>\n
Vitamin D is an essential vitamin responsible for the regulation of calcium and phosphate in the body - nutrients needed to keep bones, teeth and muscles healthy.<\/p>\n
A lack of vitamin D can lead to bone deformities, such as rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults.<\/p>\n
But spotting symptoms of vitamin D deficiency early enough can avoid these complications.<\/p>\n
READ MORE:Vitamin D deficiency symptoms: Four signs in your teeth that could indicate the condition<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Nutritionist Karen Langston, a spokesperson for the National Association of Nutrition Professionals, told Arthritis Foundation you may have a vitamin D deficiency if you feel pain when you press your breastbone also called the sternum, located in the middle of your chest.<\/p>\n
Karen explained what else vitamin D deficiency can cause: The biggest concern is osteomalacia, or the softening of the bones. In children, its called rickets.<\/p>\n
It also can cause brittle bones, weak muscles.<\/p>\n
Other symptoms are fractures of the hip and pelvis, bone pain and tenderness, tooth decay and hearing loss because the bones in the ear become soft.<\/p>\n
DON'T MISS<\/p>\n
Vitamin D is found in a small number of foods. These include:<\/p>\n
But its difficult for people to get enough vitamin D from food alone, so the Department for Health advises people consider taking a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms of vitamin D during the autumn and winter months.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Some people may not get enough vitamin D from sunlight because they have very little or no sunshine exposure.<\/p>\n
The Department of Health recommend you take a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms of vitamin D throughout the year if you:<\/p>\n
If you have dark skin, for example if you have an African, African-Caribbean or south Asian background, you may also be at risk of not getting enough vitamin D from sunlight.<\/p>\n
If you take too many supplements over a long period of time it can cause too much calcium to build up in the body, causing hypercalcaemia.<\/p>\n
The NHS warns of the implications: This can weaken the bones and damage the kidneys and the heart.<\/p>\n
If you choose to take vitamin D supplements, 10 micrograms a day will be enough for most people.<\/p>\n
Don't take more than 100 micrograms of vitamin D a day as it could be harmful. This applies to adults, including pregnant and breastfeeding women and the elderly, and children aged 11 to 17 years.<\/p>\n
Children aged 1 to 10 years shouldn't have more than 50 micrograms a day. Infants under 12 months shouldn't have more than 25 micrograms a day.<\/p>\n
Some people have medical conditions that mean they may not be able to safely take as much. If in doubt, you should consult your doctor.<\/p>\n
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Vitamin D deficiency symptoms: Pain when you press this part of the body could be sign - Express<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Vitamin D deficiency can develop if a person isnt getting enough of the vitamin from sunlight. The body creates vitamin D from sunlight on the skin when outdoors, and from late March and early April to the end of September, most people should be able to get all the vitamin D they need from sunlight. But between October and early March, when the weather changes and daylight hours are shorter, some people risk not getting enough sunlight. Continue reading