Vitamin D deficiency is not just a "weak bones" problem. It affects almost all systems of the body: it lowers immunity, worsens muscle function, increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, and even affects mood.
Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor Larisa Danilova, in the talk show "PRO ZDOROVIE" on the YouTube channel "SMOTRI I ZHIVI," spoke about the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency in children and adults.
According to Larisa Danilova, in children, vitamin D deficiency is more often manifested by decreased muscle tone, as well as an increased frequency of respiratory diseases:
— A sufficient number of studies have been conducted, including summary analyses, which have shown that vitamin D deficiency in a child is associated with higher risks of respiratory infections. Moreover, this is more common in boys — there are such gender characteristics. In adulthood, men are likely protected by their hormones. However, as a man ages, the frequency of falls and gait instability in the older age group may also be related to vitamin D deficiency.
The specialist also discussed whether there are contraindications to taking vitamin D:
— There are diseases that are themselves associated with the formation of high concentrations of vitamin D in the body. For example, sarcoidosis, and sometimes this is described in tuberculosis. It is in such diseases that it is justified to assess the total fraction of vitamin D in the serum.
At the same time, Larisa Danilova added that there are factors that hinder the absorption of vitamin D:
— Vitamin D affects calcium absorption in the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, all gastrointestinal diseases related to impaired passage through the intestines (malabsorption syndrome), as well as a disease like celiac disease (quite common in the modern world), worsen the absorption of calcium and products containing vitamin D.
Vitamin D deficiency is not just a "minor" problem, but a factor that can affect health at different periods of life. In children, it is associated with an increased risk of respiratory infections. With age, vitamin D deficiency reasserts itself — it can contribute to balance disorders, increase the risk of falls, and worsen gait stability.
