Taking Note of Vitamin D Deficiency Symptoms & Vitamin D Sources

Vitamin D deficiency symptoms usually involve the skeletal system. The skeletal system relies on vitamin D to increase calcium and phosphate absorption in the body. Without vitamin D, calcium and phosphate would be continually excreted through gastrointestinal tract. This could lead to a lot of problem including osteoporosis, stress fracture and even skin problems.

Patients should first understand the role and function of vitamin D in the body. It is derived from the skin and parathyroid gland. Exposure of the skin to sunlight would enable conversion of vitamin D to its active component, leading to increased circulation in the body.

Once the serum level has reached a certain concentration, it would enhance certain receptors and enzymes found in the intestine. The enzymes and receptors work together to collect the calcium and phosphate passing through the intestines.

The usual patients suffering from vitamin D deficiency include post menopausal women, people with congenital anomalies and skin problems. Another type of tissue greatly affected by vitamin D deficiency symptoms are the muscular system.

The muscle require phosphate to generate energy for movement. Without phosphate the muscle tissues would be rendered powerless, since the molecules present would not bind to each other. Actin and myosin, the primary molecules that enable muscle flexion and extension require phosphate for constant attachment and detachment.

Once there is muscle weakness, physicians would usually suspect vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D deficiency symptoms would appear several weeks after the drop of the substance in the body. This is because there is a large reservoir of vitamin D in the body that can be found in the intestinal walls, skeletal and muscle tissue.

The reservoir is a safety feature found in the body, which is very helpful especially in cases where there is lack of vitamin D in the diet. It would be mobilized immediately once there is a lack of calcium and phosphate detected.

Vitamin D deficiency symptoms can be reversed with the proper medications, habit and diet. Exposure to the sun at the proper time is necessary since vitamin D is derived from sunlight. People can also apply topical creams that would include production of vitamin D in the skin cells.

Oral supplements are also available for consumers who have no time to go outside at the proper time. The oral supplements contain significant amounts of Vitamin D that is needed by the muscles and skeleton to enable proper metabolism.

Reliable Vitamin D Sources

Vitamin D sources can be found everywhere. Contrary to what many think, vitamin D can be found in many food sources. The most common and reliable source of vitamin D is fish. This is a good base for every meal, since it has abundant amounts of protein and healthy fatty acids.

A number of fish species has greater concentration of vitamin D. This would include the eel, catfish, mackerel and sardines. The preparation of the fish should be done carefully since vitamin D is a very unstable substance when subjected to heat and other harmful stimuli.

Vitamin D can be isolated from the oil of the fish that can be found in the muscles and adipose tissue. People cooking the fish should not wash the tissues thoroughly to avoid reduction of the vitamin D. Other good sources of Vitamin D include egg and beef. At least 100 grams can be derived from the mentioned sources.

When choosing Vitamin D sources, consumers should be very meticulous. Fish and meat that have been exposed to the sun for a long period should be avoided since the muscles and fats would have dried up. This means the Vitamin D has either been denatured or destroyed.

Examining the inside portion of the fish is also necessary. No significant discoloration should be present to ensure the meat is in good condition. The normal color of the fish muscle and adipose tissue is pinkish red. If the meat is already white, there is a high chance that it could be already spoiled.

Synthetic vitamin D sources can also be utilized if consumers have no time to cook. ranging from 500 to 1000 milligrams. This is very convenient since all the vitamins needed has already been isolated and prepared without the need to cook.

The amount of vitamin D ingested would vary depending on the need of the consumer. People with skeletal and muscle problems should ingest the maximal amount needed. This is necessary since vitamin D aids in calcium absorption and deposition in the bones.

People should include in order to avoid deficit in important bodily molecules, such as calcium and phosphate. Lack of vitamin D sources would lead to many bodily disorders including fatigue and muscle weakness. Since there are cheap food items and supplements found in the market, people would have no problem.