Who is at high risk of vitamin D deficiency?
Our bodies use vitamin D to absorb minerals such as calcium and phosphorus. Through this process, teeth and bones become strong. Vitamin D also supports muscles, nerves, and the immune system. VitaminD is not easy to get in daily life. Most of them are obtained through sunlight, and vitaminD synthesis occurs when ultraviolet rays irritate the skin.
VitaminD is also contained in foods such as egg yolks, fish, and liver. Vitamin D, this important nutrient, is likely to be lacking. In particular, people living in the northern part of the country with low sunlight, people with dark skin, people on a low-fat diet, or people taking steroids or weight-loss drugs are likely to suffer from vitaminD deficiency.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) suggests 400 IU of vitamin D for adults and 200 IU for children under the age of 18. If vitaminD is insufficient, the risk of chronic diseases and life-threatening diseases such as various types of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and cognitive decline increases. In addition, the treatment of wounds, especially burns, is slow, the risk of osteoporosis increases, and muscle pain is likely to occur. On top of that, it is also related to rickets and osteomalacia, as well as diabetes and high blood pressure.
The U.S. health and medical media “Web MD” cited people who need supplements because of the high risk of vitaminD deficiency.
△ Infants breastfeeding
There is not enough vitaminD in breast milk unless the mother takes supplements. For this reason, infants who are eating breast milk are at high risk of vitaminD deficiency. Rickets are a disease in which the spine is bent due to poor bone development or growth disorders such as the Anjjang leg are caused by bone deformation, which occurs most often in children breastfeeding. Experts say, “It is better for infants who are breastfeeding to take 400 IU of vitamin D a day.”
a person with △ bowel disease
Our bodies need fat to use vitaminD. Diseases that affect the intestine, such as inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, and cystic fibrosis, make it difficult to absorb fat. This means more vitaminD is needed. VitaminD supplements help people with bowel disease.
△ Person who underwent gastric bypass surgery
Gastric bypass is a surgical method that reduces the size of the stomach or creates a bypass route from the stomach to the small intestine to treat severe obesity and related complications. Gastrointestinal bypass surgery makes you feel full faster, reducing your calorie intake. After this surgery, it becomes difficult to absorb nutrients such as vitamin D, vitamin B12, copper, zinc, and calcium. Experts say, “After this surgery, the doctor in charge will track the levels and suggest taking vitamin supplements every day to maintain health.”
△ an obese person
People with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher are more likely to have lower vitaminD levels than non-obese people. This is not because the skin makes less vitamin D, but because the fat under the skin maintains more vitaminD and changes the way it enters the blood. Dieting, lifestyle changes, and taking supplements help solve this problem.