Dr Singireddy Rajashri, General Physician

Hello; first, we need to assess how much vitamin D deficiency you have and how symptomatic you are with the deficiency.

• Serum 25-hydroxy Vitamin D levels <12ng/ml are considered severe, normal levels are between 20-50 ng/ml, and mild deficiency is considered anything less than > 20 ng/ml.
• People aged between 1 and 60 should get at least 15 mcg or 600 IU of vitamin D daily.
• Vitamin D is an essential nutrient for various reasons, particularly for bone health.

Causes of deficiency: Causes of vitamin D deficiency include insufficient sun exposure and decreased outdoor mobility during COVID and post-COVID times. Consumption of less nutritious food and food that is not rich in vitamins, as well as problems with absorption, can also lead to vitamin D deficiency. The application of sunscreens with high SPF can also be a reason for vitamin D deficiency.

Symptoms of deficiency:

1. Weakened immune system causes exposure to several infections (cold, flu, pneumonia) & illnesses which make you sick & fixed and increase fatiguability
2. Reduce bone density and muscle strength causing calcium deficiency & joint pains --- leading to rickets & Osteoporosis
3. Hair loss, decreased level of concentration, higher risk of depression, mood swings, sleep deprivation
4. Hypertension, Skin changes, digestive issues
5. Hypertension leading to cardiovascular problems (peripheral and coronary artery diseases )
6. Infertility, preterm Birth & prenatal complications

Sources of Vit. D :

• Sunlight, Eggs, fatty fish, mushrooms, Almonds, cereal and milk
• Fortified food with vit. D cheese, Butter etc.

The daily recommended dose in adults is 1000-2000 IU.

• We Advice you to take supplements if you are severely deficient.
• Weekly, one capsule of Vit D3 containing Vit. D3 (60,000 IU) for 8-10 weeks to achieve serum levels
• Vitamin D shots are available, and we recommend a once-yearly injection of vitamin D3 containing 204,000-360,400 IU for treating severe deficiency.
• We recommend ruling out any chronic digestive issues or chronic illness due to Cron's disease & celiac disease.

Vit.D helps in:

• Overall strengthening of the immune system
• Active Cardiac muscle function (Heart health) and protection of Blood vessels
• Bone metabolism and muscle function (musculoskeletal health)
• Healthy gut microbiome
• Cognitive functions
• Cancer prevention