20 Health Risks and Symptoms of Vitamin D Deficiency
Vitamin D insufficiency affects almost 50 percent of the population worldwide. An estimated 1 billion people across all ethnicities and age groups lack enough of this vitamin, which is crucial for your overall well-being according to research.
Slideshow: 20 Health Risks and Symptoms of Vitamin D Deficiency
Among adults in the U.S., that number is 41.6 percent of adults — including 69.2 percent of Hispanics and 82.1 percent of African-Americans — data show. The trend is only increasing.
“Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) is underappreciated condition that can impact your health significantly and can be fairly easily treated,” Jennifer Franceschelli-Hosterman, DO, Geisigner Health System, says.
The new recommended daily amount, as per the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is 600 international units a day. Some people, depending on age, sex, or pre-existing medical conditions, may need more, Dr. Franceschelli-Hosterman adds.
Risk factors a person can control include lifestyle activities, eating habits, and hormonal levels that can change with age.
The vitamin actually functions as a hormone, and every single cell in the body has a receptor for it, which is why it affects many functions and processes that keep a person healthy and happy.
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