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There are days when you wake up tired even after a full night’s sleep. The body may feel heavy, you may experience back pain, the person may be in a bad mood, and he or she may be more susceptible to catch cold. But sometimes, the real reason is something surprisingly simple - low Vitamin D in the body.
In today’s modern lifestyle, where people are mostly confined indoors, Vitamin D deficiency has quietly become one of the most prevalent health issues affecting people worldwide. Many people are unaware of it until, during routine blood work, the results show “Low 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D.” It is then that one begins to relate the symptoms to the actual condition.
What Is Vitamin D and Why Is It Important?
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that acts in the body like a hormone. Unlike all other vitamins that we get from our diet, Vitamin D is manufactured in our bodies, provided we expose ourselves to enough sunlight, especially ultraviolet B rays from the sun. This is because exposure to ultraviolet B rays from the sun produces Vitamin D3, or cholecalciferol, in our bodies, which is then processed in our livers and kidneys to make it useful to our bodies.
The most common known role of Vitamin D is to help our bodies absorb calcium, a nutrient that is essential to healthy, strong bones. If we are not getting enough Vitamin D, even if we are getting enough calcium, we are not getting the full benefit from it.
The role of Vitamin D is not limited to our bones, although that is what it is mostly known for. Vitamin D is also essential to healthy muscles, our immune systems, our hormones, and our inflammatory responses, among other things, because of its impact on our bodies.
Which Test Measures Vitamin D?
The most common and reliable test to measure Vitamin D levels is the 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D [25(OH)D] test. The results obtained from this test clearly indicate the Vitamin D levels in the blood and provide an accurate assessment of Vitamin D status. The general clinical interpretation of Vitamin D levels in ng/mL is as follows:
- Below 20 ng/mL – Deficiency
- 20–30 ng/mL – Insufficiency (borderline low)
- 30–50 ng/mL – Optimal range
- 50–100 ng/mL – Upper normal range
- Above 100 ng/mL – Risk of toxicity
If your level is below 20 ng/mL, it is considered a confirmed deficiency, and if it is below 10 ng/mL, the risk of bone weakness and fractures increases significantly. Vitamin D levels that are very high may result in Vitamin D toxicity and may increase calcium levels in the blood, which may cause problems related to the kidneys. Vitamin D levels should not be assessed and interpreted in isolation; they should always be assessed and interpreted along with:
- Calcium levels
- Parathyroid hormone levels (PTH)
- Bone density tests
- Your clinical symptoms
When interpreting the results of any test, it should always be done in conjunction with the overall health condition of the patient.
What Symptoms Should Not Be Ignored?
Vitamin D deficiency is often characterized by a gradual progression with minimal symptoms, which is why most people become aware of it only when they undergo blood tests. However, as the deficiency worsens, the body may respond with symptoms that reflect an underlying health concern.
Common Symptoms include:
- Chronic Fatigue
- Lower Back Pain
- Bone Tenderness
- Muscle Weakness
- Hair Loss
- Mood Disturbances
- Frequent Colds
- Poor Immune Response
If the symptoms persist without any clear cause, it may be important to check the Vitamin D levels.
What Are the Long-Term Health Risks of Vitamin D Deficiency?
The consequences of untreated Vitamin D deficiency, which has been going on for quite some time, go beyond tiredness and minor bone pains. As Vitamin D is essential for bone health, muscles, the immune system, and metabolic health, the longer it is left untreated, the higher the risk of developing several health complications.
- Osteoporosis: Bone weakening, which occurs due to low Vitamin D, also causes low bone density, which may lead to osteoporosis, where the bones become porous.
- Increased Fracture Risk: The weakening of bones, along with muscles, may cause fractures, particularly in the back, hip, and wrist, even with minor falls.
- Muscle Instability: Vitamin D is also essential for muscles, which help maintain balance. Therefore, Vitamin D deficiency may cause instability.
- Falls in the Elderly: The elderly with low Vitamin D may experience falls, which may cause hospitalizations.
- Immune Dysfunction: Vitamin D is essential for the immune system, which may be weakened with low Vitamin D, making the person more susceptible to illnesses.
- Increased Inflammatory Disorders: Vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased inflammatory responses in the body.
- Cardiometabolic Imbalance: Research on Vitamin D deficiency has revealed its possible role in causing metabolic imbalances, such as insulin resistance, along with cardiometabolic imbalance.
How Does Ayurveda Understand Vitamin D Deficiency?
Ayurveda does not describe Vitamin D in biochemical language, but it explains similar conditions through digestion, tissue nourishment, and metabolic balance. Instead of seeing it as just a nutrient deficiency, Ayurveda views it as a deeper systemic imbalance.
- Asthi Dhatu Kshaya (Depletion of Bone Tissue) - The bone tissue fails to receive sufficient nourishment, which leads to a gradual weakening and instability of bone tissue, i.e., a decrease in bone density and an increased chance of fractures.
- Agni Mandya (Weak digestion) - A decrease in digestive fire, fails to absorb sufficient nutrients even if an optimum diet is consumed, resulting in a lack of nourishment for body tissues.
- Disturbance in Meda Dhatu (Fat Metabolism) - Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, and its metabolism is related to fat metabolism, which, if disturbed, affects Vitamin D levels in the body.
- Ojas Depletion (Decrease in Vitality and Immunity) - Ojas represents vitality and immunity levels, which decrease if body tissues are not well nourished.
Therefore, Ayurvedic treatment for Vitamin D focuses on improving digestion, metabolism, and nutrient absorption, not merely on increasing Vitamin D levels in the blood.
What Are the Causes of Vitamin D Deficiency?
From an Ayurvedic point of view, Vitamin D deficiency is not considered an isolated issue. It is considered to be the result of long-standing imbalances in digestion, metabolism, lifestyle, and habits. Instead of focusing merely on nutrient levels, Ayurveda considers the actual causes behind poor nutrient assimilation and tissue nourishment.
Potential contributing factors are:
- Mandagni (Slow Metabolism): When digestive fire is weak, food is not properly digested, and nutrients are not efficiently absorbed. Over time, this leads to poor nourishment of tissues, including bones.
- Excess Kapha Accumulation: Excess Kapha causes metabolic slowdown, leading to heaviness in the body, thereby impeding nutrient assimilation.
- Sedentary Lifestyle: When one does not engage in physical activity, the digestive fire becomes weaker, causing poor stimulation of digestion, nutrient assimilation, and tissue strength.
- Consumption of Processed Foods: Consumption of heavy, oily, stale, or processed foods impairs digestion, causing an imbalance in the metabolic system.
- Lack of Sunlight (Surya Exposure): When an individual does not expose themselves to natural sunlight, Vitamin D levels are compromised.
- Chronic Stress: When an individual is under chronic stress, digestion, hormonal balance, and overall metabolic functions are adversely affected.
What Is the Ayurvedic Approach to Managing Vitamin D Deficiency?
The Ayurvedic way of managing Vitamin D deficiency includes addressing the root cause of the deficiency, such as poor digestion, poor metabolism, and poor nourishment of the body tissues, while also supporting necessary medical care. The key components of this approach include:
- Medical Supplementation (If Necessary): The patient is given Vitamin D supplements based on the initial levels of deficiency. Blood tests are then performed after 8-12 weeks of treatment. High doses of Vitamin D should not be taken on one’s own because of the risk of toxicity.
- Exposure to Sunlight (Surya Sevan): The best source of Vitamin D is the sun. Taking 15-30 minutes of sun exposure between 8-11 AM every day, while the arms and legs are exposed and without the use of sunblock lotion during that time frame, can help the body produce Vitamin D3.
- Improvement of Digestive Power (Agni Deepana): Improvement of digestive power is also an important aspect of the Ayurvedic way of managing Vitamin D deficiency. Taking fresh food at mealtimes instead of processed foods is recommended.
- Improvement of Metabolism (Meda Dhatu): Improvement of metabolism is also important because Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that dissolves in body fat.
- Improvement of Bone Tissue (Asthi Dhatu Poshan): Some of the herbs that are used traditionally for the treatment of Vitamin D deficiency are Ashwagandha, Shatavari, Hadjod, and Guduchi. Taking these herbs without consulting a medical professional is not advisable.
The Ayurvedic way of managing Vitamin D deficiency is an alternative approach that complements the medical treatment of the condition because it improves the assimilation of nutrients from the food we eat and the nourishment of the body tissues, not just the levels of Vitamin D.
What Should You Eat in Vitamin D Deficiency?
Sunlight, being the primary source of Vitamin D, is the most effective way to correct Vitamin D deficiency, while diet serves as a supporting component. Food may not be entirely effective in correcting Vitamin D deficiency, particularly when it is moderate to severe, but it can help maintain the levels of Vitamin D.
One can incorporate milk, egg yolks, fish, ghee, and sun-exposed mushrooms into your diet. These can help support the natural production of Vitamin D, which can be further enhanced by its absorption, considering that it is fat-soluble.
At the same time, there are other nutrients that can support the natural production of Vitamin D, such as magnesium, which can activate Vitamin D in the body, Vitamin K2, which can support the utilization of calcium, and calcium, which can strengthen the bones with the support of Vitamin D.
When Should You See a Doctor?
It is advisable to consult a medical practitioner if your Vitamin D level is below 10 ng/mL, as this signifies a critical level of deficiency that calls for medical treatment. It is also advisable to seek medical consultation in case of repeated bone fractures, severe bone pains, noticeable weakness, or a history of kidney stones. Individuals with thyroid or parathyroid problems should be cautious since Vitamin D, calcium, and hormones work in close association with each other. It is therefore necessary to regularly monitor patients during treatment to avoid overproduction of Vitamin D.
Conclusion
Vitamin D deficiency is a common problem that can be controlled. It is not just a blood test; it is a measure of our overall metabolic status, our lifestyle, our exposure to sunlight, and our body tissues. A comprehensive approach to vitamin D correction that includes evidence-based supplementation, proper exposure to sunlight, nutritional balancing, and Ayurvedic metabolic balancing is essential to achieve lifelong strong bones and healthy immunity.
If you are suffering from Vitamin D Deficiency or any other disease, you can consult with certified Jiva doctors for personalised treatment and proper guidance. Call today: 0129-4264323.
