Studies have found that children with insufficient levels of vitamin D are at higher risk for respiratory infections, colds, rashes, allergies, and even cancer.
Vitamin D deficiency can cause serious health consequences, including weakened bones, reduced immunity, and even cancer. But despite its potential risks, vitamin D deficiency is an under-recognized issue in today’s kids. Even though 95% of Americans get enough vitamin D during the summer months, kids are at risk for low levels of this vitamin year-round. Why? Because they spend less time outdoors, don’t have access to sunscreen, and don’t get nearly as much physical activity as adults. Fortunately, there are easy steps you can take to ensure your children’s vitamin D intake.
If you’re worried your kids are getting too little vitamin D, here are the 12 signs you’re looking for to determine if they need more.
1. Do They Have Dark Skin?
Vitamin D deficiency affects millions of people worldwide. Recent studies show that the levels of vitamin D are declining, especially in children who are exposed to more sunlight. The results indicate that the amount of time spent outdoors is directly correlated with the level of vitamin D found in a child’s blood.
Parents should be aware that dark-skinned children are at risk for vitamin D deficiency, says Dr. Daniel G. Blaylock, M.D., medical director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS). This vitamin is critical for bone health and is naturally produced in the skin after exposure to sunlight. Dark-skinned kids need to get at least 10 minutes of direct sunlight daily to produce enough vitamin D, Dr. Blaylock recommends. Children with light skin, however, don’t have this problem, he says.
Vitamin D, which is made in our bodies, is important because it helps our bodies absorb calcium. Calcium is used to build bones. Vitamin D is produced in the skin from sunlight exposure. Children who spend time outside without sunscreen are at risk of getting rickets, or osteoma Lacia, when they grow up.
2. Do They Feel Cold Easily?
You see children with colds all the time, but few recognize the symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency. According to a recent study, Vitamin D deficiency affects almost one third of kids under the age of 2 years old. Researchers said that this is the result of our increasingly indoor lifestyles. The study looked at over 5,000 children across the U.S. and found that Vitamin D levels were lower in children who had a history of colds or who were exposed to a higher-than-normal level of UV rays (the type of light produced by the sun).
The truth is that children, particularly infants and toddlers, need more vitamin D than adults to help them grow strong bones and maintain a healthy immune system. While we all know that it’s important to expose our kids to direct sunlight, vitamin D is naturally made in the skin during the summer months by the action of UVB rays on a chemical in our bodies called 7-dehydrocholesterol.
3. Are They Immune System Weak?
In order to boost immunity, your child needs vitamins, especially vitamin D. Vitamin D is a vitamin that acts like the hormone that makes the immune system function. Kids who don’t get enough of it might be more likely to come down with colds and flu.
“Vitamin D has been proven to stimulate the immune system and improve the body’s natural defenses against illness,” says Dr. Christopher Calapai, a professor of medicine at Columbia University Medical Center. “The more our immune system is stimulated, the stronger and healthier we feel.”
If your child’s immune system isn’t working right, he could be at risk for developing conditions like rickets or osteomalacia. Rickets, a condition that causes softening of the bones, develops when a child is exposed to too little vitamin D. Osteomalacia, on the other hand, occurs when a child is exposed to too much vitamin D. The symptoms include loss of appetite, nausea, and weakness.
4. Do They Often Get Sick?
Kids who are frequently sick often have problems getting enough vitamin D. Because children spend lots of time outside, they need to spend a lot of time in the sun to get sufficient levels of vitamin D. As a result, many kids are vitamin D deficient by the time they are teens. According to the CDC, kids who have low vitamin D levels have a higher risk of asthma, chronic lung disease, diabetes and other health problems.
Vitamin D deficiency can cause bone problems and increased risk of infections such as colds and flu. But it is also linked to poor concentration, depression and fatigue, according to the study. The researchers found that the majority of teenagers (74%) had levels of vitamin D below the recommended 30mcg. The researchers noted that sunbathing between 10am and 4pm was associated with the highest level of vitamin D.
However, those who didn’t have access to outdoor sun did not achieve similar levels. ‘Vitamin D is important for building strong bones and muscles, but it’s also crucial for a healthy immune system,’ says Dr James Hillier, lead researcher and GP.
5. Do They Have Poor Musculoskeletal Health?
Vitamin D deficiency is linked to poor musculoskeletal health in children, according to a new study published in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research. The study, led by researchers at the University of British Columbia and the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, involved a group of 60 children with varying degrees of vitamin D deficiency and a control group of 30 children with normal levels of vitamin D. They found that those with lower levels of vitamin D were more likely to have joint pain, back pain, and bone problems. The study also found that those with low levels of vitamin D had higher levels of a chemical called interleukin-6 (IL-6) in their blood.
IL-6 is a pro-inflammatory protein that is released in the bloodstream. Its function is to help fight infections. But in excess amounts, it can cause damage to bones and joints. A number of studies have linked increased levels of IL-6 with bone loss and osteoporosis. Researchers have shown that higher levels of IL-6 in the blood are linked to inflammation of the joints. So this new study confirms what we already knew – that vitamin D deficiency causes joint pain, back pain, and bone problems. This is also evidence that vitamin D deficiency is linked to osteoporosis.
6. Do They Have Difficulty Performing?
When kids get rickets, it’s because they’re deficient in vitamin D. Vitamin D is essential for the absorption of calcium and phosphate into bones. It also regulates blood sugar levels, helps with immune function, and contributes to cardiovascular health. Children who are born in the winter and do not get adequate exposure to sunlight are at risk for vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D deficiency results in poor bone health, muscle weakness, and problems with balance.
Vitamin D deficiencies in children can lead to problems with learning, behavior and mood regulation. It’s also important to remember that the risk for developing these conditions increases the longer a child is exposed to a lack of vitamin D.
7. Do They Suffer from Migraines or Seizures?
Vitamin D deficiency can cause a whole host of problems for the brain, but one of the most common is migraine. Children who don’t get enough vitamin D are three times more likely to suffer from migraines than those with adequate levels, according to research. This means that vitamin D deficiency is the leading cause of migraine in children, even more common than all other causes combined.
If your child has a history of migraines or seizures, the problem may be vitamin D deficiency. The vitamin is necessary for normal brain development and is involved in the production of serotonin, which regulates mood and pain sensitivity.
This is a perfect example of how the power of social proof can work. As a parent, if I know my child has a deficiency in vitamin D, it makes me much more likely to take action and ensure that my child gets enough sunlight. Similarly, people who have seen a friend, colleague, or relative suffer a migraine or seizure are much more likely to avoid those activities and choose instead to stay indoors where they won’t be exposed to them.
8. Does He or She Have Asthma or Allergies?
I’m not saying you have to spend $20,000 on an air purifier just because you have asthma. But I am saying it’s worth checking if the air you breathe is actually clean enough to help control asthma symptoms and/or allergies. It’s not uncommon for asthmatics to have allergy triggers in the home. Asthma can also lead to a cycle of frequent colds or even flu. Vitamin D deficiency is linked to asthma and allergies. The body can make vitamin D when exposed to UVB rays from the sun. Some studies suggest that a lack of vitamin D can also cause a child to grow out of their asthma.
9. Do They Have Frequent Infections?
Yes, Vitamin D deficiency can cause recurring infections and other complications in some people. According to the National Institutes of Health, Vitamin D is necessary for bone health, but the body can also make its own Vitamin D when exposed to UV rays. When sunlight is blocked, the body can’t produce enough Vitamin D and the risk of deficiency increases.
Vitamin D is an essential nutrient that our bodies require in order to function properly. The recommended daily allowance (RDA) for vitamin D is 400 IU per day. The RDA is based on the assumption that adequate amounts of this vitamin can prevent many diseases. However, vitamin D deficiency is widespread among Americans.
10. Are They Excessive Slept?
The answer is yes. Vitamin D deficiency causes kids to have excessive sleep. Sleep problems often start when kids hit the age of six. Many kids don’t sleep well because they have too much energy. They can’t seem to turn off their brain. This leads to a vicious cycle: Sleepy children don’t get enough sleep and their brains stay stimulated. Their brains crave more stimulation. This causes them to feel more tired and keeps them up for longer periods of time.
Sleep is one of the body’s most important functions, and it can be disrupted by stress, inadequate nutrition, lack of exercise, and many other factors. Most people get adequate sleep, but a small number don’t. Many factors can contribute to a poor night’s sleep, including anxiety, depression, pain, and digestive problems. Vitamin D is a nutrient needed for proper sleep, and low levels of vitamin D have been linked to insomnia.
11. Do They Have Abnormal Blood Test Results?
Vitamin D deficiency is not something you can test for with a blood test, so it’s not something that shows up on a routine physical exam. Vitamin D is one of the many nutrients that can be tested for with a simple blood test. Your doctor can order this test.
Vitamin D deficiency is the leading cause of rickets in children. It is very easy to test your child for vitamin D deficiency, and if you do not correct it, you may end up with permanent damage to their bones.
12. Are They Tired and Low on Energy?
The first thing to realize is that children need Vitamin D to help regulate bone growth and calcium absorption. If a child’s Vitamin D level is too low, he or she will become tired and low on energy. As a parent, it is your job to make sure that your child takes in adequate levels of Vitamin D through exposure to sunlight.
13. Do They Have Muscle Pain?
Vitamin D deficiency in children may result in muscle pain, according to a study published recently in the Journal of Orthopedic Surgery. The researchers evaluated 25 children with unexplained musculoskeletal pain and compared them with healthy children. They found that vitamin D levels were significantly lower in the patients with musculoskeletal pain than in the controls. However, the researchers didn’t have any evidence to support a direct cause-and-effect relationship between low vitamin D and musculoskeletal pain. Nevertheless, the findings suggest that vitamin D deficiency may play a role in the development of musculoskeletal pain in children.
Final Thoughts on whether Your Kid Could Be Suffering from Vitamin D Deficiency
In conclusion, there is no reason to not get your children tested. Vitamin D deficiency can occur very quickly and it’s possible that your child has been feeling off for months without realizing it. Children who are diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency usually improve within a few days, and are treated with vitamin D supplements. If your child does have a vitamin D deficiency, it’s important to keep them indoors in the winter and springtime. If they’re outdoors in the summer and fall, sunscreen is recommended.
Don’t worry, this is not a medical condition. We just want you to know what causes vitamin D deficiency and how to prevent it
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