We live in the internet era in which we are all constantly browsing for information. We’re bombarded with unnecessary medical information that almost every time makes us question our longevity. We often believe that we are healthy and a particular disease is not likely to happen to us because we take care of ourselves. But there are many conditions that can happen to us because of our lack of knowledge. Vitamin D deficiency is one such condition. People think that it is unlikely for them to have it. Sometimes, location can play a big role in enabling this deficiency. People living in North America are more likely to be vitamin D deficient. According to a report published in Nutrition Research, around 42% of American adults might be vitamin D deficient. Vitamin D deficiency might not sound so grave but it can have some serious effects on us. People who are deficient in vitamin D are more at risk of having heart diseases, osteoporosis, diabetes and Alzheimer’s. There are certain groups of individuals who are more prone to having this deficiency than others. Some of those groups have been listed below.
1. Those Over 55 Years Of Age
Aging comes with a lot of perks. People tend to be smarter and more confident as they age. Retirement is another perk that comes with old age. Taking time off for yourself to do what you love is another big advantage of old age. Unfortunately, our bodies do take a hit physically when we age. Lack of mobility and spending lesser time outside can make people over 55 more prone to vitamin D deficiency. Also, according to a Canadian study, our skin becomes less effective in producing vitamin D as we age. Another study found out that 50% of Americans over 50 who had a hip fracture had vitamin D deficiency.
2. People With Darker Skin
People who have darker skin are more prone to have vitamin D deficiency. Dark-skinned people have more amount of melanin in their epidermis which is the outermost covering of our bodies. This covering absorbs the sunlight and produces vitamin D. But high amount of melanin can hinder this absorption and thereby, making it difficult for our bodies to produce vitamin D from sunlight. Hence, nutritionists and researchers suggest that dark-skinned people should consume more vitamin D through their diets.
3. Sedentary Workers
If you are an individual who works at an office from 9 to 5, then it is not likely that you get enough sunlight every day. People with this lifestyle are more at risk to have this deficiency. So, sedentary workers must get enough vitamin D from their food and also get some sun in the weekends to keep themselves healthy and happy.
4. Vegetarians And Vegans
Foods like egg yolk and salmon are the main sources of naturally available vitamin D. Apart from that, dairy products like milk and yogurt are other sources that contain vitamin D. So, vegans and vegetarians who stay away from these product are likely to fall short of having adequate amount of vitamin D in them. But vegetarians and vegans can go for soy based products like soy milk and tofu to provide themselves with vitamin D.
5. Those On The Heavier Side
Excess percentage of fat can hinder the circulation of Vitamin D in the body. So, if your BMI is above 30, then you are likely to have a vitamin D deficiency. But you can talk to your doctor and ask for supplements to make sure you are taking enough vitamin D.
6. Those With Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease is a term loosely used for many bowel-related diseases like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. People who have these diseases generally face the problem of fat malabsorption. Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin so this malabsorption can cause this deficiency.
So, people who belong to the above categories should keep a check on their vitamin D levels to avoid unnecessary conditions later.
