Did you get enough Vitamin D during the summer?

Vitamin D is very important for human health and for the body to function properly. One of the fat-soluble vitamins, Vitamin D is also known as the “sun vitamin” because our skin synthesizes it and our body produces it thanks to sun exposure.

However, whatever amount you “collected” during Summer will be enough for a short while and then you'd have to take vitamin supplements.

Namely, under the controlled exposure to UV rays the skin produces up to 80% of the reference daily intake and the rest is produced through certain food or supplement intake.

Even during this time of year it takes at least 15 minutes in the sun to produce the referenced amount of the vitamin and at least 40% of the body surface needs to be exposed directly to the sun rays. Sunscreens which are used to protect us from the harmful UV rays prevent the absorption of the vitamin.

Jutarnji.hr news portal gives advice on how to check whether you have Vitamin D deficiency. The only sure way to determine that is to do a blood analysis but there are certain signs and symptoms that might indicate the lack of this vitamin in the body. I f you recognize any of these symptoms we recommend you do a blood test as soon as possible

If you have darker skin

Dark-skinned people need 10 times bigger sun exposure to produce the same required amount of the vitamin as light-skinned person

If you are 50 or over

The body produces less Vitamin D during sun exposure as it ages than it did in youth and senior generally spend less time in the sun than younger people do. At the same time the kidneys become less efficient in processing the vitamin into a form that the body can use.

If you are overweight

Vitamin D is fat-soluble which means that overweight people need it in a greater amount than skinny people.

If you are in a bad mood

The level of serotonin, sometimes called the “happy chemical” is increased during sun exposure
and decreases when the sun exposure does. Besides, it is scientifically proven that people with
the lower level of vitamin D have a greater chance to develop depression from those with the normal level of the vitamin.

If you have bone pain

Bone pain in combination with fatigue are the classic signs of Osteomalacia - the softening and weakening of the bones caused by Vitamin D deficiency.

If your head sweats

One of the basic symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency is excessive sweating and it's the first indicator of Vitamin D deficiency in newborns.

If you have digestive problems

Vitamin D is fat soluble which means that if some gastrointestinal problem such as Crohn's disease, inflammatory bowel disease or celiac disease you have trouble with digesting fat. Hence the lower Vitamin D absorption, Jutarnji.hr writes

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Vitamin D deficiency

Vitamin D deficiency symptoms

how to increase Vitamin D level

Vitamin D absorption