Signs of Vitamin D Deficiency in Kids

Not too many people are aware that vitamin D is a major role player in the prevention of osteoporosis. Getting all the calcium you need means nothing if you are not getting enough vitamin D. Since the bones of children are rapidly growing, it’s of utmost importance for them to obtain good amounts of this nutrient.

Unfortunately, it can be extremely difficult to obtain enough vitamin D from the diet alone. Adding to this is the fact that some of the best food sources of vitamin D are abhorred by kids.

Most children get their vitamin D needs from the sun — when their bare skin is touched by sunlight, a chemical reaction takes place which results in the production of vitamin D. But despite of the fact that adults and kids alike have free access to an excellent source of vitamin D, deficiency in this vitamin still exists.

In children, mild deficiency in vitamin D does not cause serious problems, although affected children may get easily tired and fatigued. Also, it’s not uncommon for them to complain of various aches and pains.

Below are some of the indicators that your child may be deficient in vitamin D:

Muscle Cramps

Your little one may experience muscle cramps frequently. That’s because vitamin D is a nutrient essential for the optimum functioning of the muscles. Without enough vitamin D in the body, it’s very much possible for children to encounter muscle cramps a lot, most especially while in the middle of physical activities.

Delayed Growth

Does it seem like all the kids in the neighborhood are getting taller and bigger except your child? There are many different probable reasons behind it, and vitamin D deficiency is one of those. Since vitamin D is a nutrient so important for both muscles and bones, it’s not surprising why a child deficient in it may fail to grow as expected.

Irritability

Are you aware that vitamin D is also important for regulating the mood? It’s exactly for this reason why a child who is not getting enough of this nutrient may exhibit irritability most of the time. This is something that can eventually have an impact on the ability of your little one to interact with other kids.

Frequent Infections

Everyone knows that vitamin C strengthens the immune system. Unfortunately, not a lot of people know that the immune system also needs vitamin D for it to work. If your child is deficient in vitamin D, then it’s very much possible for him or her to often have bouts of the common cold or flu, or any other type of infection.

Broken Bones

Since vitamin D assists calcium in strengthening the bones, not getting enough of this nutrient from the sun as well as the diet may leave the bones soft, making them highly susceptible to breaking. Lack of vitamin D may also cause rickets, which is a skeletal disorder in kids that causes distortion of the bones.

Dental Problems

Your child may also exhibit all sorts of dental problems if he is not obtaining good amounts of vitamin D. You may notice that his or her teeth are highly prone to cavities and decay. It’s also possible for a child who is deficient in vitamin D to have delayed teething.

Shortness of Breath

Deficiency in vitamin D may easily leave a child breathless, keeping him or her from playing and having fun with other kids. One of the reasons behind such is the chest muscles get easily fatigued. As earlier discussed, vitamin D is needed by the muscles to function. Then the ribcage may also end up soft and deformed, affecting breathing.

If you feel that your little one is deficient in vitamin D because he or she is exhibiting some or all of the above as well as other unusual symptoms, make sure that you speak to a doctor.

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