When left unaddressed, the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency can be disruptive to your daily life. But if you continue to ignore vitamin D deficiency symptoms, side effects can turn serious. In fact, research has linked this common deficiency, which affects about 35% of Americans, with a host potentially serious illnesses andhealth conditions.
Read on to discover what the research shows, plus the cases in which increasing your vitamin D intake, via supplementation or otherwise, may alter your health for the better.
Possible side effects of vitamin D deficiency
Depression
Depression is one of the telltale signs of a vitamin D deficiency. People with low vitamin D levels are more likely to experience depression and anxiety, per a review in Current Nutrition Reports. One study cited in the review even found that people deficient in vitamin D were 75% more likely to develop depression than those who weren’t. What’s more, the lower your vitamin D levels, the more severe your depression and anxiety symptoms, a separate review suggests.
Prostate cancer
Research shows that people with low vitamin D are more likely to get prostate cancer—and die of it. A study in the World Journal of Clinical Oncology found that many prostate cancer patients were low on vitamin D, and levels were especially low among those with metastatic prostate cancer (cancer that had spread to other parts of the body). A separate study in Acta Oncologica found that men with prostate cancer who were also deficient in vitamin D were more likely to die from the illness than those who got enough of the vitamin.
Dementia
Research suggests a pretty direct relationship between vitamin D and dementia. A review and meta-analysis in The Egyptian Journal of Neurology, Psychiatry and Neurosurgery found that people with low vitamin D levels have an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease compared to people with sufficient levels. Another study in Alzheimer’s & Dementia found that people with high vitamin D levels were 40% less likely to develop dementia, and that was especially true for women.
Psoriasis and Psoriatic arthritis
Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition that causes your skin to become itchy, scaly, and irritated. And about 30% of people with it also develop psoriatic arthritis, which causes joint pain, swelling, and stiffness, per the National Psoriasis Foundation. Both conditions—psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis—have been linked to low vitamin D levels. And the lower your vitamin D levels, the more severe your symptoms, per research in the Sao Paulo Medical Journal.
Heart disease
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for American adults, and it’s been closely linked to vitamin D levels. A review in Nutrients found that people with low vitamin D were 1.4 times more likely to experience heart failure—and people with very low vitamin D were twice as likely to. Another review, also in Nutrients, found the same, adding that the people with the lowest vitamin D levels were the most likely to die of the condition. What’s more, vitamin D supplements may reduce risk of heart attacks, according to additional research.
Pneumonia
If you’re deficient in vitamin D, you may be more likely to catch pneumonia and have a severe case. In one study in Clinical Nutrition, pneumonia patients with the highest levels of vitamin D had the fewest complications. Meanwhile, patients with the lowest levels were more likely to experience complications and die of the infection. And according to a more recent study in Open Forum Infectious Diseases, people who are deficient in vitamin D are more likely to catch pneumonia and have a higher mortality risk.
Schizophrenia
About 35% of the population is deficient in vitamin D—but about 70% of people with schizophrenia are, per a meta-analysis in Molecular Psychiatry. This link is complicated, because people with schizophrenia also tend to have worse diets, get less exercise, and have poorer health outcomes than the general population. But other research suggests that people who are vitamin-D-deficient in early childhood are more likely to develop neurological conditions, like schizophrenia, later in life.
Multiple sclerosis
People with vitamin D deficiency are 54% more likely to develop multiple sclerosis (MS) than people who get enough of the nutrient, per a meta-analysis in Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders. What’s more, high-dose vitamin D may reduce disease activity in early relapsing-remitting MS, according to a trial in JAMA.Other research has found the same pattern with Parkinson’s disease: Low vitamin D tends to mean more severe symptoms and a faster-progressing disease.
Lower cancer survival
Research suggests that getting enough vitamin D may help your body fight off cancer. When people took daily vitamin D supplements, they were 12% more likely to survive cancer, per a study in Ageing Research Reviews, with other research finding specific benefits for people with breast cancer and colorectal cancer.
Shorter lifespan
People with low vitamin D may not live as long as people who get enough of the nutrient and taking vitamin D may help you live longer. A recent review in Clinical Nutrition found that vitamin D supplementation may provide a significant reduction in all-cause mortality for people who are deficient or simply aren’t getting enough of the vitamin.
The bottom line
Ultimately, don’t brush off the signs your body may be sending. Vitamin D deficiency is surprisingly common, and when it goes unnoticed, it may affect far more than your energy levels. If you’ve started to experience symptoms of any of these health conditions, it may be time to check in with your healthcare provider. A simple test to check your vitamin D levels could offer valuable insight—and help you take a meaningful step toward protecting your long-term health.
Dietary supplements are products intended to supplement the diet. They are not medicines and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure diseases. Be cautious about taking dietary supplements if you are pregnant or nursing. Also, be careful about giving supplements to a child, unless recommended by their healthcare provider.
Brooke Williams, D.O., is an accomplished Board-Certified Internal Medicine specialist who serves as a dedicated Hospitalist in North Carolina. Having successfully completed her residency training in the vibrant South-suburbs of Chicago, she also took the initiative to co-found a commendable nonprofit organization named Color of Medicine. This organization is committed to promoting diversity in medicine and STEM fields, with a particular focus on empowering underrepresented minorities. Dr. Williams passionately advocates for enhancing cultural competency and addressing racial health disparities within minority communities, displaying unwavering dedication to creating a more inclusive and equitable healthcare landscape.
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