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Unusual symptoms of vitamin D deficiency can lurk unnoticed until serious health problems crop up. Even doctors frequently miss these 10 signs of very low levels.
Flu is sometimes referred to as “Vitamin D deficiency disease”. Now, COVID may be proving to be a similar virus according to researchers. Avoiding vitamin D deficiency symptoms by keeping blood levels of this fat-soluble vitamin optimal can be lifesaving especially for the immunocompromised and the elderly.
Dr. John Cannell of the Vitamin D Council and one of the most preeminent Vitamin D researchers in the world today, has identified that vitamin D helps produce the antimicrobial peptides that protect against viruses like the flu and coronaviruses.
This is why people are more prone to complications during seasons when Vitamin D producing sunshine is minimal or nonexistent at some latitudes, or people are too bundled up to get enough skin exposed in the first place.
Scientific research bolsters Dr. Cannell’s suggestion that vitamin D deficiency is why people get the flu. A study published in the journal Nature Immunology further explains how vitamin D protects us by properly activating T cells, an important part of the immune system:
When a T cell is exposed to a foreign pathogen, it extends a signaling device or ‘antenna’ known as a vitamin D receptor, with which it searches for vitamin D.
This means the T cell must have vitamin D or activation of the cell will cease. If the T cells cannot find enough vitamin D in the blood, they won’t even begin to mobilize.
This is troubling given that vitamin D levels were reported by the Archives of Internal Medicine in 2009 to have plummeted for every single age, race, and ethnic group in the United States over the past two decades.
Low Vitamin D Levels Can Lurk Unnoticed
Vitamin D deficiency is such that it can lurk unnoticed until it is too late and you are already sick. Another challenge is that it takes time, usually at least several weeks, to raise vitamin D levels. As a result, a few days of taking supplements is not going to cut it. This is true especially if you have a serious deficiency challenge to overcome or already have the flu.
Below are 10 signs that vitamin D is likely a problem and potentially a serious deficiency that needs to be addressed immediately. If any of these symptoms are an issue for you, a simple and inexpensive vitamin D blood spot test can be ordered online. It can be used in the privacy of your home to determine if your vitamin D levels are in the danger zone.
Best Foods to Address Deficiency
If low levels do indeed need to be addressed, the best whole food-based supplement to bring vitamin D levels into optimal range without the danger of overdosing is unheated, unprocessed cod liver oil (where to find).
Natural vitamin D drops from sheep wool are also a good idea temporarily if levels must be raised quickly.
Two other foods extremely high in Vitamin D include fish roe and lard from pastured animals.
Wild roe contains about 17,000 IU of Vitamin D per tablespoon and pastured lard (vetted source) has 10,000 IU per tablespoon according to tests conducted by the Weston A. Price Foundation. This is nearly as much as you would get during a day at the beach in a bathing suit.
I purchase my fish roe at gourmet stores. Additive-free brands can also be purchased online.
Vitamin D Deficiency Symptoms Usually Blamed on Something Else
Be aware of these symptoms, some of them quite strange, that are frequently blamed on something else. Since Vitamin D deficiency is so easy to address with lifestyle and dietary modifications, it is a good idea to consider this “low hanging fruit” approach first.
1. Chronic Pain
Bone pain and chronic pain, in general, is a subtle symptom of serious vitamin D deficiency. Don’t take this symptom lightly! Get your vitamin D levels checked and address the problem.
A study conducted by Greg Plotnikoff, MD, senior consultant with the Allina Center for Health Care Innovations, makes the point. 150 people living in Minneapolis who came to a health clinic complaining of chronic pain were tested for vitamin D levels. Virtually every single one, 93%, suffered from extremely low vitamin D. “The group with the lowest levels of vitamin D were white women of childbearing age,” Plotnikoff says.
2. Muscle Weakness
Here’s a shocker most folks don’t realize: most muscle weakness issues are low vitamin D related. The National Institutes of Health reports that a person suffering from a vitamin D deficiency will have trouble with proper muscle function.
3. Psoriasis
This extremely common skin issue is an autoimmune disorder that many don’t realize can be vitamin D-related. This nutrient plays an important role in the treatment of psoriasis. Psoriasis gets worse over time and spreads, so even if you only have a little spot on your elbow or knee, get your vitamin D levels checked, and be sure to be taking a daily dose of high vitamin, unheated cod liver oil.
4. Constant Fatigue
Vitamin D is necessary for the body to produce energy. If you are constantly tired or must lean heavily on that morning cup of Joe to get going in the morning, best to play it safe and get your levels checked.
5. Depression
No, it’s not all in your head! Feelings of hopelessness can be related to nutritional D deficiency. The Vitamin D Council reports that vitamin D is critical for the brain to produce the happy hormone serotonin.
Some folks only suffer from depression during winter months, known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). This condition is caused by lack of sun exposure and hence vitamin D during this time of year.
6. Sweaty Head
This is quite possibly the weirdest symptom of vitamin D deficiency. Old-time doctors apparently used to ask new mothers if their heads were sweatier than normal in order to pinpoint a lurking vitamin D deficiency as reported by NDHealthFacts.
A sweaty head is also a subclinical symptom of rickets, possibly the most prominent and dangerous form of vitamin D deficiency in children.
7. Constant Respiratory Problems
This warning symptom is related to flu as a vitamin D deficiency disease. If low vitamin D puts people at risk for flu, it stands to reason they would be at risk for other respiratory problems too, and possibly on a chronic basis. Studies have demonstrated that vitamin D protects against respiratory illness particularly in children, who require hospitalization most frequently due to bronchiolitis and pneumonia.
Scared of COVID or the flu? The most proactive step you can take short of frequent beach jaunts is to make sure your Vitamin D levels are high by taking a daily dose of cod liver oil!
8. Hypertension and/or Cardiovascular Disease
My mother helped resolve high blood pressure issues with a daily dose of high vitamin cod liver oil. Her success in this regard is in line with the Vitamin D Council which recommends adequate vitamin D levels in order to avoid this silent, symptomless killer. 1 out of every 3 Americans and 4 in 10 worldwide suffer from this serious condition.
In addition, the National Institutes of Health has identified vitamin D deficiency as a risk factor that can lead to congestive heart failure.
9. Chronic Kidney Disease
Chronic kidney disease is a growing health concern. It is a primary and powerful predictor for premature cardiovascular disease.
Not surprisingly, given that cardiovascular disease itself indicates a likely vitamin D deficit, research indicates that those that suffer from chronic kidney disease are also D deficient in a big way.
10. You are an Infection Magnet
If you suffer from one infection after another, it is wise to get those vitamin D levels checked pronto. As described above, T cells which are an important part of the immune system, are properly activated by vitamin D. If D levels are low or even undetectable, adequate and effective immune response to an infection in the body will be severely hampered.
Do you suffer from one or more of these 10 symptoms of low vitamin D? Did you know that these signs are usually blamed on something else? Did you suspect a vitamin D deficiency might be the true reason? Have you ordered a blood spot test kit or started taking unheated, high vitamin cod liver oil? What did you find out from testing and what have your results been?
References
Why You Get the Flu
Vitamin D and Hypertension
Vitamin D and Chronic Kidney Disease
Vitamin D Intake in Young Children with Acute Respiratory Infection
NDHealthFacts
More Information
6 Little Known Signs of Adrenal Fatigue
Sulphur: The Forgotten Nutrient
The Vitamin Deficiency that is Written All Over Your Face
Macrobiotic Diet and Vitamin D Deficiency
Vitamin D2 in Mushrooms
Good article. I feel depressed these days,and maybe I need to take some vitamin D.
Correction to my earlier comment…my lowest vitamin D level was 10 not 4.
This article should have mentioned that if anyone is getting the Vitamin D level checked, it’s important to also have the parathyroid hormone (not thyroid) level and calcium level checked as well. A few years ago I was feeling really tired and cold all the time…the doctor ran some tests and discovered that my parathyroid hormone was seriously high and D was seriously low (4!). The problem with only checking the D is that if it’s low, and PTH is high, but not diagnosed, and the Dr. prescribes high doses of D, it can cause a FATAL spike in the calcium level. I only knew that from reading up on the parathyroid on an endocrinology website.
Almost all of my hair fell out, following a severe illness and thought it was due to anesthesia from surgery and stress. Turns out, my Vitamin D level was extremely low. It is important for hair and nails.
Dr John Cannell also DOES NOT recommend taking cod liver oil due to the high amounts of vitamin A in it – he believes this is dangerous. He recommends Vitamin D3 for adults 5000iu, 1000iu/per day per 25lbs of weight and 1000iu for infants. Seeing as you are quoting his information shouldn’t you also mention this fact?
There is disagreement and confusion regarding optimal vitamin A amounts and toxicity from excess amounts of the different forms of it. An article on the Weston Price Foundation website states, “…concerns about vitamin A toxicity are exaggerated. While some forms of synthetic vitamin A found in supplements can be toxic at only moderately high doses, fat-soluble vitamin A naturally found in foods like cod liver oil, liver, and butterfat is safe at up to ten times the doses of water-soluble, solidified and emulsified vitamin A found in some supplements that produce toxicity. Additionally, the vitamin D found in cod liver oil and butterfat from pasture-raised animals protects against vitamin A toxicity, and allows one to consume a much higher amount of vitamin A before it becomes toxic. Liver from land mammals is high in vitamin A but low in vitamin D, and should therefore be consumed with other vitamin D-rich foods such as lard or bacon from pasture-raised pigs, egg yolks, and oily fish, or during months in which UV-B light is sufficient to provide one with adequate vitamin D.”
I cannot take any sort of fish oil or cod liver oil anymore due to digestive problems…horrible belching and feel sick all day. I also burped up a can of sardines I tried the other day. Do you think the fish eggs would work for me? Can you recommend a source?
A deficiency of hydrochloric acid is implicated with fishy burping.
You can find enzymes that are specifically for breaking down fats, and then you won’t have that problem.
Thank you for this timely article.
I have two comments to make: one is that if you are very low in Vit D, FCLO might not be enough to raise your levels because of the vitamin A also in the cod liver oil. If you are just trying to maintain levels I think it is fine, but be aware that it might not work for everyone and could, in theory, exacerbate the deficiency -I believe this is what happened to my partner earlier on this year. There is some suggestions online that this may be likely, but WAPF have disagreed with this theory. I’m not sure either way, but it’s something for people to bear in mind.
Secondly, if you are taking vitamin D3 supplements, you MUST also watch your magnesium levels to ensure that you are not in danger from vitamin D toxicity, and also to activate the vitamin D so that it does its job, there is much info on this online, but here is a succinct explanation: http://www.easy-immune-health.com/magnesium-and-vitamin-d.html
Hope this info helps someone!
That’s odd. I’m sure I’m deficient since I never go outside hardly, but I don’t have any of the symptoms listed here at all. ???
YOU MUST TAKE D3 FOR IT TO REALLY WORK WELL……
WHAT ELSE besides cod liver oil?? Can’t take it bc of a severe fish allergy.