Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin and is needed in the development of strong and healthy bones. Vitamin D is available in some dietary sources such as fish, eggs, fortified milk, and fish liver oil. Vitamin D deficiency is due to inadequate exposure to sunlight and disorders in the body. Exposure to sunlight produces adequate amount of viatmin D in the skin. Here are some of the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency.

Vitamin D deficiency may be caused due to certain factors like inadequate exposure to sunlight, liver, kidney disease and genetic defect that lead to vitamin D resistance. The symptoms of inadequate vitamin D are soft bone disorders. A deficiency of vitamin D causes rickets in children, osteomalacia in adults and osteoporosis in seniors. Rickets is a softening of bones in children leading to fractures and deformity. Osteomalacia is softening of bones due to lack of vitamin D. Osteoporosis is a disease that leads to increased risk of fracture.

Vitamin D deficiency symptoms

• Vision problems
• Daytime sleepiness
• Excessive fatigue
• Weight loss
• Excessive thrist
• Eye pain and soreness
• Muscle pain
• Muscle weakness
• Heart disease
• Diabetes
• Hypertension
• Stroke
• Parkinson's disease
• Low blood calcium levels

Here are some of the foods rich in vitamin D including sardines, salmon, cat fish, tuna, mackerel, milk, bread, breakfast cereals, fish liver oil, orange juice, egg, and liver.

How to prevent Vitamin D deficiency:

1. Eat a diet rich in vitamin D
2. Talk to your doctor about vitamin D testing
3. 15 minutes exposure to sunlight produces adequate amount of vitamin D
4. Talk to your health care provider adding a vitamin D supplement to your diet. A daily dose of vitamin D is 400 IU.