Vitamin D is essential to absorb iron. Therefore an iron deficiency may indicate low vitamin D levels in your body. As both are interlinked, it is essential to watch out for low iron and vitamin D symptoms and visit your healthcare provider to determine the root cause and receive a treatment plan.

Is Vitamin D Deficiency Common?

Vitamin D deficiency is a common problem, but it’s not likely to know you are deficient without blood testing. That’s because the symptoms are mostly non-specific and subtle, making it difficult to differentiate whether they are caused by vitamin D deficiency or other medical conditions.

Low Vitamin D Levels

Though common, untreated vitamin D deficiency can lead to health complications. Lack of vitamin D in older adults can cause:

• Osteoporosis (loss of bone density): Can cause bone fractures
• Osteomalacia: Can cause bone pain, weak bones, and muscle weakness

The same condition in children can cause rickets, a rare disease characterized by softening and distortion of bones.

How Vitamin D Deficiency Impacts Weight Gain

People with sufficient vitamin D levels are likely to lose weight, and Vitamin D-deficient persons are more vulnerable to weight gain. Vitamin D also impacts body weight because it can affect fat cell production and the storage of fats in your body.

Symptoms of Low Vitamin D

Vitamin D-deficient people do not develop any symptoms during the onset of the condition. However, prolonged deficiency can cause symptoms such as:

• Weakness or tingling
• Contracting infections or getting sick frequently
• Fatigue
• Bone loss
• Bone pain
• Back pain
• Getting fractures easily
• Spine deformities or stooped posture and loss of height
• Muscle cramps
• Poor growth in children
• Increased sweating

Understanding the Iron and Vitamin D Deficiency Connection

A study found that 23% of iron-deficient female athletes were three times more likely to get vitamin D deficiency. Also, vitamin D-deficient women were 2.7 times more likely to have iron deficiency. The journal of Current Opinion in Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Obesity reveals that maintaining sufficient vitamin D levels is essential for preventing inflammatory type anemia.

Your body needs iron, especially your liver that also processes vitamin D. Iron is essential to make:

• Hemoglobin: It is a protein in red blood cells that transports oxygen from the lungs to all parts of the body
• Myoglobin: It is another protein that gives oxygen to muscles

Also, iron is necessary to synthesize connective tissue and normal cellular functioning. You may not have sufficient healthy red blood cells if you are iron-deficient. This can cause iron-deficiency anemia, resulting in serious health problems.

Symptoms of mild iron-deficiency anemia are:

• Tinnitus
• Fatigue or dizziness
• Difficulty concentrating
• Chest pain, rapid heartbeat, or shortness of breath
• Depression
• Headache

As the condition progresses, symptoms may include:

• Difficulty swallowing
• Pale or yellow skin
• Sore or smooth tongue
• Craving for clay or ice
• Brittle spoon-shaped toenails and fingernails

Treating Iron Deficiency

Low Iron deficiency is generally treated using the following methods:

• Increasing intake of iron-rich foods
• Taking iron supplements can restore adequate iron levels in your body
• If you have excessive bleeding or any underlying disease that causes iron deficiency, your doctor may prescribe the appropriate treatments to cure it to minimize your iron deficiency

Treating Iron Deficiency Through Iron Infusions

Iron deficiency can be treated through diet alterations and iron supplements. However, if you can’t take iron through the mouth, your gut can’t absorb sufficient iron, you need to boost your body’s iron levels to avoid medical complications, or can’t absorb adequate iron due to excess blood loss, iron infusion treatment can be prescribed by your doctor to increase your body’s iron levels.

Are you suffering from Vitamin D deficiency caused by inadequate iron levels? Schedule an appointment with Chesapeake Oncology Hematology Associates for low iron and vitamin D diagnosis. We offer effective iron infusion treatments and can help restore iron levels in your body. Contact us today if you have any questions about hematology or oncology.

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