A well-balanced diet, rich in proteins, carbs, fats, vitamins and minerals ensures good health. Deficiency of any of these nutrients can take a toll on your health. Vitamin D, which is known to be essential for your bones, plays a vital role in boosting the functions of your immune system too. Study finds that, low levels of vitamin D increases mortality rate among COVID-19 patients. Vitamin D deficiency has been found in many people infected by the novel Coronavirus.
According to the research published in the journal “Aging Clinical and Experimental Research” , older adults are mostly deficient of vitamin D, which makes them more vulnerable to the COVID-19 infection.
Study says, Vitamin D inhibits the overproduction of cytokines, proteins that activate our immune cells. Excessive concentration of these proteins leads to inflammation, which worsens the COVID-19 infection.So, in the current context of the pandemic, it has become all the more important to ensure that your body’s vitamin D reserve isn’t insufficient.
Here is how you can find out if you are Vitamin D deficient:
- Chronic muscle pain
According to some studies, if you experience unexplained muscle pain, then it could be a sign of vitamin D deficiency. Lack of this nutrient may cause severe weakness and pain in the muscles in both adults and children.
- Weak bone health
Poor bone health is another symptom that reflects the deficiency of vitamin D. Calcium and vitamin D deficiency can increase bone damage and cause back aches and pains although the body.
- Falling sick frequently
Immunity has a lot to do with the bacteria and viruses which attack your body. Vitamin D helps in building the immune system’s cells and therefore, when your body is low on the nutrient, your immune cells don’t function properly. This makes you more vulnerable to diseases like cold and flu, fever, allergies, asthma, and eczema.
- Hair fall
Apart from stress, which is one of the common causes of hair loss or hair breakage, deficiency in vitamin D can also damage your hair. Alopecia is an autoimmune disease which is linked with lack of vitamin D in the body and is characterized by severe hair loss.
- Unusual fatigue
Many studies suggest that there’s a connection between vitamin D deficiency and fatigue in women. Since vitamin D boosts your energy and helps you stay active, getting exhausted in the middle of the day may indicate low blood levels of vitamin D.