Watch Out For Changes In Your Hair That May Indicate Vitamin D Deficiency

Vitamin D is a cluster of fat-soluble vitamins in charge of increasing the intestinal absorption of magnesium, phosphate, and calcium. It is important for overall health and also plays a major role in ensuring your lungs, heart, brain, and muscles work well. Suffering from vitamin D deficiency is detrimental to your health, and one warning sign includes a change in your hair.

Aside from vitamin D, the body cannot produce its own vitamins. Vitamins are nutrients that the body can get from food. Vitamin D, however, is an entirely different story. The human body can produce this vitamin in response to sunlight exposure. You can also boost your vitamin D intake by taking certain supplements or foods.

Your body must get enough vitamin D because your body requires it to manage phosphate and calcium. These are the nutrients you need to help keep your teeth, muscles, and bones healthy.

Some suffer from vitamin D deficiency, particularly during the winter months, which may begin as early as October until March. When you have little or no sun exposure, you may suffer from vitamin D deficiency. At this point, you may experience some of its symptoms.

Hair Loss

If you lack vitamin D, you may start noticing some changes in your hair. Studies show that vitamin D deficiency can oftentimes lead to hair loss. This is because it is the one responsible in stimulating new and old hair follicles.

If your body lack or produces insufficient amounts of this vitamin, your hair growth may be stunted. Vitamin D deficiency has also been strongly linked to alopecia, a health condition characterized by the loss of hair in many areas of the body. This condition also causes bald patches to appear on the scalp.

In a study involving women aged 18 to 45 years old who had alopecia or experienced hair loss, the researchers found they had low levels of vitamin D. The study conducted by the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health yielded similar results, which is, vitamin D deficiency was the cause of female hair loss. Researchers observed that low vitamin D and serum ferritin are linked to hair loss in women.

Vitamin D Food Sources

Dieticians like Franziska Spritzler are one in saying that vitamin D is a crucial vitamin that plays various roles in several systems throughout the body. She said many people have no inkling they are already deficient because it generally has subtle symptoms. Hair loss, though, is a strong indication that you may be suffering from vitamin D deficiency.

If there is serious hair loss, a disease or nutrient deficiency may be causing it. Staying most of the time indoors and wearing clothing that covers almost the entire body is among the risk factors of vitamin D deficiency. To counter its effects, you should eat more foods like liver, egg yolks, oily fish, red meat, and vitamin D fortified foods. Taking a supplement can also help.

If you are experiencing symptoms of vitamin D deficiency, you should seek an appointment with your doctor to discuss the best treatment plan. Resolve this health issue at the earliest possible time.