Normal functioning of the human body is possible subject to the replenishment of vitamins, minerals and other useful substances. Their deficiency leads to disruption of organ function and metabolism. A special role is assigned to vitamins. The deficiency of these components has a very noticeable effect on health. In order to avoid this problem, you need to eat rationally and take preventive measures.
The value of vitamin D3
Takes part in many processes in the body. It affects the immune, bone, nervous systems, cell growth and the condition of the endocrine glands.
The component is primarily responsible for the absorption of the minerals magnesium and calcium, which are necessary for the formation of dental and bone tissue. Vitamin D3 takes an active part in the exchange of phosphorus and calcium, as a result of which, due to an increased influx of minerals, tooth and bone tissue are strengthened. It influences the processes of cell renewal and growth, protects the body from the development of cancer. A sufficient concentration of the component helps strengthen the immune system, normalizes blood glucose levels, and has a positive effect on the cardiovascular system.
The daily norm is about 500 IU, for adults - 600 IU. Women during pregnancy and breastfeeding are recommended to take up to 1500 IU. An additional dose is also needed for older people.
Vitamin D deficiency: causes
Vitamin D deficiency in the body, the development of which can be caused by factors such as lack of sunlight and insufficient indoor insolation, is a fairly common phenomenon. It is more common in people who live in northern latitudes, where lack of sunlight and long winters prevent the skin from producing the component. Poor nutrition and insufficient consumption of dairy products and fish can also lead to the development of deficiency.
The body is able to use vitamin D3 only in its active form, which is the responsibility of the kidneys. Accordingly, people with kidney failure or other problems with these organs are also at risk of developing vitamin D deficiency. Diseases such as cystic fibrosis, celiac disease, and Crohn's disease interfere with the absorption of the component from food.
The following factors contribute to the development of vitamin D deficiency: vegetarian diet, use of antacids, kidney and liver disease, dark skin, lactation and pregnancy, age over 50 years.
Deficiency Symptoms
Depending on the degree of deficiency and sensitivity of a person, the symptoms of deficiency may differ. In the initial stages, it may not manifest itself at all, and then suddenly turn into rickets. Symptoms of deficiency include: weight loss, weakness, stooped posture, bone deformities, spinal deformities, slow growth in children, muscle cramps, dental deformities, delayed tooth formation, joint pain.
Vitamin deficiency in the body can be cured if you pay attention to the problem in time. To do this, you need to monitor your health and the health of your children, create the right menu, walk in the fresh air and avoid bad habits.
Possible complications
If measures are not taken to neutralize vitamin D deficiency, it can lead to the development of very serious diseases that are difficult to treat, and in some cases can last a lifetime. The most common complications include rickets (especially in childhood), osteoporosis (brittle bones), osteomalacia, fractures and bone deformities. In early childhood, when a child's bone tissue is just forming, a lack of vitamin can affect the quality of bones in the future.
Against the background of a deficiency, the following diseases can gradually develop: multiple sclerosis, hypertension, constant headaches, depression, chronic pain and fatigue, diseases of the cardiovascular system, cancer, asthma, arthritis.
Prevention
You can prevent the development of deficiency by following simple rules. The first is sufficient exposure to the sun and fresh air. Sunlight has a positive effect on a person's general condition and stimulates the production of vitamin D in the skin. The daily diet should include foods that contain this component. They can replace medications and provide the body with the necessary substances.
Complex supplements or vitamin preparations should only be taken after a thorough examination by a doctor. A specialist can prescribe them for diseases that may contribute to the development of deficiency.
Treatment of deficiency
A lack of vitamin in the blood can lead to serious complications, so it is necessary to take action at the first sign. Treatment should be comprehensive and consist of several steps. First, it is necessary to discover the cause that caused the deficiency and eliminate it. It is worth reconsidering your lifestyle and daily diet, and making some adjustments to it. In particular, you need to eat fatty fish, dairy products, and drink fortified milk more often.
After an examination at the clinic, the doctor may prescribe medications containing vitamin D. The choice of medications is very wide; vitamin D3 (solution) is popular. The drug is also known as Aquadetrim. Before using any product, you should read the instructions. Vitamin D3 is of great importance for infants. The good thing about the drug "Aquadetrim" is that it is suitable for use from four weeks of life.
Vitamin D3
To maintain a normal level of the component in the blood, you need to include in your daily diet foods containing it in sufficient quantities. If this fails, then medications that are designed to provide the body with vitamin D3 will come to the rescue.
The most common drugs include Viganol, Minisan, Aquadetrim. The last one, an aqueous solution of vitamin D3, deserves special attention. The peculiarity of the drug is that it is approved for use by pregnant women and newborn babies. The product prevents the development of rickets, osteoporosis and other similar diseases, and is used in the treatment of vitamin deficiency. The drug can be bought at any pharmacy kiosk at an affordable price, it is available without a prescription, but before use, especially during pregnancy, it is advisable to consult a doctor and carefully read the instructions.
Pharmacology
The drug "Aquadetrim", or aqueous vitamin D3, thanks to the active substance - colecalciferol, affects the normalization of the metabolism of phosphates and calcium, resulting in the correct formation of the bone skeleton and the preservation of the structure of bone tissue. The active component of the product takes part in the reabsorption of phosphates and affects the synthesis of adenosine triphosphoric acid.
The solution helps normalize the content of calcium ions, affects blood clotting and the conduction of nerve impulses, prevents the development of hypovitaminosis and calcium deficiency, which results in the development of diseases such as osteoporosis and rickets.
An aqueous solution of "Aquadetrim", compared to an oil solution, has greater bioavailability and is better adsorbed; it does not require the presence of bile for absorption into the blood, which is especially important for premature babies who still have an immature digestive system.
Indications
The use of vitamin D3 is recommended primarily for vitamin deficiency and hypovitaminosis. The drug is prescribed for the treatment and prevention of rickets-like diseases, hypocalcemia, tetany (caused by hypocalcemia). A sufficient amount of the component is necessary for infants and children who grow and develop, their bones are formed and require its presence for normal absorption of calcium.
During menopause and postmenopause, due to hormonal changes, women may develop osteoporosis, for the treatment of which you also need to take vitamin D3. Instructions for use describe all cases in which Aquadetrim can be used. The drug is prescribed for loss of calcium in teeth and bones, osteomalacia of various etiologies, and osteopathies caused by metabolic disorders. It also has a good effect on the restoration and fusion of bone tissue after fractures.
Contraindications
Before giving vitamin D3 to children or taking it yourself, it is advisable to consult a doctor, because he has a list of contraindications for use and side effects.
You should not take the drug if you are individually sensitive to colecalciferol, or if you are intolerant to benzyl alcohol. If you have elevated calcium levels in your blood (hypercalcemia) or urine (hypercalciuria), you should also stop taking vitamin D3. The instructions prohibit the use of the drug in case of hypervitaminosis, insufficiency of kidney function, active form of tuberculosis, or urolithiasis. During prolonged immobilization, large doses of the drug are contraindicated.
During pregnancy and breastfeeding, the drug is prescribed taking into account the condition of the mother and fetus (child). In this case, extreme caution is needed, because in case of an overdose, the baby may have developmental disorders. Vitamin D3 should also be prescribed with caution for newborns, and especially for premature babies.
Side effects
Patients may experience some side effects when taking vitamin D3. If the drug is used in recommended doses, then the possibility of their occurrence is close to zero. Side effects may occur if the dose is exceeded or if there is individual hypersensitivity to the components of the product.
You can determine the body's reaction to the action of the drug by the following symptoms: irritability, sudden mood swings, stupor, depression, mental disorders, headache. The gastrointestinal tract may be disturbed by dry mouth, thirst, vomiting, nausea, stool disorders, rapid weight loss, even anorexia. The cardiovascular system can react by increasing blood pressure, increasing heart rate, and cardiac dysfunction. In addition, side effects such as nephropathy, myalgia, general muscle weakness, polyuria, and soft tissue calcification may occur.
Special instructions
If the drug is used to treat a disease, then only a doctor can prescribe it, referring to the results of blood and urine tests. When using the drug for preventive purposes, it is necessary to remember the possibility of overdose, especially for pediatric patients. With long-term use of vitamin D3 in high doses, the development of chronic hypervitaminosis is possible.
When giving the drug to newborns, you should pay attention to their individual sensitivity to its components. If taken over a long period of time, this may lead to growth retardation. In old age, patients' daily requirement for the component increases, but vitamin D preparations may be contraindicated for them due to the presence of various diseases. In this case, you need to fill the body’s need by eating foods high in this substance.
Vitamin D3 in foods
You can compensate for the lack of vitamins using not only medications, but also food. Vitamin D3 is found in sufficient quantities in mackerel, mackerel, herring, tuna, fish liver, seafood, eggs, butter, cheese, cottage cheese, and fermented milk products.
Products of plant origin contain little vitamin, which vegetarians should pay attention to. Such products include potatoes, nettles, horsetail, parsley, and oatmeal. It is synthesized under the influence of sunlight, so it is worth spending more time in the fresh air and, if possible, sunbathing.
