NURS 6521 Case Study - VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY

Running Head: VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY Getting enough but not excess vitamin D is essential for maintaining efficient body functions. Thus vitamin D helps in strengthening bones and helps prevent various cancers. Vitamin D deficiency means that an individual is not getting enough vitamin D to maintain their well-being. The deficiency is characterized by various symptoms, including weak muscles, depression, pain, and fatigue. The deficiency has various outcomes for both adults and children. The discussion, therefore, focuses on what happens to the bones on lacking enough vitamin D. Vitamin D Deficiency in Children Rickets, a complication in children, is associated with vitamin D deficiency. The condition describes the weakening of the bones primarily because of an extreme and prolonged vitamin D deficiency. However, rickets is additionally associated with inherited challenges. Vitamin D helps absorb calcium and phosphorous from food during childhood (Amrein et al., 2020). Thus not enough vitamin D makes it challenging to maintain enough levels in bones for both phosphorous and calcium, leading to rickets. Additionally, low vitamin D leads to soft bones in children. Vitamin D Deficiency in Adults Adults who do not get sufficient vitamin D are at a higher risk of weak bones, a condition commonly known as osteomalacia. Osteoporosis, a different condition is characterized by thin bones and muscle weakness. Osteomalacia, the softness of the bones, is caused by severe vitamin D deficiency. The condition in older adults leads to fractures. Osteoporosis describes a condition that weakens the bones, thus making them more likely too fragile and easily breakable. Common injuries in adults experiencing this condition include broken hip and broken wrist. Vitamin D Deficiency Remedies The goals to treat and prevent are similar and are objected at reaching and maintaining the desired levels of vitamin D. While eating healthy foods and acquiring sufficient sunlight is termed a remedy, there is a need to take more supplements (Abulmeaty, 2017). Foods rich 3 in vitamin D comprise cod liver oil, salmon, trout, fortified grains, eggs, mushrooms, dairy, non-dairy milk, and sardines. Therefore, vitamin D levels are efficiently improved through exposure to sunlight, getting outside, and taking supplements. 4 References Abulmeaty, M. M. A. (2017). Sunlight exposure vs. vitamin D supplementation on bone homeostasis of vitamin D deficient rats. Clinical Nutrition Experimental, 11, 1-9. Amrein, K., Scherkl, M., Hoffmann, M., Neuwersch-Sommeregger, S., Köstenberger, M., Berisha, A. T., ... & Malle, O. (2020). Vitamin D deficiency 2.0: an update on the current status worldwide. European journal of clinical nutrition, 74(11), .