Vitamin D is essential for your body to form strong bones and teeth, along with many other benefits. It helps your gut absorb calcium and phosphate which form part of your bones. It also helps muscles function correctly and can help boost your immune system. If you do not get enough vitamin D, you may have no symptoms at first, or you might just feel a bit tired and achy. As vitamin D deficiency becomes severe or prolonged, bone pain or bone deformities can develop. For children, over time the long leg bones can permanently bend, making the legs look bowed, in a condition known as rickets. Bones are already set in adults, but prolonged severe vitamin D deficiency can cause osteomalacia, where sufferers complain of bone pain and muscle weakness. This is different to osteoporosis; Osteoporosis is a condition characterized by a decrease in bone mass and density, leading to bones becoming fragile and more prone to fractures. Whereas, osteomalacia is a condition characterized by softening of the bones due to a deficiency of vitamin D or problems with its metabolism. This leads to impaired mineralization of the bone matrix.

There are many possible symptoms of vitamin D deficiency, although it is also possible to have no symptoms at all. Here in this article, Healthwords will walk you through both what Vitamin D does, why it is so important and what the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency are so that you can be on the lookout.