Vitamin D Deficiency Symptoms and Diagnosis

Clinical Manifestations

• Fatigue and weakness are common symptoms of vitamin D deficiency, according to Praxis Medical Insights 1
• Rickets in children is a visible skeletal change that can occur due to vitamin D deficiency, as reported by Clinical Nutrition 2

Laboratory Findings

• The American College of Physicians defines vitamin D deficiency as serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels < 20 ng/mL, as stated in Annals of Internal Medicine 3
• Low calcium and phosphorus levels can occur in severe cases of vitamin D deficiency, as noted by Clinical Infectious Diseases 4

Special Populations at Higher Risk

• Bariatric surgery patients may experience unexplained anemia, fatigue, and increased risk of fractures, according to Obesity Reviews 5, 6
• Patients with inflammatory bowel disease may present with bone pain, increased fracture risk, and secondary hyperparathyroidism, as reported by Gut 7

Individual Variation

• Individual variation exists in vitamin D metabolism based on genotype, phenotype, and environmental conditions, as stated by Praxis Medical Insights 1