Vitamin D groups affected.

The skin creates vitamin D by converting 7-dehydrocholestrol to precursor of vitamin D3. Calcidiol is also converted into it active form through the help of the kidney. As one grow older, performance ability of the skin and kidney begins to diminish in terms of creating this vitamin D. This made aged people more vulnerable to vitamin D defficiency and therefore more may need supplement of the vitamin.
Anther group who are highly vulnerable to vitamin D deficiency are the obese. There are proofs that the circulating forms of vitamin D in their body mechanism is at a relatively lower level due to the fatty acid present in their lower level. So they may require more vitamin D supplement.

Newly born babies are also vulnerable to lack of enough vitamin D required by the body. This is so because breast feeding a baby alone does not produce this nutrient in the baby. The milk of the breast is very much lacking sufficient vitamin. And since the infants cannot get this vitamin via the UVB ultraviolet light mainly because it is not advisable to expose infants to sunlight which could have been a good source of vitamin D. They may have to taka vitamin D supplementation.

Light and dark skinned people could also be at risk of been vitamin D deficient because the skin pigment of then dark people living at latitudes hinders the absorption of the UVB ultraviolet light though area with high amount of sunlight may not have this problems since enough vitamin D is produced and absorbed by the most resisting skin. But at high latitude where sunshine is low and almost absent at winter plus the protective cloths worn against cold, vitamin D production is completely deterred resulting in possible deficiency.

light skinned people on the other hand may be less vulnerable to vitamin Deficiency, because there is lower amount of pigmentation in their skin therefore more sunlight can be absorbed. But notwithstanding, those residing at the higher latitudes may experience hinderance of absorption of sunlight and the creation of vitamin D. therefore are at risk of vitamin D deficiency. In the tropics however, light skinned people may face problem of too much or excessive sunlight leading to sunburn.

Also vitamin D deficiency may result, if exposure to sunlight is avoided. Recent report show that Australians lack sufficient vitamin D. this is a result of certain health awareness creation programming which purported that that exposure of the skin to sunlight can lead to skin cancer. So proper shading form sun rays was suggested to prevent cancer. But this shading from sunlight also hinders creation of vitamin D in the body resulting in vitamin D deficiency a situation that can also result in that same skin cancer which was meant to be avoided by shading the sunlight from reaching the skin. So the solution recommended by skin specialist is daily sunscreen allowing a little sunlight to reach the skin and a daily in take of supplementation.

Hyperparathyroidism patients or patient that have had their parathyroid gland removed are highly susceptible to vitamin D deficiency hence the need for large in take of vitamin D supplement up to 1000 micro grams/day in order to maintain blood level of calcium. This is because such chronic liver disease result in serious malabsorption. But prolonged in take of such supplement have to be regulated to avoid toxicity in the case of a normal person.

Finally, adults is another group that are highly susceptible to vitamin D deficiency even if they adhere to the daily recommendation of up to 200 IU in take of vitamin D which is not assured by the RDA beyond 50 years of age

The articles on this website should not be used as a basis for any form of diagnosis or treatment for any medical condition. Always seek professional medical advice.