Sunshine Deprivation: How Vitamin D Deficiency Impacts Child Health

Written by Smriti Dey

Published: October 15, 2024

Table of Contents

Why Vitamin D Is Vital For Child’s Health?

How Vitamin D Deficiency Impacts Child Health?

Rickets
Brittle Bones and Inflexibility
Harms Immunity

Various Ways Your Child Can Gain Vitamin D

Conclusion

Vitamin D is an essential vitamin that the body needs to survive. Knowing about Vitamin D and how it impacts your child is essential as a parent to ensure that your child is getting complete nutrition.

There are times when you are always worried about your child's needs, health status, and symptoms. Instead of being confused, you can quickly look for symptoms and signs to ensure your child is okay without any problems.

Alongside that, a daily nutritional dose or a balanced diet with proper meal planning is always helpful to avoid any deficiencies. Many parents don't realize that vitamin deficiency can be severe, and it is imperative to keep a look at them as your child grows up.

Why Vitamin D Is Vital For Child’s Health?

Vitamin D is essential in a child's body because a child's overall bone structure is currently developing. Vitamin D plays a vital role in the absorption of calcium from different kinds of food along with phosphate to enhance bone development and growth. The main function of vitamin D is to strengthen bones and immunity.

Without proper intake of vitamin D, your child can have various bone deformities and infections due to decreased immunity. Vitamin D also supports good endurance and resistance towards injuries through stronger bones and muscles, making your child more stable.

Now that you know why vitamin D is essential for your child's health, learn how vitamin D deficiency impacts a child's health.

How Vitamin D Deficiency Impacts Child Health?

Get to know how vitamin D deficiency impacts your child's health given below:

1. Rickets

Rickets is a bone deformity disease that can be very aggressive in a child who is still developing bones. Rickets can cause an inability to walk or balance properly. Rickets also cause soft bones, making the joints, especially knees and ankles, unable to function properly. Children who are suffering from rickets will also face inward curving of the knees, making the legs below the knees spread out in an "A" shape. Not only is it very painful, but rickets can be cured only in the initial stages with corrective leg supports. Without proper care, Vitamin D rickets can make a child suffer various adversities.

2. Brittle Bones and Inflexibility

A child who is suffering from vitamin D deficiency will have brittle bones because of improper bone growth. Not only brittle bones but also inflexibility will cause your child to suffer from various problems. Difficulty in walking, excessive clumsiness, immediate bone tears, or severe fractures along with dislocation can be some of the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency. Children who are suffering from Vitamin D deficiency are more prone to accidents because of these elements. Not only this, but it also makes it difficult for bones to heal properly because of the deficiency.

3. Harms Immunity

It is essential to note that along with severe bone issues, vitamin D deficiency can cause many immunity issues. Vitamin D is also responsible for strengthening and building up immunity, keeping the child away from infections and diseases. A child suffering from vitamin D deficiency is prone to frequent sickness with various infections and constant fever. Sun deprivation is also a very harmful agent for vitamin D deficiency because most of the vitamin D is gathered from the sun. If you want your child to be healthy, make sure that they get plenty of Vitamin D supplements to grow healthier and stronger.

Various Ways Your Child Can Gain Vitamin D

There are plenty of food sources that you can provide your child with. Keep reading to learn more.

Dairy products like milk, cheese, yogurt, and paneer are mostly full of Vitamin D that a parent can easily include in meal planning, creating delicious dishes out of them as a base ingredient.
Cheese can be added to snacks, breakfasts, and bread, and yogurt can be served as a side or dessert in dinners and lunches.
Paneer can be made into various curries your child would love with roti and bread.
Many greens, such as spinach and other leafy greens, also carry vitamin D.
Different types of mushrooms also contain vitamin D-rich elements that will help your child enjoy a healthy meal.
Soybean is another vitamin D-rich ingredient that you can use for curries and rice preparation.

Conclusion

Now that you have more information about how important vitamin D is and how vitamin D deficiency can affect your child's growth, make sure that you let your child play in the sun without any deprivation. Also, there are lots of foods that are Vitamin D-rich for your child to eat and grow healthy and strong.