subclinical deficiency

Vitamin D Deficiency Stages

We don’t normally think about vitamin d deficiency stages, but more along the lines that you’re either deficient or not. But if you’re getting less vitamin d than is optimal for you, you could be experiencing sub-clinical deficiencies.

So what exactly is a sub-clinical deficiency? Let’s talk about it.

Stages of a Vitamin Deficiency

The following stages apply not only to vitamin d, but other vitamins and minerals as well. Here are the stages, from least to most deficient. (I say vitamin, but I mean minerals as well; it’s shorter to just say “vitamin”.)

A preliminary deficiency. This where you may be getting just enough of a vitamin to prevent a clinical deficiency. For example, for vitamin d this amount is 400 IU. But your body may require more for good health, due to environmental or emotional stresses.
Biochemical deficiency. This in the second stage, where the concentration of the vitamin in the body tissues lowers. This leaves less of the vitamin for times of greater need. Basically, your stores are being depleted at this point.
Physiological stage. Progressing onward, this is the point where there is less and less of the vitamin in the body, and other body processes that depend on the vitamin start to slow down (or break down).

These three stages are what are called sub-clinical. They haven’t evolved to the point where it may be a measurable deficiency or obvious symptoms; i.e. your levels may be “low” but not “deficient”. Still, your body’s processes are involved; vitamin needs are intertwined, and if one is low, other body processes have a harder time. Which in turn, stresses your system more.

The next two stages of a deficiency are as follows:

Clinical deficiency. This is where the symptoms of a deficiency appear and blood levels indicate as such. The symptoms are obvious.
Anatomical stage. At this point the deficiency is so severe, and the body processes so compromised, that death occurs.

Vitamin D Deficiency Signs and Causes

So, what might you be? You can see the vitamin d deficiency symptoms; review them for your own benefit.

You may also want to read about causes of a vitamin d deficiency, to see if you are at risk (hint, most people are, if only in the winter).

In all likelyhood, most Americans are at a sub-clinical deficiency stage, but there is also reason to believe that a large population has also reached the clinical stage.

You can protect yourself; an inexpensive insurance is a vitamin d supplement.
At just a couple dollars a month you can provide your body what it needs to thrive.