

People tend to get most of their vitamin D from sunshine or through supplements. However, many manufacturers fortify products such as cereals and milk with the vitamin for public health reasons. Very few foods naturally contain vitamin D. In adults, it can increase the risk of osteomalacia and osteoporosis, which result in soft or fragile bones. This is when their bones soften and become prone to fractures. In children, a vitamin D deficiency may cause them to develop rickets. Research suggests that 50% of the worldwide population has insufficient levels of vitamin D, while 35% of adults in the United States have a vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D deficiency can cause serious health problems. It also plays a key role in muscle movement, the nervous system, and the immune system.

It helps the body absorb the calcium it needs to build, maintain, and repair bones. Share on Pinterest Klaus Vedfelt/Getty Images
