"Annoyed and forgetful"... Surprisingly, is this a sign of deficiency in 'this'?

Indoor activities increase, leading to common vitamin D deficiency

Vitamin D is primarily synthesized through ultraviolet rays. However, modern people who spend more time indoors rarely engage in outdoor activities and get sunlight naturally. Even the outdoor activities they do participate in are often accompanied by wearing sun umbrellas or masks, or applying sunscreen for cosmetic reasons such as preventing skin aging. Additionally, during winter, the reduced amount of sunlight makes vitamin D deficiency even more severe.

Vitamin D deficiency symptoms frequently appear in people living in areas with low sunlight exposure, individuals with dark skin, those on a low-fat diet, and people taking weight loss medications. If you fall into any of these categories, special care is required.

If your memory worsens and you gain weight, it could be due to a vitamin D deficiency.

If you often feel tired or easily get annoyed over small things, you should suspect a vitamin D deficiency. You may have difficulty concentrating, poor memory, and experience rapid weight gain. Additionally, you might swell easily, have joint pain, and frequently feel pessimistic and depressed.

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, 91% of adult men and 96% of adult women are experiencing vitamin D deficiency. Since vitamin D plays a crucial role in maintaining various physiological functions, a deficiency can increase the risk of disease development, so it is important to ensure adequate supplementation.

Vitamin D is an essential nutrient for bone health as it helps with calcium absorption, making it even more important. Because of this, a deficiency in vitamin D can increase the risk of fractures even with minor impacts. This can lead to osteomalacia or osteoporosis. Additionally, vitamin D also affects the secretion of serotonin, a hormone that regulates mood, so a deficiency can cause feelings of depression or irritability. There are also cases where individuals feel tired even after sleeping and experience symptoms of forgetfulness.

Getting sunlight is the best, but taking health supplements is also good.

Getting sunlight is the best. Consciously exposing parts of the face, hands, and feet 2 to 3 times a week is a good method. During the winter months when outdoor activities are limited, it is also beneficial to consume foods rich in vitamin D, such as fatty fish, animal liver, egg yolks, and mushrooms. At this time, including green leafy vegetables to facilitate the smooth synthesis of vitamin D can enhance the effect.

It can also be taken as a health supplement. Natural vitamin supplements have fewer side effects and higher absorption rates in the body compared to synthetic vitamins. Vitamins require carbohydrates, proteins, and fats for better absorption, so it is also important to remember that taking them immediately after a meal can enhance their effectiveness.

However, vitamin D supplements contain minerals that can interfere with the absorption of osteoporosis medications, thyroid supplements, and antibiotics, so if you are taking any of these medications, it is advisable to consult with your doctor before deciding to take the supplement.

Care should also be taken to avoid excessive intake of vitamin D. Overdose can lead to calcium accumulation in the kidneys, heart, and lungs, which may result in kidney stones or hypercalcemia.