Loss of Appetite
Vitamin D is vital in regulating your appetite. A vitamin D deficiency can lead to a decreased appetite and subsequent weight loss. While this may sound like a good thing for people looking to lose weight, it’s quite dangerous.
For example, one study found that people with higher levels of vitamin D in their blood were more likely to report having a healthy appetite than those with lower levels of vitamin D.
In addition to its role in calcium absorption, vitamin D also regulates the release of two hormones in the body: leptin and ghrelin. Leptin is a hormone that suppresses appetite and tells your brain when you’re full. Ghrelin, on the other hand, is a hormone that increases appetite and makes you feel hungry.
When the body doesn’t have enough vitamin D, it produces less leptin and more ghrelin. This imbalance between the two hormones can lead to a decrease in appetite and weight loss. In severe cases, vitamin D deficiency can also cause wasting, which is when your body breaks down muscle tissue for energy.
