Factors that may contribute to vitamin D deficiency:
Vitamin D deficiency is a serious problem that can lead to several health problems. Below are factors that may contribute to vitamin D deficiency.
1. Skin color
The average human skin color is generally classified as light, medium, or dark. In humans, skin pigmentation varies from the darkest brown to the lightest hues. People with fair skin pigmentation tend to have low levels of eumelanin, while those with dark skin pigmentation tend to have higher levels of eumelanin.
People with dark skin pigmentation are at a higher risk for Vitamin D deficiency because they have less exposure to sunlight, which is the primary source of Vitamin D. The melanin absorbs the sun’s ultraviolet B (UVB) rays in the skin. Hence, people with darker skin need more sun exposure to generate the same amount of vitamin D as those with lighter skin.