The link between anemia and vitamin D deficiency

I had been treating my iron deficiency anemia for several months and was having great success, until I wasn’t.

Even though my iron levels were going up, I started to struggle again with anemia symptoms, like shortness of breath, racing heart, heart palpitations, feeling dizzy or faint, fatigue, muscle weakness, restless legs, anxiety, muscle spasms, and waking up gasping for breath.

For months doctors couldn’t figure out what was wrong with me. They said my anemia just wasn’t “that bad.” I didn’t know what to do. I was extremely ill, oxygen deprived, and exhausted all the time all over again, but they just kept telling me that it wasn’t “bad enough” for them to intervene.

After multiple trips to the ER, and no diagnosis is for help from doctors. I finally was able to visit a free clinic and get testing to check my nutrient levels. I did a ton of research and knew which other deficiencies could cause similar symptoms, so I requested them all.

I asked to be tested for iron, vitamin D, vitamin B12, magnesium, and folate. My test came back positive for vitamin D deficiency. I was at a 20. My husband got tested too and he was at a 17.

They told me that the normal range was 20-50, but through some research, I found that the optimal level for vitamin D is actually between 50-70.

Always research the OPTIMAL level for any nutrient, because doctors won’t tell you how low you actually are, only whether the number is critical or not. It still shocks me that doctors will let all your values dip so low as to create chronic illness conditions before they’ll step in or even issue you a warning. By that time, it’s already too late.

But it turns out a vitamin D deficiency CAN cause the same conditions and symptoms as iron deficiency anemia. It can also lower absorption of iron and other nutrients, essentially starving your body of what it needs to produce healthy red blood cells.

If you’re having any of the above symptoms and haven’t had a recent test for common deficiencies like iron, vitamin D, vitamin B12, magnesium, and folate… GET TESTED.

These deficiencies are especially common in menstruating women and girls, and they can cause permanent damage to organs if left untreated. You don’t want to wait until you’re out of the ‘normal’ range. The goals should always be to stay in the optimal range.