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“Vitamin D facts”
Interesting facts about vitamin D:
Vitamin D is one of the fat-soluble vitamins, which means that some fat is required in the diet in order for the body to be able to absorb and utilise this amazing vitamin properly.
Vitamin D is classified as a hormone, as it has steroid hormone-like effects in the body. It is a hormone involved in mineral metabolism and bone growth.
Latest research shows that vitamin D receptors exist on all cells in the body, which means that all cells require some vitamin D to ensure they are functioning properly. This could also be the reason why research also shows that adequate and healthy levels of vitamin D are essential in preventing death from any reason.
Vitamin D regulates the amount of calcium that is absorbed when foods rich in calcium are eaten. This is part of its action in mineral metabolism and bone growth, which calcium is an integral part. Vitamin D is also involved with magnesium and phosphorus absorption, which are also part of bone metabolism and growth.
Vitamin D is really important, together with calcium, to help remineralise bones which helps with regulating and maintaining bone density so that they remain healthy and strong, preventing the brittleness and weakness associated with lack of of both calcium and vitamin D called osteoporosis. Vitamin D also regulates the growth, repair and maintenance of bone tissues with help from calcium and phosphorus and which vitamin D also regulates their levels in the blood to help it perform its functions more effectively.
Vitamin D is also very important for the health of teeth. Vitamin D works exactly the same way with calcium and phosphorus to maintain healthy and strong teeth.
The immune system requires an adequate supply of vitamin D to function properly, as vitamin D helps to strengthen the immune system. It appears that there are vitamin D receptors on all cells in the body. This ties in with recent research, which has concluded that people who have good levels of vitamin D in their body are at a lower risk for mortality from all disease causes.
Vitamin D is needed to ensure there is proper regulation and maintenance of cell growth and development, particularly for infants and children, who experience very high rates of growth and development and this needs to be healthy and normal.
Vitamin D is used to treat hypocalcaemia (low blood calcium levels), which is a common condition in people with kidney disease, as they cannot properly maintain levels of many nutrients, including calcium. Vitamin D helps the body better absorb calcium from the diet or supplements and so is effective in raising blood calcium levels in people with low calcium levels (hypocalcaemia).
Studies and anecdotal evidence shows that people with psoriasis, a chronic skin disease that makes the skin get itchy, red, flaky patches seem to get relief when they expose the affected skin to sunshine. The sunlight clears up the patches of psoriasis for many people with this skin disorder. Prescription creams that have vitamin D added are prescribed for people with psoriasis and they do help relieve symptoms. But, research shows that high vitamin D supplements do not help psoriasis and in fact are dangerous, as they can produce toxicity symptoms.
psoriasis is a chronic skin disease that makes the skin get itchy, red, flaky patches. Sunshine seems to clear up the patches for some people. Likewise, a prescription cream that has vitamin D in it seems to help too. Just taking a lot of vitamin D in supplements does not help psoriasis – and it could be dangerous
The best source of vitamin D, called cholecalciferol, comes from direct sunshine on the face, arms and legs. Current recommendations for sun exposure are for people to be in direct sunlight on exposed skin (no sunscreen) on the face, legs and arms, for about 10-20 minutes every day in the part of the day when the sun is the least strongest (before 11am and after 4pm). As the sun is the best source of vitamin D, it is imperative that people get enough sunshine every day (or most days) because it is so important for overall health.
The plant form of vitamin D, called ergosterol, is found in various plants and plant oils. It is also found in cod liver oil in abundance. This form of vitamin D does not need to be converted by the liver (and the kidneys) into the active form of vitamin D that can then be used by the body for various metabolic purposes.
In fact, it is well known that people who live in climates which do not get much sunlight, have a higher incidence of both colon and breast cancer. There is a connection between risk for colon and breast cancer and low sunshine exposure.
Vitamin D is an extremely important nutrient, recent studies have determined that getting enough vitamin D in the diet is a major factor in preventing mortality from all disease causes and increasing life expectancy. This is a very strong statement about the potency and importance of vitamin D.
Disclaimer: The advice on this site should be viewed as a general guideline only and it should not replace the advice of a medical professional. Always consult your medical or health care provider to get the advice and care for your particular and individual health, nutrition, diet and fitness circumstances.