Vitamin D sources, health benefits and uses

Vitamin D, which can only be found in animal sources, is fat-soluble, and can be produced by the body upon exposure to ultaviolet radiation. It can be obtained by ingesting fish liver oil such as halibut and cod, milk, butter, cheese, cream, egg, margarine, and yogurt.

Vitamin D is also available in liquid form, as softgel capsules, and in tablet form from 50 to 1,000 international units (IU). Vitamin D injections are also available by prescription.

Vitamin D is transformed to its active hormone form by the liver and the kidney. Calciferol, a type of vitamin D, is converted to 25-hydroxycholecalciferol, calcidiol, and then is synthesized by the kidney to form several active forms including 1,25-dihydroxychoolecalciferol, calcitriol.

Many people may not be getting enough vitamin D, particularly those who live in northern areas where it is cold – like the northern half of the United States – and the elderly, who do not venture out into the sunlight that often. Also, people with dark skin do not absorb light as easily as people with light skin, giving the former group a greater risk of vitamin D deficiency as compared with the latter group.

According to one study, three-quarters of adults in America have low levels of vitamin D.

The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that babies should ingest around 400 IU of vitamin D daily. Since breast-fed infants or those who receive fortified formulas may have the possibility of not receiving proper amounts of vitamin D daily, supplementation may be needed.

Side effects of too much vitamin D consumption include being very thirsty, tiredness, itchy skin, diarrhea, a frequent need to urinate, bone pain, constipation, metal taste in mouth, muscle problems, poor appetite, sore eyes, vomiting, and weight loss.

Medicinal uses for vitamin D

People who lack vitamin D in their bodies are more prone to falls. Research shows that taking a vitamin D supplement (700 to 1,000 IU daily) can reduce the risk of falling. Vitamin D intake can decrease incidents of falling in senior citizens by 22 percent.

Vitamin D treats seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a kind of depression that occurs during the winter months when people cannot see the sun and are therefore not graced by its rays. In winter, people who live above the line running from Los Angeles to South Carolina may not get enough vitamin D. Taking vitamin D can generally improve the mood of people who have seasonal affective disorder.

Body systems supported by vitamin D

Vitamin D is good for the cardiovascular system. It can prevent calcium and plaque buildup in the arteries, thereby staving off atherosclerosis that can result in heart attacks or strokes.

Vitamin D is good for the respiratory system. Initial research says that vitamin D supplementation is helpful in fighting against respiratory infections.

Where to learn more

• Pharma-controlled Journal of the American Medical Association waging full-scale attack on Vitamin D in effort to push flu shots for toddlers
• The best dietary sources of vitamin D
• Vitamin D prevents heart disease
• Vitamin D Halts Growth of Breast Cancer Tumors
• Vitamin D: The Silver Bullet Against Chronic Disease for African Americans

Summary

Vitamin D is good for the cardiovascular and respiratory systems.

The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that babies should ingest around 400 IU of vitamin D daily.

According to one study, three-quarters of adults in America have low levels of vitamin D.

Sources include:

CHM.bris.ac.uk

UMM.edu