Why Vitamin D is Important For Our Health

Vitamin D is one of the several vitamins which are crucial for our health. This fat soluble vitamin can be found as ergocalciferol (vitamin D2) or cholecalciferol also known as vitamin D3. Vitamin D3 is the naturally occurring form that your body produces so it is easily absorbed by your body where as vitamin D2 is synthesized from plants. Once Vitamin D is produced, it is carried in the bloodstream to the liver, where it is converted into the prohormone calcidiol which is the storage form. When vitamin D is needed it will transport calcidiol to the kidneys where it is converted into calcitriol (potent steroid hormone), a more biologically active form of Vitamin D. The main purpose of calcitriol is to regulate calcium and phosphorous levels to support healthy bone function such as proper bone growth in children (rickets - soft bones) and proper bone mineralization in adults (Osteoporosis - porous bones) as well as preventing many other bone diseases such as osteomalacia (bone pain) and renal osteodystrophy (bone loss) in people with kidney failure. It is important to have enough Vitamin D to keep your calcidiol stores high as vitamin D’s secondary functions will not occur if its main purpose of maintaining healthy bone functions is not met. Once the body has enough calcitriol to regulate the calcium and phosphorous levels in the body the additional calcitriol is transported to the tissues where recent research has discovered some very exciting secondary functions of Vitamin D.

Secondary Functions

• Vitamin D promotes normal cell function and growth by working as a key factor in maintaining hormonal balance and reducing inflammation of tissues. It has been shown that Calcitriol assists in the build up and break down of healthy tissue which may be why studies have shown an increase of cancer in countries with less sun light.
• Sufficient amount of vitamin D in their body can hope to cope with the influenza virus as well as other respiratory tract infections much better as the immune system gets a boost by this extremely beneficial vitamin. Vitamin D helps increase the activity of your body’s “killer” T cells that destroy viruses and other foreign pathogens.
• Increases cardiovascular health as it activates Vitamin D receptors in the heart and blood vessels to shut down the production of Renin which has negative effects of on oxidative stress, inflammation and regulating blood pressure.
• Vitamin D can delay or prevent the development of type 2 diabetes as it is required for normal insulin secretion by the pancreas according to researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital.
• Evidence suggests that vitamin D may help mood and according to vitamindcouncil.org in certain cases has been shown to be just as effective as light therapy in treating depression patients.

Side Effects
While an intake of vitamin D is deemed to be essential, the popular conception of consuming extra amounts in order to remain healthier does not hold true here. An excess of vitamin D can prove to extremely dangerous as it tends to calcify the soft tissues like the heart, lung and blood tissues impairing their functions greatly.

The functioning of the kidneys are affected by high doses of vitamin D and severe muscle cramps, headaches accompanied by nausea and high blood pressure may often be an outcome of increased levels of vitamin D within the body.

Vitamin D can also react adversely with some prescribed drugs. Phenobarbital and phenytoin affects calcium absorption, particularly when taken together with vitamin D supplements. Intake of vitamin D together with steroids and cholesterol-lowering drugs like cholestyramine may prove to be counterproductive. If vitamin d is taken it in tandem with Orlistat (a weight reducing drug) it may cause a reduction in the absorption of vitamin D.

Conclusion
There are no visible symptoms of vitamin D deficiency; however, the lack of vitamin D can have a detrimental on your health. It has been estimated that about 70% of Americans are deficient in vitamin D. While vitamin D can be found in small amounts in a number of food products such as fatty fishes and fortified in products such as dairy and juices; the primary source (80-90% of what the body gets) of this extremely beneficial vitamin is sunlight. Humans require about 20 minutes of sun exposure a day to receive the daily recommended amount 200 IU but some health care providers are suggesting you can take up to 2,000 IU a day without any adverse affects. If you live in colder climates, work inside all day, wear a high SPF cream/sun block or depending on the season (winter months) this may be difficult to achieve. Vitamin D supplements may be the easiest way to ensure you are receiving all the health benefits from this essential vitamin all year round. If you are a vegetarian, vitamin D2 may be a better solution for your vitamin D deficiency as many vitamin D3 supplements are derived from animal wool or feathers.