What is vitamin D?
Vitamin D is significant for good overall health and strong and healthy bones. It’s also an essential factor in making sure your muscles, heart, lungs and brain work well and that your body can fight infection. Generally your body can make its own vitamin D from sunlight. You can also get vitamin D from supplements and a very small amount comes from a few foods you eat. The vitamin D that you get in your skin from sunlight, and the vitamins D from supplements, has to be changed by your body a number of times before it can be used. Once it’s ready, your body uses it to manage the amount of calcium in your blood, bones and gut and to help cells all over your body to communicate properly.
When should you take vitamin D?
You should take vitamin D because it is good for:
- Immune system, which helps you to fight infection
- Sound muscle functioning
- Smooth cardiovascular function, for a healthy heart and blood circulation
- Respiratory system – for healthy lungs and airways
- Brain development
- Fighting cancer
- Managing calcium in your blood, bones and gut
- Helping cells all over your body to communicate properly
What are the possible risks of low levels of vitamin D?
Severe vitamin D deficiency can sometimes cause a condition called rickets in children and a condition called osteomalacia in adults. Both of these conditions cause soft, thin, and brittle bones.A lack of vitamin D has also been linked to some other conditions such as cancer, asthma, type-II diabetes, high blood pressure, depression, Alzheimer’s and autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s and type-I diabetes.
How should you use vitamin D?
You can take vitamin D directly from sunlight, some foods or vitamin D injections every 15 days but only after consulting with your health care professional. It is usually included in most multivitamins, usually in strengths from 50-100 international units (IU). It can be found as softgels, capsules, tablets, and liquids.
What happens when you take excessive dose of vitamin D?
If you take access vitamin D there are chances you develop hypercalcemia also known as calcium buildup in the body.
What are the side effects of vitamin D?
Vitamin D in moderate amounts is generally safe with no side effects but if taken in access can cause the following:
- Hypercalcemia – toxic buildup of calcium in the body
- Poor appetite
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Weakness
- Frequent urination
- Kidney problems
What is recommended daily dose of vitamin D?
The new 2010 recommended daily allowance (RDA) is:
- 600 IU for those 1-70 years of age, pregnant or breastfeeding women
- 800 IU for those over 71 years of age
An adequate blood level of vitamin D is 20 nanograms per milliliter, which can be achieved through daily skin exposure to sunlight. Levels over 50 nanograms per milliliter may cause side effects.
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By : Natural Health News
