Sources of vitamin D
While vitamin D is produced by your skin in response to exposure to sunlight, the amount of vitamin D you produce depends on a variety of factors, including the season, time of day, skin color, and underlying health issues. People with darker skin have a harder time synthesizing vitamin D from UVB rays, and people with celiac disease have a harder time absorbing the nutrient from food.
Aside from food supplements, fatty fish are also great sources of vitamin D. Fish such as mackerel and halibut have an average of 384 IU per half fillet. Pickled herring and sardines have a similarly high amount, with 216 IU per 3.5 oz. serving. Also, cod liver oil is a popular supplement and contains many nutrients that are not available in other food sources.
Symptoms of deficiency
Symptoms of vitamin D deficiency may be subtle at first, but they do get worse over time. Low levels of vitamin D can disrupt the balance of certain hormones and vitamins in the body, causing slow damage to the bones. Severe vitamin D deficiency can lead to osteomalacia, which increases the risk of bone fractures and pain. This condition is best treated with vitamin D supplements.
If vitamin D is not in the bloodstream, the body can’t absorb it properly. This can result in osteomalacia, a disorder in which bones fail to absorb calcium and phosphate properly. In severe cases, a child can even develop rickets, a condition caused by a vitamin D deficiency. Symptoms of vitamin D deficiency, including bone pain and slow growth, can lead to osteomalacia.
Reduction of risk of chronic conditions
One study in Dermatoendocrinology reported an inverse relationship between vitamin D levels and the risk of developing breast cancer. In the highest quintile, women with 25(OH)D levels were nearly half as likely to develop breast cancer as women with lower levels. In addition, vitamin D increases calcium absorption in the small intestine, which helps in building bones and regulating blood vessels, nerves, and muscles.
Inadequacy of vitamin D has been linked to various diseases, including hypertension, cancer, and rickets in children. Increasing vitamin D levels is necessary for good health, so supplementing with oral supplements and sunlight exposure is recommended for those with low levels. Research has also linked vitamin D with reducing the risk of a number of diseases, including diabetes and multiple sclerosis. If you have high levels of vitamin D in your blood, you can reap the benefits of this important nutrient.
Boosts immune system
New studies suggest that vitamin D has a beneficial effect on anti-cancer immunity. A study published in the Gut journal looked at a large number of participants to determine if vitamin D can improve the immune system’s response to cancer. In fact, this study suggests that vitamin D may help cancer patients survive longer. However, it’s still unclear whether the benefits of vitamin D outweigh any risks associated with this vitamin. Vidalista 60 Mg and Vidalista 80mg also help for boost immune system in men.
The latest findings in the field of autoimmune disease suggest that vitamin D may help regulate immune responses. In addition, the sunshine vitamin plays an important role in activating naive T cells in humans. Low levels of vitamin D in the body are linked with decreased activation of T cells, which are responsible for fighting infections. However, in the case of autoimmune diseases, this defect could cause immune system tissues to attack them, causing further complications and a reduced quality of life.
Lowers risk of cancer
The researchers analyzed the results using the intention-to-treat principle, a method of randomization that allows 85% power to detect differences between groups. In this study, participants were matched by age and sex and a goal was to include at least 5000 black subjects. Among other things, participants were required to take 800 IU of vitamin D daily, with the exception of children. A three-month placebo run-in period was used to determine the optimal dosage of vitamin D. The study did not include any participants with a history of cancer, cardiovascular disease, or diabetes. The randomization was conducted in blocks of eight.
Although vitamin D lowers the risk of cancer, its benefits on other types of cancer are less clear. For instance, it did not reduce the risk of liver cancer, kidney cancer, and breast cancer. But, the study’s results are encouraging. A lower risk of cancer might be the result of the combination of many factors. Vitamin D is one of the best ways to keep your immune system functioning optimally. The body is designed to produce more vitamin D when your body needs it.
