10 Vitamin D Benefits You Should Know

Vitamin D is essential for our body for several reasons. Learn the Benefits, Sources, Deficiency Symptoms, Sources, Dosage and symptoms of excessive vitamin D in the human body.

Admin Admin Apr 22, 2021 1140 0

10 Vitamin D Benefits You Should Know
Vitamin D – Benefits, Sources, Deficiency Symptoms, Sources, Dosage

Vitamin D is essential for several reasons, including maintaining healthy bones and teeth. It may also protect against a range of diseases and conditions, such as type 1 diabetes.

Despite its name, vitamin D is not a vitamin, but a prohormone, or precursor of a hormone.

Vitamins are nutrients that the body cannot create, and so a person must consume them in the diet. However, the body can produce vitamin D.

The human body produces vitamin D as a response to sun exposure. A person can also boost their vitamin D intake through certain foods or supplements.

Vitamin D has multiple roles in the body. It assists in:

  • Promoting healthy bones and teeth
  • Supporting immune, brain, and nervous system health
  • Regulating insulin levels and supporting diabetes management
  • Supporting lung function and cardiovascular health
  • Influencing the expression of genes involved in cancer development

Symptoms of vitamin D deficiency may include:

  • Regular sickness or infection
  • Fatigue
  • Bone and back pain
  • Low mood
  • Impaired wound healing
  • Hair loss
  • Muscle pain

If Vitamin D deficiency continues for long periods, it may result in complications Trusted Source, such as:

  • Cardiovascular conditions
  • Autoimmune problems
  • Neurological diseases
  • Infections
  • Pregnancy complications
  • Certain cancers, especially breast, prostate, and colon.

Sources of Vitamin D

Getting sufficient sunlight is the best way to help the body produce enough vitamin D. Plentiful food sources of vitamin D include:

  • Fatty fish, such as salmon, mackerel, and tuna
  • Egg yolks
  • Cheese
  • Beef liver
  • Mushrooms
  • Fortified milk
  • Fortified cereals and juices

Sensible sun exposure on bare skin for 5–10 minutes, 2–3 times per week, allows most people to produce sufficient vitamin D.

Benefits of Vitamin D

There are many benefits to maintaining a proper level of vitamin D. Here are 10 of them.

  1. Keeps bone and teeth strong. Vitamin D prevents osteoporosis and decreases fractures.
  2. Boosts immune system. Vitamin D has been found to inhibit the development of destructive autoimmune diseases like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and thyroid disease.
  3. Inhibits certain cancers like breast, colon, and prostate cancer. Vitamin D encourages cell differentiation and also slows down the rate at which cells multiply.
  4. Reduces inflammation and pain. Vitamin D is a powerful anti-inflammatory agent. Chronic inflammation is a cause of many disease processes, including heart disease and cancer.
  5. Protects against diabetes. Your pancreas needs sufficient vitamin D in order to make and secrete insulin.
  6. Helps reduce blood pressure and the risk of hypertension.
  7. Builds stronger muscles. Older people with high vitamin D levels lose muscle mass more slowly than those with low levels of the vitamin.
  8. Decreases certain respiratory and food allergies. Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with celiac disease, asthma, and psoriasis.
  9. Improves energy and mood. Most cells in our bodies have receptors for vitamin D. If a cell is able to access vitamin D readily, then it can perform optimally.
  10. Decreases the risk of cognitive decline. Vitamin D has been shown to lower the risk of dementia, autism, and Alzheimer’s disease.

Dosage

People can measure vitamin D intake in micrograms (mcg) or international units (IU). One microgram of vitamin D is equal to 40 IU.

The recommended daily intakes of vitamin D are as follows:

  • Infants 0–12 months: 400 IU (10 mcg).
  • Children 1–18 years: 600 IU (15 mcg).
  • Adults up to 70 years: 600 IU (15 mcg).
  • Adults over 70 years: 800 IU (20 mcg).
  • Pregnant or lactating women: 600 IU (15 mcg).

Risks

The most common symptoms of excessive vitamin D include headache and nausea. However, too much vitamin D can also lead to the following:

  • Loss of appetite
  • Dry mouth
  • A metallic taste
  • Vomiting
  • Constipation
  • Diarrhea

Excess vitamin D usually occurs from taking too many supplements. It is best to get vitamin D from natural sources.

Maintaining a proper vitamin D level is essential to optimizing your health. Make sure you have your vitamin D level checked regularly, do some fun outdoor activities with your family, and take vitamin D supplements as needed. After all, treat your body well, and your body will thank you!

 

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