Monthly Archives: April 2009

Know some Of The Importance of Vitamin D

Vitamin D is an important fat-soluble vitamin which acts like a hormone while directing the formation of bone and the absorption of calcium and phosphorus from the intestine. It functions is mainly of controlling the movement of calcium between bone and blood, and vice versa. Children and infants who have Vitamin D deficiency can have the deformed bones characteristic of rickets. Even adults with its deficiency can have a softening of the bones known as osteomalacia. Usually it is often seen that people cover their bodies with clothes and the reason is the Vitamin deficiency. Conversely, an additional amount of the vitamin can cause loss of hunger, weight loss, vomiting, headache, depression and deposits of calcium in the kidneys. So, you should be careful in consuming victuals to balance your necessary vitamins.

The best source of Vitamin D dietary is cod liver oil. Vitamin D is also found in some quantity in egg yolks and butter. Though, the maximum amount of vitamin D in the body is produced during a chemical reaction when the skin gets exposed to the sunlight. It has been proved that minimal levels of vitamin D in patients might result with autoimmune disease.

A disease of bone-thinning disorders called Osteomalacia, occurs exclusively in adults due to the deficiency of Vitamin D. This disease can be treated with vitamin D and sometimes a subtle combination of calcium supplements to it. This can occur exclusively in adults or people of almost all ages. Vitamin D deficiency occurs mostly in winter because of insufficient sunlight exposure during that season. Additionally, the place where the atmospheric pollution is high and the sun's ultraviolet rays are obstructed one might have the risk of deficiency of vitamin D.

Vitamin D deficiency is commonly found in strict vegetarians, dark-skinned people, and those people with liver or kidney disease. It is also common in people suffering from intestinal malabsorption which is caused due to some prior intestinal surgeries, or from celiac disease.

Vitamin D deficiency may invite several chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, tuberculosis, cancer, periodontal disease, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, seasonal affective disorder, peripheral artery disease, cognitive impairment leading to loss of memory and hazy brain functioning. In children deficiency of vitamin D can cause rickets which is illustrated by impeded growth, and deformity, of the long bones. Additionally, Vitamin D insufficiency can lead to hyperparathyroidism, the condition in which the parathyroid gland is overactive. The deficiency of Vitamin D mostly occurs in persons with advanced prostate cancer.

To get the proper nutrients, it is necessary to have vitamins in their diet during the winter which can be guaranteed by consuming prepared products or supplements. The breast feeding vegan women of the northern latitudes are seen to have lack of vitamin and so they are recommended to intake vitamin in the form of prepared foods or supplements.