Vitamin D uses
Rickets, osteoporosis, vitamin D deficiency
Full Answer
Which vitamin D is best?
Best vitamin D overall: Essential Elements D3. With its super-clean supplement design, heart-healthy avocado oil, and potent 5000 IU dosage, Essential Elements D3 is a clear all-around best. Best vitamin D for the winter: Nordic Naturals Vitamin D3
How much vitamin D should you take for optimal health?
Vitamin D's Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL), which is the maximum daily intake unlikely to cause adverse health effects, is 4,000 IU per day. Some health groups recommend taking from 800 to 2,000 IU per day but some clinicians recommend higher doses such as a 5,000 IU OTC capsule or even 10,000 IU per day without symptoms of toxicity.3,4
Does vitamin D really help?
Vitamin D may also help bolster and regulate the immune system by clearing bacteria. But vitamin D’s importance doesn’t necessarily mean people with healthy levels of vitamin D require supplements. Consider one of the most common reasons for supplementation: bone growth and maintenance.
What does vitamin D do for the body?
from how well our body's basic systems operate to how long we live. Here's what vitamin D does for your body, according to the experts. Read on to find out more—and to ensure your health and the health of others, don't miss these Sure Signs COVID is ...
What is vitamin D used for?
Vitamin D is a nutrient your body needs for building and maintaining healthy bones. That's because your body can only absorb calcium, the primary component of bone, when vitamin D is present. Vitamin D also regulates many other cellular functions in your body.
What are 10 benefits of vitamin D?
Vitamin D BenefitsIt strengthens the immune system. ... It might prevent certain types of cancer. ... It boosts your mood. ... It can aid in weight loss. ... It can lower the risk of rheumatoid arthritis. ... It lowers the risk of type 2 diabetes. ... It can help lower blood pressure. ... It might reduce the risk of heart disease.
What are 4 benefits of vitamin D?
What Vitamin D May Do for Your HealthImprove Symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder (Seasonal Depression)Protect Against Respiratory Infections.Help Protect Against Heart Disease and Stroke.Reduce the Risk for Type 2 Diabetes.
What happens if vitamin D is low?
Vitamin D deficiency can lead to a loss of bone density, which can contribute to osteoporosis and fractures (broken bones). Severe vitamin D deficiency can also lead to other diseases. In children, it can cause rickets. Rickets is a rare disease that causes the bones to become soft and bend.
Is vitamin D good for hair?
One role vitamin D plays is stimulating new and old hair follicles. When there isn't enough vitamin D in your system, new hair growth can be stunted. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to alopecia, the autoimmune condition that causes bald patches on the scalp and other areas of the body.
Is it OK to take vitamin D everyday?
Some people may need a higher dose, however, including those with a bone health disorder and those with a condition that interferes with the absorption of vitamin D or calcium, says Dr. Manson. Unless your doctor recommends it, avoid taking more than 4,000 IU per day, which is considered the safe upper limit.
Which fruit is rich in vitamin D?
Orange. There are limited Vitamin D fruits. Around 75% of the people worldwide are either allergic to dairy products or are lactose intolerant, and some of them are vegan. So, orange or orange juice is the best option with vitamin D and other nutrients such as calcium.
Which vitamin D is best?
Healthline's picks of the best vitamin D supplementsPure Encapsulations D3 10,000 IU.NOW Foods D3 10,000 IU.Pure Encapsulations Vitamin D3 (Vegan) Liquid.HUM Nutrition Here Comes the Sun.Nordic Naturals Zero Sugar Vitamin D3 Gummies 1,000 IU.Thorne Vitamin D/K2.Designs for Health Liposomal D Supreme.More items...•
Is vitamin D good for skin?
Often called the 'sunshine vitamin', vitamin D plays an integral role in skin protection and rejuvenation. In its active form as calcitriol, vitamin D contributes to skin cell growth, repair, and metabolism. It enhances the skin's immune system and helps to destroy free radicals that can cause premature ageing.
How can I check my vitamin D levels at home?
At-home tests typically have you prick and squeeze a finger to collect a smaller blood sample. It's easier to measure 25-OH D because it lasts longer in the bloodstream, around 14 days, and it's also easier to detect changes in 25-OH D levels that are associated with vitamin D deficiency.
Does vitamin D affect sleep?
Research links vitamin D levels to sleep quality. In fact, several studies associate low levels of vitamin D in your blood to a higher risk of sleep disturbances, poorer sleep quality and reduced sleep duration ( 9 , 10 , 11 ).
How can I get vitamin D at home?
Spend time in sunlight. Vitamin D is often referred to as “the sunshine vitamin” because the sun is one of the best sources of this nutrient. ... Consume fatty fish and seafood. ... Eat more mushrooms. ... Include egg yolks in your diet. ... Eat fortified foods. ... Take a supplement. ... Try a UV lamp.
What are the best benefit of vitamin D?
It is a fat-soluble vitamin that has long been known to help the body absorb and retain calcium and phosphorus; both are critical for building bone. Also, laboratory studies show that vitamin D can reduce cancer cell growth, help control infections and reduce inflammation.
What are 3 health benefits of vitamin D?
Health BenefitsStrengthens bones and muscles.Boosts immunity.Improves mood.Reduces inflammation.Improves heart function.
How much Vit D should you take a day?
Mayo Clinic recommends that adults get at least the RDA of 600 IU. However, 1,000 to 2,000 IU per day of vitamin D from a supplement is generally safe, should help people achieve an adequate blood level of vitamin D, and may have additional health benefits.
Which fruit is rich in vitamin D?
Orange. There are limited Vitamin D fruits. Around 75% of the people worldwide are either allergic to dairy products or are lactose intolerant, and some of them are vegan. So, orange or orange juice is the best option with vitamin D and other nutrients such as calcium.
What are the benefits of vitamin D?
However, more studies are needed to determine the benefits of vitamin D supplementation for cognitive health. Inherited bone disorders. Vitamin D supplements can be used to help treat inherited disorders resulting from an inability to absorb or process vitamin D, such as familial hypophosphatemia. Multiple sclerosis.
Why is vitamin D important for bone?
That's because your body can only absorb calcium, the primary component of bone, when vitamin D is present. Vitamin D also regulates many other cellular functions in your body. Its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and neuroprotective properties support immune health, muscle function and brain cell activity.
What is the best vitamin for psoriasis?
Applying vitamin D or a topical preparation that contains a vitamin D compound called calcipotriene to the skin can treat plaque-type psoriasis in some people. Rickets. This rare condition develops in children with vitamin D deficiency. Supplementing with vitamin D can prevent and treat the problem.
What happens if you don't get enough vitamin D?
If you don't get enough vitamin D through sunlight or dietary sources, you might need vitamin D supplements.
How does the body make vitamin D?
Your body also makes vitamin D when direct sunlight converts a chemical in your skin into an active form of the vitamin (calciferol). The amount of vitamin D your skin makes depends on many factors, including the time of day, season, latitude and your skin pigmentation.
Does vitamin D help with osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis. Studies suggest that people who get enough vitamin D and calcium in their diets can slow bone mineral loss, help prevent osteoporosis and reduce bone fractures. Ask your doctor if you need a calcium and vitamin D supplement to prevent or treat osteoporosis. Psoriasis.
Is it safe to take vitamin D?
Taken in appropriate doses, vitamin D is generally considered safe. However, taking too much vitamin D in the form of supplements can be harmful. Children age 9 years and older, adults, and pregnant and breastfeeding women who take more than 4,000 IU a day of vitamin D might experience: Nausea and vomiting.
What are the benefits of vitamin D?
Here are three more surprising benefits of vitamin D. 1. Vitamin D fights disease. In addition to its primary benefits, research suggests that vitamin D may also play a role in: reducing your risk of multiple sclerosis, according to a 2006 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
How much vitamin D is needed for healthy functioning?
Recent research indicates that you need more vitamin D than was once thought. Normal blood serum levels range from 50 to 100 micrograms per deciliter. Depending on your blood level, you may need more vitamin D.
What is an IU?
IUs are a standard type of measurement for drugs and vitamins. IUs help experts determine recommended dose, toxicity, and deficiency levels for each person. One IU is not the same for each type of vitamin. An IU is determined by how much of a substance produces an effect in your body. The recommended IUs for vitamin D are:
Why is vitamin D important for bone growth?
Perhaps the most vital are regulating the absorption of calcium and phosphorus, and facilitating normal immune system function. Getting a sufficient amount of vitamin D is important for normal growth and development of bones and teeth, as well as improved resistance against certain diseases.
What are the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency?
The symptoms of a vitamin D deficiency in adults include: tiredness, aches and pains, and a general sense of not feeling well. severe bone or muscle pain or weakness that may cause difficulty climbing stairs or getting up from the floor or a low chair, or cause you to walk with a waddling gait.
How many IUs of vitamin D are there?
An IU is determined by how much of a substance produces an effect in your body. The recommended IUs for vitamin D are: children and teens: 600 IU. adults up to age 70: 600 IU. adults over age 70: 800 IU. pregnant or breastfeeding women: 600 IU. Last medically reviewed on November 13, 2017.
How does the body produce vitamin D?
Your body produces vitamin D naturally when it’s directly exposed to sunlight. You can also get it through certain foods and supplements to ensure adequate levels of the vitamin in your blood. Vitamin D has several important functions.
What is vitamin D?
Vitamin D, long recognized as playing a role in bone and calcium homeostasis, is being investigated for use in cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, infections, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, psoriasis, respiratory health, and other conditions. More clinical trials are needed.
Where is vitamin D found?
Vitamin D receptors are ubiquitous in the body and are found in immune system-related cells, such as B and T lymphocytes, neutrophils, and macrophages. An emerging role is being described for vitamin D in immune response. 7, 20, 21
How much vitamin D is in breast milk?
Clinical trials have evaluated the excretion of vitamin D in breast milk by mothers given supplementation. Adequate levels of vitamin D are achieved in breast-fed infants from mothers with a vitamin D intake of 400 units/day. All milk formulas sold in the United States contain at least 400 units/L of vitamin D. 1.
What is the clinical response to vitamin D?
Clinical response to vitamin D does not always correspond with serum levels of the markers. 1 Generally a serum level of less than 20 ng/mL of 25-hydroxyvitamin D constitutes a deficiency in adults and children. 1, 2, 41
What are the symptoms of vitamin D?
Symptoms of hypervitaminosis D include fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and weakness associated with hypercalcemia.
How many units of vitamin D should elderly people take daily?
Clinical data are not yet sufficiently robust to make definitive recommendations for therapeutic dosages of vitamin D; however, in the elderly, 700 to 1,000 units/day have been shown to reduce the risk of falls.
Does vitamin D cause bone deformation?
Resultant increases in bone metabolism to release calcium to the system cause bone deformation, pain, and an increased risk of fractures. Supplementation of vitamin D suppresses parathyroid hormone, but it may also slow the progression of chronic kidney disease via novel pathways.
What is vitamin D?
Depression. Vitamin D is involved in various brain processes, and vitamin D receptors are present on neurons and glia in areas of the brain thought to be involved in the pathophysiology of depression [ 128 ].
Where does vitamin D come from?
Vitamin D obtained from sun exposure, foods, and supplements is biologically inert and must undergo two hydroxylations in the body for activation. The first hydroxylation, which occurs in the liver, converts vitamin D to 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25 (OH)D], also known as “calcidiol.”.
What vitamin deficiency causes rickets?
Associated with vitamin D deficiency, which can lead to rickets in infants and children and osteomalacia in adults. 30 to <50. 12 to <20. Generally considered inadequate for bone and overall health in healthy individuals. ≥50. ≥20. Generally considered adequate for bone and overall health in healthy individuals. >125.
What is the recommended vitamin D for infant formula?
Ready-to-eat breakfast cereals often contain added vitamin D, as do some brands of orange juice, yogurt, margarine, and other food products. The United States mandates the fortification of infant formula with 1–2.5 mcg/100 kcal (40–100 IU) vitamin D; 1–2 mcg/100 kcal (40–80 IU) is the required amount in Canada [ 1 ].
What is the vitamin D in animal food?
An animal’s diet affects the amount of vitamin D in its tissues. Beef liver, cheese, and egg yolks have small amounts of vitamin D, primarily in the form of vitamin D 3 and its metabolite 25 (OH)D 3. Mushrooms provide variable amounts of vitamin D 2 [ 17 ].
Why is vitamin D important for muscle growth?
Vitamin D is also needed for the normal development and growth of muscle fibers. In addition, inadequate vitamin D levels can adversely affect muscle strength and lead to muscle weakness and pain (myopathy) [ 1 ].
What is a DRI?
DRI is the general term for a set of reference values used for planning and assessing nutrient intakes of healthy people. These values, which vary by age and sex, include:
Uses
- Vitamin D is a nutrient your body needs for building and maintaining healthy bones. That's because your body can only absorb calcium, the primary component of bone, when vitamin D is present. Vitamin D also regulates many other cellular functions in your body. Its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and neuroprotective properties support immune health, ...
Medical uses
Contraindications
Interactions
Symptoms
Synthesis
- Vitamin D, long recognized as playing a role in bone and calcium homeostasis, is being investigated for use in cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, infections, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, psoriasis, respiratory health, and other conditions. More clinical trials are needed.
Mechanism of action
- The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends 400 units/day of vitamin D in infants and adolescents. Clinical data are not yet sufficiently robust to make definitive recommendations for therapeutic dosages of vitamin D; however, in the elderly, 700 to 1,000 units/day have been shown to reduce the risk of falls.
Administration
- Contraindications have not been identified. Routine use of supplemental vitamin D during pregnancy is not supported by safety evidence. However, adequate maternal intake of vitamin D-containing foods during lactation ensures that breast-fed infants receive sufficient vitamin D.
Clinical significance
- The use of statins has been shown to increase serum vitamin D levels. Corticosteriods decrease the metabolism of vitamin D and orlistat reduces its absorption; phenobarbital and phenytoin increase the hepatic metabolism of vitamin D. The use of statins has been shown to increase serum vitamin D levels.44 Corticosteriods decrease the metabolism and orlistat reduces absorp…
Research
- Toxicity due to vitamin D is considered to manifest at serum levels greater than 150 ng/mL of 25-hydroxyvitamin D. Symptoms of hypervitaminosis D include fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and weakness associated with hypercalcemia.
Treatment
- Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) is synthesized in the skin by transformation of 7-dehydrocholesterol exposed to ultraviolet B rays of the midday sun. Vitamin D binding protein transports D3 to the liver, where it is hydroxylated to the inactive 25-hydroxyvitamin D form (calcidiol). In the kidneys, it is further hydroxylated by the enzyme 1-alpha-hydroxylase to active 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D (ca…
Effects
- Vitamin D is a hormone precursor and acts to control calcium absorption in the small intestine. It affects parathyroid hormone, which in turn affects the metabolism of skeletal mineralization and calcium homeostasis in the blood. Additionally, effects on cytokines and immune-modulating effects are reported.1
Results
- The accepted biomarker is 25-hydroxyvitamin D (or calcidiol). Only in advanced renal disease are measurements of 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D (calcitriol) relevant.4 Concern over standardization of assays exists.1
Pathophysiology
- The role of vitamin D and its receptors is not well understood, but the potential for topical calcitriol to upregulate the receptors has been evaluated in animal models of chemotherapy-induced alopecia. Hair loss is not prevented; however, hair regrowth over the entire animal has been demonstrated.31 Limited clinical studies have produced varying results, possibly depende…
Mechanism
- A 2012 Cochrane review identified 2 randomized clinical trials evaluating vitamin D for atopic eczema/dermatitis that met criteria for analysis. Vitamin D supplementation alone did not provide significant benefit over placebo in any of the primary, secondary, or tertiary outcomes. However, vitamin D (cholecalciferol 1,600 units) and E (600 units alpha-tocopherol) combination therapy r…
Prognosis
- The American Psychiatric Association (APA) guideline watch for the treatment of patients with Alzheimer disease and other dementias (2014) did not find enough definitive new evidence to change the 2007 guideline recommendations for alternative agents, including vitamin D.
Side effects
- Animal studies suggest vitamin D exerts effects on the homeostasis of glucose metabolism, as supplementation in animals has led to decreases in plasma glucose.1, 17 A direct effect on insulin secretion has been suggested, as well as effects on insulin receptor expression, insulin sensitivity, and direct action on insulin itself.1, 18, 19