Know 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.
Osteomalacia, a bone-thinning disorder, occurs exclusively in adults due to the deficiency of Vitamin D. This disease can be easily treated with vitamin D. And sometimes combining calcium supplements to it also proves to be effective. Vitamin D insufficiency can cause a bone-thinning disorder that occurs exclusively in adults or people of almost all ages. The deficiency occurs mostly in winter because of inadequate sunlight exposure during that season. Furthermore, places with highly atmospheric pollution block the sun’s ultraviolet rays, this can also raise the risk of deficiency of vitamin D.
The deficiency of Vitamin D is normally found in people who are strict vegetarians, and those who are having liver or kidney disorder. This deficiency is also found to exist in people who have intestinal malabsorption which is caused owing to some intestinal surgeries performed before, or from celiac disease.
Lack of Vitamin D is responsible to cause several chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, tuberculosis, cancer, periodontal disease, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, seasonal affective disorder, peripheral artery disease, cognitive impairment which may lead to memory loss and hazy brain functioning. The deficiency of Vitamin D in children is called rickets causing a bowing of bones not seen in adults with vitamin D deficiency. Lack of Vitamin D is common among people with hyperparathyroidism, a condition in which the parathyroid gland is overactive. Vitamin D deficiency is also mostly found in men with advanced prostate cancer.
The strict vegans are lacking in Vitamin D, they should obtain adequate vitamin D. It is essential to include vitamins in their diet during the winter which can be ensured by consuming fortified products or supplements. The breast feeding vegan women of the northern latitudes are seen to be victim of such deficiency and so they should ensure of their vitamin intake during winter by using fortified foods or by taking supplements. Eventually, it is recommended that parents should take in vitamin D fortified foods or supplements to the diet of their infants during the winter months, particularly if they are having dark complexion.
