Vitamin D – An Important Essential Vitamin

Vitamin D is a lipid-soluble steroid hormone with numerous cellular and molecular functions. The body makes vitamin D in a chemical reaction that occurs when sunlight hits the skin; it is also found in some foods such as fatty fish. It is also produced in the skin as a result of exposure to sunlight. and in supplemental form.

Vitamin D Deficiency

Vitamin D deficiency is a major public health problem worldwide in all age groups. This is the case even countries with low latitude, where it was previously assumed that UV radiation was adequate enough to prevent this deficiency, and in countries where vitamin D fortification is implemented. More than 50% of Canadian children have vitamin D levels below the Canadian Pediatric Society (CPS) recommendation. According to Statistics Canada, about 40% of Canadians are below the cut-off level in winter, compared with 25% in the summer. In addition, 20–39-year-olds have the lowest (59%) level of vitamin D.

People over the age of 50 have an increased risk of vitamin D deficiency and the risk increases with age. As we age, we lose some of our ability to synthesize vitamin D from sunlight. Vitamin D needs to be activated in the kidney before it can be used by the body, and this function decreases with age.

In order for vitamin D to be used by the body, it needs to be converted from its inactive form (25[OH]D) to an active form (1,25[OH]2D) before exerting its biological functions. According to some studies, these stages of vitamin D conversions are dependent on the bioavailability of magnesium.

Vitamin D is important for numerous bodily functions such as calcium absorption and bone health, immune function, muscle function, regulation of cell growth, and glucose metabolism, and it also has anti-inflammatory properties.

Symptoms of vitamin D deficiency include muscle weakness, bone pain, muscle pain and tingling sensations in the hands and feet.

A deficiency in this essential vitamin can lead to several health issues, including osteomalacia, osteoporosis, autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and some cancers. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased susceptibility to infection. In a meta-analysis, vitamin D supplementation has been shown as safe and effective against acute respiratory tract infections.

Additionally, recent studies have suggested vitamin D deficiency is linked to a loss of brain plasticity, mental health disorders such as autism spectrum disorder, depression and anxiety, worsened polycystic ovarian syndrome symptoms and, for expectant mothers, an increased risk of diabetes in their children.

Vitamin D and Cardiovascular Disease

Many studies have correlated vitamin D deficiency with an increased risk of developing cardiac arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. Atrial fibrillation, was the most common findings associated with vitamin D deficiency.

Epidemiologic evidence has also linked vitamin D deficiency to a higher risk hypertension. Analysis of a randomized controlled trial showed participants received calcium supplementation in combination with either a low dose (600 IU/d, or a high dose (3750 IU/d) of vitamin D3. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were significantly reduced with vitamin D supplementation in the overall cohort with the effect more prominent in those in the high-dose vitamin D group.

Vitamin D and the Brain

Vitamin D aids in the function of brain cells. Vitamin D receptors are widespread in brain tissue, and vitamin has shown neuroprotective effects, including improvement in brain function and the clearance of amyloid plaques, considered a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease.

Vitamin D deficiency has several consequences when it comes to brain health, including increased risk for cognitive impairment, dementias, and depression. In addition, studies have shown that pregnant mothers who are vitamin D deficient have children with an increased risk for autism and schizophrenic disorders.

Vitamin D deficiency also causes widespread neurotransmitter changes in glutamine, noradrenaline, dopamine, and serotonin that can lead to several brain disorders. Many people do not have insurance coverage in the United States, and in Canada health care insurance no longer covers vitamin D testing. However, if you are able to obtain a Vitamin D baseline through lab testing, you will know what your vitamin D status is and can supplement accordingly. Even without testing, it is recommended that supplementation of vitamin D of at least 2000 IU daily provides benefits for most people. Studies have found that people who are overweight may require 7000 IU or more. Note that it is very important to take vitamin D with a fatty meal. D is a fat-soluble vitamin and requires fat to be absorbed efficiently.

Please talk to the knowledgeable staff at the Vitamin Shop to answer any questions or for further information.