Vitamin D Is A Naturally Occuring Vitamin

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin found in certain foods. It is also formed in the skin as a result of direct exposure to sunlight. The liver and kidneys convert vitamin D from food sources or sunlight to an active form called calcitriol.

Vitamin D helps the body maintain healthy levels of calcium and phosphorus. The body can only absorb calcium, when vitamin D is present. People who are deficient in vitamin D are at risk for rickets, a metabolic disease that causes soft, weak bones.  Rickets used to be quite common, but because milk products are now fortified with vitamin D, the disease is now rare.

Uses
Getting the proper amount of vitamin D can help prevent a number of serious health conditions.

Osteoporosis
Adequate amounts of vitamin D throughout one's life (in combination with exercise, proper nutrition, calcium, and magnesium) is necessary for preventing bone loss. Low levels of vitamin D and insufficient sunlight exposure (less than 20 minutes per day) are associated with osteoporosis. Vitamin D is needed to properly absorb calcium. Calcium, together with vitamin D, can help heal bone fractures from osteoporosis and decrease the risk of future bone breaks.

Other Bone Disorders
Vitamin D protects against the rickets and osteomalacia (softening of the bones in adults caused by inability to properly deposit calcium). Seniors in northern climates and people who do not receive direct sunlight for at least 45 minutes per week should make sure they are getting enough vitamin D through fortified milk and dairy products, or taking a vitamin D supplement or a multivitamin containing vitamin D.

Arthritis
Low intakes of vitamin D may be linked to an increased risk of arthritis of the hip in older women and to joint changes seen on x-rays of both men and women. Studies evaluating the use of vitamin D for osteoarthritis have found that it prevents the breakdown of cartilage.

Abnormalities of the Parathyroid Hormones
The parathyroids are four glands located in the neck, which produce parathyroid hormone (PTH). PTH helps the body store and use calcium and phosphorus. Vitamin D is often used to treat disorders of the parathyroid gland.

High Blood Pressure
Scientific studies have suggested a link between low levels of vitamin D and high blood pressure. Low levels of vitamin D may play role in the development of high blood pressure in those with kidney disease or an overactive parathyroid gland (hyperparathyroidism). One study suggested that supplementation with vitamin D and calcium helped to lower blood pressure in older women with low levels of vitamin D and high levels of parathyroid hormone. Your doctor will determine if vitamin D may be helpful for preventing or treating high blood pressure.

Other diseases that may be impacted by vitamin D include the following:
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Atherosclerosis
Tuberculosis
Diabetes
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Cancer