Vitamin D is one of the most important vitamins that a person can worry about. Vitamin D is responsible for in the absorption of calcium and phosphorus in food. A Vitamin D deficiency can be extremely detrimental to an individual by negatively affecting the development and growth of cells, bones, teeth and hormonal balance. The symptoms affect both the nervous system and the immune system. A deficiency can occur when there is an insufficient amount of sun exposure which can cause the body’s inability to absorb Vitamin D or there is no presence of food sources containing the vitamin. Also, if the body might not be able to process the vitamin due to abnormal digestive or metabolic issues.
If you have a deficiency, one of the easiest solutions is to spend at least 15 minutes outside in the sunlight each day. This means that your skin has to be exposed in order to reap the benefits of the sun’s rays. Another way to boost your Vitamin D intake is to eat such things as eggs, fortified milk, fish, or cod liver oil. You might get some Vitamin D if you are taking a multi-vitamin that has it in. You want to make sure that your vitamin supplement is absorbable and in order for that to take place your supplement should be a liquid, powder, or sublingual form. These forms are the best for allowing maximum absorbability of a supplement.
If you are an elderly individual, Vitamin D can help reduce the risk of bone loss and increase bone mineral density below 70 years. It can also help treat psoriasis and relieve symptoms of osteomalacia. In younger adults it helps reduce a variety of risk factors for: different types of cancer, autoimmune diseases, multiple sclerosis, Type 1 diabetes, arthritis, and many others. It can also help fight tuberculosis and reduce the factors for breast cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer and blood cancer.
The people at the highest risk for Vitamin D deficiency are elderly, dark-skinned, and obese people. As always consult with your doctor before starting any supplement to make sure it is right for you. The recommended dosage for people under 50 years of age is 200IU everyday. If you are older than 50 than the recommended dosage is 400IU everyday. It is best to have blood work done to see where you Vitamin D levels are before starting any type of supplementation and then consulting your doctor to determine the appropriate amount of Vitamin D for you.