Benefits of Vitamin D
What is Vitamin D?
Vitamin D is necessary for the absorption of calcium, which is one building block of strong bones.
Your body uses vitamin D for other functions too. Muscles need it to move, nerves need it to carry messages between your brain and your body, and your immune system needs it to fight off invading bacteria and viruses.
How do we get Vitamin D?
We get vitamin D from sunshine, food and dietary supplements.
Sunshine: Our bodies make vitamin D when bare skin is exposed to the sun. When UV rays hit your skin, particularly midday, it triggers production of vitamin D. The time it takes for the activation of the production of vitamin D depends on how light or dark your skin is. For lighter skin, it takes about 15 minutes. For darker skin, it takes closer to 2 hours. Try not to allow your skin to become burned. If you want to be in the sun longer than it takes for the activation of the production of vitamin D, please use sunscreen!
Food: There are a few foods that contain vitamin D. Fatty fish, such as salmon, tuna and mackerel are good sources of vitamin D. Fortified foods, such as milk and cereal, also provide vitamin d.
Dietary supplements: Most vitamin D supplements are available over the counter. Before taking a vitamin D supplement, ask your provider if that would be appropriate for you. Your provider can do blood work that will assess your vitamin D levels.
Vitamin D benefits on your health
Long term shortages of vitamin D and calcium cause your bones to become fragile and break more easily, a condition called osteoporosis. Getting recommended amounts of vitamin D and calcium will help maintain healthy bones and prevent osteoporosis. In children, the lack of vitamin D can cause rickets. Both rickets and osteoporosis can lead to soft bones, aching muscles, painful movement and fractures. Other various conditions are associated with vitamin D deficiency include fatigue, depression, chronic pain, heart disease, autoimmune disorders, infections, metabolic issues and some cancers. However clinical trials of vitamin D supplements in people with these conditions have generally failed to show benefit. Again, if you have questions about whether you would benefit from vitamin D supplements, please ask your provider.
Can you get too much vitamin D?
Yes! Getting too much vitamin D can be harmful. High levels of vitamin D can cause nausea, vomiting, muscle weakness, confusion, pain, loss of appetite, dehydration, excessive urination and thirst, and kidney stones. Extremely high levels of vitamin D can cause kidney failure, irregular heartbeat, and even death. High levels of vitamin D are almost always due to taking supplements. You cannot get too much vitamin D from sunshine because your skin limits the amount of vitamin D it makes.
Does Vitamin D interact with medications or other supplements?
It does have a few interactions. Please tell your provider and pharmacist if you are on supplements so that we can ensure that the medications you are on are not interacting with the supplements you are taking.
Original source can be found here.
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