Benefits of vitamin D

Page Content Benefits of Vitamin D introduction Benefits of vitamin D Vitamin D sources How much vitamin D does the body need? Groups at risk

Benefits of vitamin D introduction

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Vitamin D is commonly known as the sunshine vitamin? Why? Because sunlight is of the ways vitamin D can be obtained. You may be surprised to find that even though vitamin D is called a vitamin it isn't an essential dietary vitamin as most mammals with the exception of cats and dogs can synthesize vitamin D when exposed to enough sunlight.

Vitamin D benefits

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Vitamin D is needed to absorb calcium and phosphorous, these minerals are important because it strengthens our bones and teeth and makes bones less prone to fracture. Vitamin D also helps keep the immune system strong so that the body can resist disease. Think about it in winter time there is a much higher rate of influenza this has been linked to the low level of vitamin D in winter time. Historically vitamin D is used to treat tuberculosis.

Vitamin D sources

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Sunlight provides the overwhelming amount of vitamin D that the body needs, you can also find it in the following..

• Salmon
• Lard
• Eel
• Cod liver oil
• Sardines
• Mackerel
• Herring
• Lard
• Egg
• Liver
• Milk
• Butter
• Egg

Vitamin D deficiency

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Growing children can develop rickets if they are lacking in vitamin D. Adults can develop the bone diseases osteoporosis and osteomalicia.  multiple sclerosis. Is linked with low levels of D. There has been some research suggesting that a low levels of vitamin D is associated with depression. I will be looking at that in more detail at a later date.

How much vitamin D does the body need?

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• Birth to 12 months 400 IU
• Children 1–13 years 600 IU
• Teens 14–18 years 600 IU
• Adults 19–70 years 600 IU
• Adults 71 years and older 800 IU
• Pregnant and breastfeeding women 600 IU

It can be difficult to get the full vitamin D daily intake depending on where you live, typically most people in the U.S and in Europe are not getting enough vitamin D.

Groups at risk

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Breastfed infants, human milk is a bad source vitamin D. Older adults, because their skin doesn't make vitamin D from sunlight as efficiently as it did when they were younger.

Dark skinned people, their skin does not produce vitamin D from the sun, as well as lighter skinned people.

People with Crohn's disease or celiac disease and Obese people are also at risk.

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