Vitamin D and Its Usefulness
Vitamin D is an important fat-soluble vitamin which acts like a hormone while directing the formation of bone and the absorption of calcium and phosphorus from the intestine. It functions is mainly of controlling the movement of calcium between bone and blood, and vice versa. Children and infants who have Vitamin D deficiency can have the deformed bones characteristic of rickets. Even adults with its deficiency can have a softening of the bones known as osteomalacia. Usually it is often seen that people cover their bodies with clothes and the reason is the Vitamin deficiency. Conversely, an additional amount of the vitamin can cause loss of hunger, weight loss, vomiting, headache, depression and deposits of calcium in the kidneys. So, you should be careful in consuming victuals to balance your necessary vitamins.
Cod liver is rich in Vitamin D dietary. Egg yolks and butter are also rich in such vitamins. However, besides consuming food, the maximum amount of vitamin D in the body is formed during a chemical reaction, and it starts when the skin gets exposed to the sunlight. Modern researches have proved that the nominal levels of vitamin D in patients with autoimmune disease may even make the condition of the patient worse.
Deficiency of Vitamin D in adults may cause osteomalacia which resulted in the softening of the bones. This disease is treated with vitamin D and sometimes calcium supplements are also combined to it. Vitamin D deficiency can cause abnormal bone formation to people of almost all ages. During winter season the deficiency occurs, because of limited sunlight exposure during that season. A place where there is a lot of atmospheric pollution, which can block the sun's ultraviolet rays, also increase the risk of vitamin D deficiency.
The deficiency of Vitamin D is normally found in people who are strict vegetarians, and those who are having liver or kidney disorder. This deficiency is also found to exist in people who have intestinal malabsorption which is caused owing to some intestinal surgeries performed before, or from celiac disease.
Vitamin D deficiency may invite several chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, tuberculosis, cancer, periodontal disease, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, seasonal affective disorder, peripheral artery disease, cognitive impairment leading to loss of memory and hazy brain functioning. In children deficiency of vitamin D can cause rickets which is illustrated by impeded growth, and deformity, of the long bones. Additionally, Vitamin D insufficiency can lead to hyperparathyroidism, the condition in which the parathyroid gland is overactive. The deficiency of Vitamin D mostly occurs in persons with advanced prostate cancer.
To get the proper nutrients, it is necessary to have vitamins in their diet during the winter which can be guaranteed by consuming prepared products or supplements. The breast feeding vegan women of the northern latitudes are seen to have lack of vitamin and so they are recommended to intake vitamin in the form of prepared foods or supplements.