Vitamin D is one of the important fat soluble vitamin, which plays a major role in absorption of calcium, phosphorus and has a vital role in formation, ossification, and mineralization of bones. Vitamin D is present naturally only in few foods, and vitamin D can be added to food, and is also obtained from sunlight. Vitamin d is also known as Calciferol. Vitamin D in the body is present in several forms. Vitamin d is converted into active form in the body with the help of liver and kidney.
Vitamin D Facts
- Vitamin D has number of vital functions in the body, such as maintaining adequate serum calcium level, normal phosphate concentrations, bone mineralization, preventing hypocalcemic tetany, helps in active functioning of immune system.
- Vitamin D is biologically inert in body and it needs to undergo two hydroxylations to convert into active form.
- The inactive form is present in the form of 7 – dehydroxycholesterol and is converted into active form in the presence of ultraviolet rays i.e. sunlight.
- During old age human skin fails to produce vitamin D effectively.
- Over exposure of skin to sunlight may cause sunburn and application of sunscreen lotion doesn’t favour vitamin D synthesis from sunlight.
- 10 to 15 minutes of sunlight exposure is enough per day and in case of prolonged exposure, sunscreen lotion application is good for skin health.
- Osteomalacia and Rickets are the main deficiency disorders of vitamin D occurs in adults and children respectively
- Vitamin D deficiency leads to brittle, thin, soft and weak bones.
- Vitamin D deficiency may cause schizophrenia.
Main sources of vitamin D
Natural sunlight : Exposure of skin to sunlight helps in the synthesis of Vitamin D by converting inactive form into active form.
Fortification of dietary foods : Adding vitamin D rich foods in the diet is known as fortification of dietary foods.
Oily fish : Fish and fish oil are the richest sources or vitamin D.
Mushrooms are also rich in vitamin D.
Sources of Vitamin D
- Cod Liver Oil
- liver and beef,
- boiled egg
- meat and animal origin food
- cheese, butter
- Salmon,
- Mackerel,
- Margarine fortified,
- Sardines, canned in oil,
- reduced fat milk
- Cereal grain bars,
- Pudding,
- dried cereals
only dietary foods don’t fulfill the vitamin D requirement of the body. Exposure to sunlight is the best source of vitamin D.
Vitamin D supplementation for different groups
individuals with less sunlight exposure – 400 to 1000 units/day.
Old age, or after 65 years – 800 to 1000 units/day
Patients with cystic fibrosis – 800 to 1000 units/day
Active metabolites of Vitamin D are administered for patients with kidney disease.
Deficiency disorders of vitamin D
- Nearly 40% US people are suffering from vitamin D deficiency.
- Osteoporosis is caused due to poor absorption of calcium, as the deficiency of vitamin D. Osteoporosis is characterized by weak bones, increased bone fragility, etc.
- Osteomalacia is seen in adults is characterized by weak bones prone to get fracture.
- Rickets in children : Children between the age group of infancy to 2 years are at risk of rickets. The symptoms of rickets are retarded growth, bone deformity, tetany, muscular hypotonia, and convulsions.
- vitamin D deficiency leads to poor absorption of other vitamins and minerals and leads to vitamin and mineral deficiency in the human body.
- fractures may occur due to vitamin D deficiency.
