Vitamin D is an essential nutrient that impacts your hormones in a variety of ways. A fat-soluble vitamin, vitamin D is made by your body naturally. It is also present in some of the foods we eat and can be taken as a supplement. Vitamin D offers a range of health benefits, especially for your bones and immune system.
Discover where to find vitamin D, all the ways it can improve your well-being, and which signs may be an indicator that you need more of it in your daily life.
Vitamin D and Your Health: The Main Function of Vitamin D
Vitamin D is an essential vitamin that can optimize your health in a variety of different ways, predominantly focused on improving:
Bone Health
You have probably heard that calcium is necessary for strong and healthy bones, but did you know that without vitamin D, your body cannot effectively absorb calcium on its own?
Vitamin D facilitates normal bone mineralization throughout your body. It does so by helping your bodily systems maintain a healthy level of both calcium and phosphorus.
Additionally, vitamin D is extremely necessary for new bone growth and bone remodeling. It strengthens and protects your muscles, which can support your weight and improve overall balance. Without enough of it, your bones can become thin, brittle, and more susceptible to fractures.
Immune Function
When your white blood cells sense an intruder, they are programmed to go on the attack and engulf infective agents in the body. This triggers an inflammatory response in your body that can turn from acute to chronic if not managed correctly.
Vitamin D directly helps temper this response. At the same time, it also helps your immune cells boost their production of microbe-blasting proteins. Studies show that people who are deficient in vitamin D are more likely to experience infections and autoimmune disorders than those who receive an adequate amount.
Vitamin D Deficiency
You could spend time in the sun and eat foods that have been fortified with vitamin D, yet you still might not be getting as much of this nutrient as you need.
More than 40% of Americans are deficient in vitamin D, which can pose a serious health risk.
Possible Causes and Risk Factors
What causes vitamin D deficiency? If you suffer from this condition, one or more of these causes could be to blame:
- Your diet doesn’t contain enough vitamin D
- You don’t get enough exposure to vitamin D through sunlight
- You don’t absorb enough vitamin D from your food (malabsorption)
- You take medications that affect your body’s ability to convert or absorb vitamin D
- Your liver or kidneys are unable to convert vitamin D3 into active vitamin D
There are certain people who are more susceptible to vitamin D deficiency than others. This includes individuals who:
- Are older adults
- Have dark skin
- Have Crohn’s disease or celiac disease
- Are obese
- Have had weight-loss surgery
- Have osteoporosis
- Have chronic liver or kidney disease
Symptoms
Wondering if you need more vitamin D? Here are some of the most common symptoms of vitamin D deficiency:
- Fatigue
- Insomnia
- Bone aches and pains
- Depression
- Muscle weakness
- Hair loss
- Appetite loss
- Increased susceptibility to illness
- Pale skin
What Are the Possible Long-Term Complications?
It is important to talk to your healthcare provider as soon as you notice any of the symptoms listed above. Left untreated, vitamin D deficiency can have long-term effects, even leading to serious bone disorders such as osteomalacia, otherwise known as “soft bone disease”.
This condition occurs when your bones don’t get enough bone minerals (primarily calcium and phosphate). Over time it can cause your bones to soften and weaken and can increase your likelihood of breaking a bone, causing further health complications as you age.
How Is Vitamin D Deficiency Diagnosed?
Healthcare providers will not routinely monitor your vitamin D levels. However, if you have noticed symptoms of a deficiency or you’re more susceptible due to a medical condition or risk factor, a blood test can be ordered to measure your vitamin D levels.
The most common type of blood test for this purpose is called the 25-hydroxyvitamin D, or 25(OH)D for short.
Sources of Vitamin D
There are three main ways you can get your daily dose of vitamin D. These include:
Food
While it is necessary for daily function, vitamin D is only naturally present in a select number of foods, including fish liver oils, egg yolks, mushrooms, and the flesh of fatty fish. This is why many foods, including dairy products and cereals, are fortified with it instead.
Sunlight
When your skin is exposed to sunlight, the sun’s ultraviolet B (UVB) rays come into contact with the cholesterol in your skin cells, which catalyzes vitamin D synthesis and forms vitamin D3. As it travels to your liver and then your kidneys, it transforms into active vitamin D.
Supplements
While you can get a solid amount of vitamin D from fortified foods and sunlight, it is still unlikely to add up to your recommended daily value. That is why it is smart to additionally take a nutritional supplement that contains this vitamin, such as EVEXIAS ADK.
Learn more about the benefits of EVEXIAS ADK here.
Risks of Getting Too Much Vitamin D
Too much of a good thing isn’t always a good thing. It is possible to get more vitamin D than you need, which can have adverse effects on your health.
When your vitamin D levels are too high, it can cause toxicity, which puts you at risk for hypercalcemia. This condition occurs when you have too much calcium in your blood. Elevated calcium levels can cause:
- Weak bones
- Kidney stones
- Heart issues
- Cognitive issues
Always work with a trusted healthcare provider before beginning a supplement routine. This way you can rest assured that you are only taking as much as your body truly needs.
Talk to a Certified Expert About Your Vitamin D Levels
If you think that you might be struggling with a vitamin D deficiency, find an EvexiPEL Certified Healthcare Provider near you today. This expert can measure and analyze your vitamin D levels, create a customized health plan, and introduce you to supplements designed to fuel your body with the nutrients it needs to feel its best!
