Vitamin D

A research group in the US have recommended the need for a higher dose of Vitamin D. According to the study, there is an evidence that it may help prevent serious diseases. However, they have not concluded on the amount of units to be consumed. However, an earlier specification recommends 400 units for the adults in the 50-70 age group, and 600 units for those above 70.

The potential benefits from Vitamin D are : Keeping bones stronger, Reduces risks of cancer, diabetes, and heart diseases.

So, make sure you get your required dose of Vitamin D daily. You’ll get this from sources : Sunlight, Fatty (oily) fishes, Fish oil, Egg, ..

The following quote from Wikipeadia would be useful.

“Vitamin D is a group of fat-soluble prohormones, the two major forms of which are vitamin D₂ (or ergocalciferol) and vitamin D₃ (or cholecalciferol).^[1] The term vitamin D also refers to metabolites and other analogues of these substances. Vitamin D₃ is produced in skin exposed to sunlight, specifically ultraviolet B radiation.

Vitamin D plays an important role in the maintenance of organ systems.^[2]

• Vitamin D regulates the calcium and phosphorus levels in the blood by promoting their absorption from food in the intestines, and by promoting re-absorption of calcium in the kidneys, which enables normal mineralization of bone and prevents hypocalcemic tetany. It is also needed for bone growth and bone remodeling by osteoblasts and osteoclasts.^[3][4].
• Absent vitamin K or with drugs (particularly blood thinners) which interfere with Vitamin K metabolism, Vitamin D can promote soft tissue calcification.^[5]
• It inhibits parathyroid hormone secretion from the parathyroid gland.
• Vitamin D affects the immune system by promoting phagocytosis, anti-tumor activity, and immunomodulatory functions.

Vitamin D deficiency can result from inadequate intake coupled with inadequate sunlight exposure, disorders that limit its absorption, conditions that impair conversion of vitamin D into active metabolites, such as liver or kidney disorders, or, rarely, by a number of hereditary disorders.^[2] Deficiency results in impaired bone mineralization, and leads to bone softening diseases, rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults, and possibly contributes to osteoporosis.

Vitamin D regulates the expression of genes associated with cancers and autoimmune disease by controlling the activation of the vitamin D receptor (VDR), a type 1 nuclear receptor and DNA transcription factor.^[6] Research has indicated that vitamin D deficiency is linked to colon cancer and more recently, to breast cancer.^[7] Conflicting evidence links vitamin D deficiency to other forms of cancer.

“