Vitamin D Importance and Sources

Vitamin D is an important nutrient for the body as its plays a significant role in various body processes. Basically, Vitamin D is fat-soluble vitamin that helps in regulating the body levels of calcium and phosphorous. Vitamin D is classified in two forms Vitamin D₂ and Vitamin D₃. Vitamin D is generally termed as fat-soluble prohormone because of its working nature is being noted just like a hormone. The chemical name of the Vitamin D is Calcitriol, Vitamin D₂ is ergocalciferol and Vitamin D₃ is cholecalciferol. Various functions are being carried out by Vitamin D in the body.  Health of the person is being maintained at the optimum best with the intake of the Vitamin D.

The importance of Vitamin D is as mentioned:

• Vitamin D is the necessary to keep your bones strong. Adequate amount of the Vitamin D in the body helps to keep your bones healthy. You will notice less or no joint pains due to the sufficient amount of the Vitamin D in the body. It prevents the occurrence of the osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. Small children should be get proper amount of the Vitamin D as it helps to build the strong bones.

• Vitamin D helps in the maintaining the levels of the calcium and phosphorous in the body. It promotes the proper absorption of the calcium and phosphorous from food in the intestines and supplies to the required body parts. These two minerals help in maintaining the bones stronger. These minerals also help to maintain the health of the teeth and prevent the tooth decay.

• Vitamin D is also noted to improve the resistance power. The production of the antibodies is being boosted due to the sufficient amount of the Vitamin D. It helps you give the protection against the commonly occurring diseases. The proper amount of the Vitamin D helps to build the strong immune system.

• The problem of Diabetes can be prevented with the adequate amount of the Vitamin D. Also, if you are suffering with the diabetes, then it helps to maintain the sugar levels in normal range. Diabetes patients must make it a point to increase the Vitamin D intake to stay away from the adverse effects of the diabetes. It has been noted to be more effective against the type 2 diabetes.

• Vitamin D is useful in treatment of the breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and colon cancer. It prevents the uncontrolled growth of the calls and thus, the tumor formation is being avoided. Cancer patients are given the diet rich with Vitamin D to combat the adverse effect of the cancer cells on other body parts. Improve the Vitamin D content of the body to prevent the occurrence of the cancer.

• The condition of the patient suffering with the cardiovascular health problems is being improved by intake of the Vitamin D. It helps to maintain the heart health at the best. The chances of the heart attacks are being reduced by the intake of the Vitamin D. Diseases like angina pectoris and atherosclerosis are being prevented by the intake of the Vitamin D.

• Hypertension or high blood pressure problem is being resolved by the Vitamin D. It is being advised to the patients of the high blood pressure problem to increase the Vitamin D intake, within few days they are able to feel the difference. Blood pressure levels are maintained at the normal levels with the help of the Vitamin D.

Source of Vitamin D are:

Sun rays are the rich source of the Vitamin D. So, take a sun bath in the morning to improve the Vitamin D content in your body.

The food sources of Vitamin D are mentioned in the table below:

*IUs = International Units.
**DV = Daily Value. DVs were developed by the U.S. Food and Drug

Administration to help consumers compare the nutrient contents of products within the context of a total diet. The DV for vitamin D is 400 IU for adults and children age 4 and older. Food labels, however, are not required to list vitamin D content unless a food has been fortified with this nutrient. Foods providing 20% or more of the DV are considered to be high sources of a nutrient.