Vitamin D-The Multi-Functional, Sunshine Vitamin

An organic chemical compound is scientifically called a vitamin when it cannot be synthesised in sufficient quantities by an organism and must be obtained from diet. But vitamin D is an exception. It can be synthesised in adequate amounts by all mammals from sunlight. Therefore Vitamin D gets the status of a hormone. In other words, a small dose of Vitamin D taken daily strengthens bones,energises heart, regulates kidneys and liver. On the whole, this sunshine vitamin acts as a catalyst in the overall functioning of various vital organs of our body and holds key to good health.

Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin. Vitamin D is found in many dietary sources such as fish, egg, milk and cod liver oil. But the diffused morning sunlight is the chief source of Vitamin D.The two important forms of Vitamin D are:Ergocalciferol (vitamin D2) and Cholecalciferol (vitamin D3). Vitamin D2 is synthesized by plants. Vitamin D3 is synthesized by humans in the skin when it is exposed to ultraviolet B (UVB) rays from the sunlight.

Vitamin D or Calcitriol is the building block of powerful harmone of our body. Vitamin D is manufactured in the skin by direct exposure to sunlight. Vitamin D serves essentially as a "master" hormone, to regulate other hormones. Our body cannot create Vitamin D. But few minutes of exposure of our skin to sunlight help our body to synthesise vitamin D on its own.

Two forms of Vitamin D are essential for human beings. They are Calcidiol and Calcitriol. In the liver Vitamin D is converted into Calcidiol. Part of the Calcidiol is converted into Calcitriol in the kidneys. When sunlight strike the skin it converts a substance called dihydro-cholesterol present in the skin in to Vitamin D3. Calcitriol circulates as a hormone in the blood, regulating the concentration of calcium and phosphorus in the bloodstream and promoting the healthy growth of bone. Calcidiol is converted to calcitriol outside of the kidneys for other physiological activities.

There is a wide spread deficiency of vitamin D prevalent through out the globe. About 70 to 90 % of the world population is vitamin D deficient. This is because the life style of many urban families has undergone a drastic change due to technology. Majority of children and adults are staying indoors playing indoor games or spending their leisure time seeing movies in their home theatres or television sets or play video games or surfing the net. That is, the time spent under the morning sunlight is considerably reduced. Hence, synthesis of Vitamin D is hampered and hindered. So vast majority of children and adults are suffering from vitamin D deficiency and vitamin D related diseases.

Recent research on diseases and vitamin D concludes that there is a direct corelation between vitamin D and diseases. People with low level of vitamin D are susceptible to several diseases ranging from obesity, heart diseases, blood pressure, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and so on.Certain vital facts on vitamin D are also established. They are:

1. People When obese people lose weight the vitamin D in their blood increases.
2. Vitamin D supplementation may improve HDL cholesterol levels.
3. Vitamin D is an important mediator of blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases including heart failure.
4. Survival rates in heart failure patients with high level of Vitamin D is greater.

The main functions of Vitamin D are:

• To aid absorption of calcium in the body and to regulate the levels of calcium in the blood.
• To support bone mineralisation and to increase bone density.
• To maintain healthy immune system.
• To regulate blood pressure, blood sugar and to secrete sufficient insulin.
• To prevent various types of cancer and osteoporasis.
• To prevent skin diseases like psoriasis.
• To increase the life span and to prevent aging.
• To control body weight and to maintain BMI.
• To reduce depression by deccreasing the production of melatonin hormone from pineal gland.
• To prevent other major diseases related heart, bone, and other vital organs.
• To regulate cell growth and tissue formation.
• To stimulate pancreas to produce insulin.

Other Benefits of Vitamin D are that it helps in blood clotting,  functioning  of the thyroid gland, growth of healthy hair, elevate our mood and boost  our mental performance. Enhancing  the function of pancreas, helping to sleep better, giving more energy and stamina during the day, lowering  high blood sugar, decreasing  bad cholesterol in blood, increasing lymphocytic white blood cells responsible for immunity are some of the vital very important portfolios of Vitamin D.

Symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency:

• Weakening of muscles and bones manifested in form of pains and aches.
• Pain in the knees, joints,ankles, back, chest,muscles, shoulders etc.
• Chronic fatigue and depression.
• Obesity and difficulty in losing weight
• Skin pigmentation and asthma.
• Increased risk of cardio vascular diseases followed by heart attacks.
• Retarded growth in children.
• Multiple Sclerosis, Depression, Type 2 Diabetes & Dementia.
• Osteomalacia, when bones become extremely soft.
• Shunts growth and give raise to bone deformities in children.
• Cause Rickets in children.
• Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, rheumatoid arthritis and Inflammatory bowel diseases.

The level of Vitamin D in our blood indicates the general health and well being. When health fails very often or when one is falling sick very often and experience the above symptoms Vitamin D level of our blood should be checked. It is a very simple blood test called the 25-hydroxyvitamin D test. Current guidelines by the Institute of Medicine set a blood level of 20 nano grams per millilitre (ng/mL) to maintain overall health and well being. Foods fortified with Vitamin D should be included in the diet. The recommended dietary allowance for vitamin D is 600 IU (international units) per day for adults up to age 70. People aged 71 and older should aim for 800 IU from their diet. Certain drugs like laxatives, steroids, anti-seizure and anti-cholesterol medicines interact with Vitamin D. So it is important to discuss with the doctor prior to taking Vitamin D tablets or supplements.

How to normalise Vitamin D level in our body?

Vitamin D is important for good health and long-life.Vitamin D is the only vitamin we get from sunshine. This vitamin controls almost all the functions of our body. So it is very much necessary to maintain the optimum level of vitamin D in the blood. Certain important measures like fifteen minutes brisk walk in the morning sunlight will help our body assimilate Vitamin D. Including dietary supplements like cod liver oil tablets, eggs,mushrooms will also help. Certain dietary supplements fortified with Vitamin D may be taken to improve the level of vitamin D.

Vitamin D is ignored and not given so much of importance. The required amount of Vitamin D is important for various physiological activities and well being of human life. To put it simply, our human life is centering around Vitamin D as it plays a wider role in all the physiological activities. An apple a day keeps the doctor away is the old saying. But the new saying will be:Walking under sunshine every day keeps the diseases at bay.