The Vitamin Addict

Your body needs a certain amount of vitamins to stay healthy. Although Vitamin D is not as well-known as some of the other vitamins it is very important in your health and well-being. It affects your immune system and helps to regulate both the calcium and phosphorus levels in the blood. It does this by promoting the absorption from foods in the intestines and helps the kidneys to re-absorb calcium.

There are five types of vitamin D which is described in the following forms:

Vitamin D₁ (molecular compound of ergocalciferol with lumisterol)

Vitamin D₂ (ergocalciferol or calciferol)

Vitamin D₃ (cholecalciferol)

Vitamin D₄ (dihydrotachysterol)

Vitamin D₅ (sitocalciferol)  

However, the two main forms are the Vitamin D₂ (ergocalciferol) and the Vitamin D₃ (cholecalciferol). Vitamin D helps to promote the correct formation of your bones and is very important when it comes to a having a strong healthy skeleton. 

Vitamin D₂ and Vitamin D₃

Vitamin D₂ is not produced by the body and is found in plants and fungal. Vitamin D₃ can be received from animal sources and can be produced by the body. It is made in the skin when the right conditions are met between your skin and sunlight. Once vitamin D is introduced to the body it is then converted in both the liver and the kidneys and then released for circulation to different organs in the body. 

If you have limited exposure to the sun, then you need to make sure that you include vitamin D into your diet. Vitamin D is considered to be a fat-soluble vitamin which means that it is stored in the fatty tissue of your body. Vitamin D not only absorbs calcium but it also helps regulate the amount of calcium and phosphorus located in your blood.   

Vitamin D Deficiency  

A Vitamin D deficiency can lead to bone softening diseases such as osteomalacia, rickets and sometimes osteoporosis. Babies who are breast fed are susceptible to a vitamin D deficiency. People who are obese, have limited exposure to the sun and the elderly are more susceptible to having a vitamin D deficiency than others.   

A vitamin D deficiency can also be linked to the following conditions: 

• Cancer
• High blood pressure
• Tuberculosis
• Depression
• Periodontal disease
• Multiple sclerosis

The best source of vitamin D is found in fortified products because there are very few foods that naturally contain vitamin D. These would be products such as cereal grains, soy milk and whole milk. This is why many people decide to take supplements to make sure they are getting the recommended amount of Vitamin D.  

However, some foods that do naturally contain vitamin D include the following:

• Dairy products
• Salmon
• Tuna
• Cod liver oil
• Sardines
• Mackerel
• Eel  

It is possible to receive too much vitamin D and the symptoms of this would include vomiting, weakness of the muscles and even kidney stones. It can also cause the intestines to absorb too much calcium which produces high levels in the blood causing calcium deposits in soft tissues such as the lungs and heart. Remember, even vitamins can be dangerous when taken in large amounts.