Key Facts about Vitamin D

About Vitamin D:

• Vitamin D (also referred to as calciferol) is a fat-soluble vitamin that is naturally present in a few foods, added to others, and available as a dietary supplement.
• It is also produced endogenously when ultraviolet (UV) rays from sunlight strike the skin and trigger vitamin D synthesis.
• During periods of sunlight, vitamin D is stored in fatand then released when sunlight is not available.
• Foods that naturally have vitamin D include egg yolks, saltwater fish, and liver.
• Why is vitamin D so important?
  • Vitamin D promotes calcium absorption and helps maintain adequate levels of calcium and phosphorus in the blood, which is necessary for healthy bones and teeth.
  • Without sufficient vitamin D, bones can become thin, brittle, or misshapen.
  • Vitamin D also plays a role in your nervous system, musculoskeletal system, and immune system.
• Vitamin D Deficiency:
  • A lack of vitamin D can lead to bone diseases such as osteoporosis or rickets. Osteoporosis is a disease in which your bones become weak and are likely to fracture (break).
  • With chronic and/or severe vitamin D deficiency, a decline in calcium and phosphorus absorption by your intestines leads to hypocalcemia(low calcium levels in your blood). 
  • This leads to secondary hyperparathyroidism (overactive parathyroid glands attempting to keep blood calcium levels normal).
  • Both hypocalcemia and hyperparathyroidism, if severe, can cause symptoms, including muscle weakness and cramps, fatigue, and depression.