Why Vitamin D Is Important For Our Health

Author: David Tracy

Vitamin D is one of the several vitamins which are crucial for our health. This fat soluble vitamin can be found as ergocalciferol (vitamin D2) or cholecalciferol also known as vitamin D3. Vitamin D3 is the naturally occurring vitamin d that your body produces so it is easily absorbed by your body where as vitamin D2 is synthesized from plants.  Once Vitamin D is produced, it is carried in the bloodstream to the liver, where it is converted into the prohormone calcidiol which is the storage form of vitamin D.  When vitamin D is needed it will transport calcidiol to the kidneys where it is converted into calcitriol (potent steroid hormone), a more biologically active form of Vitamin D.  The main purpose of calcitriol is to regulate calcium and phosphorous levels to support healthy bone function such as proper bone growth in children (rickets - soft bones) and proper bone mineralization in adults (Osteoporosis - porous bones) as well as preventing many other bone diseases such as osteomalacia (bone pain) and renal osteodystrophy (bone loss) in people with kidney failure.  It is important to have enough Vitamin D to keep your calcidiol stores high as vitamin D\'s secondary functions will not occur if its main purpose of maintaining healthy bone functions is not met.  Once the body has enough calcitriol to regulate the calcium and phosphorous levels in the body the additional calcitriol is transported to the tissues where recent research has discovered some very exciting secondary functions of Vitamin D.

Secondary Functions

• Vitamin D promotes normal cell function and growth by working as a key factor in maintaining hormonal balance and reducing inflammation of tissues.  It has been shown that Calcitriol assists in the build up and break down of healthy tissue which may be why studies have shown an increase of cancer in countries with less sun light.
• Sufficient amount of vitamin D in their body can hope to cope with the influenza virus as well as other respiratory tract infections much better as the immune system gets a boost by this extremely beneficial vitamin.  Vitamin D helps increase the activity of your body\'s 'killer' T cells that destroy viruses and other foreign pathogens.
• Increases cardiovascular health as it activates Vitamin D receptors in the heart and blood vessels to shut down the production of Renin which has negative effects of on oxidative stress, inflammation and regulating blood pressure.
• Vitamin D can delay or prevent the development of type 2 diabetes as it is required for normal insulin secretion by the pancreas according to researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital.
• Evidence suggests that vitamin D may help mood and according to vitamindcouncil.org in certain cases has been shown to be just as effective as light therapy in treating depression patients.    

Side Effects

While an intake of vitamin D is deemed to be essential, the popular conception of consuming extra amounts in order to remain healthier does not hold true here. An excess of vitamin D can prove to extremely dangerous as it tends to calcify the soft tissues like the heart, lung and blood tissues impairing their functions greatly.

 The functioning of the kidneys are affected by high doses of vitamin D and severe muscle cramps, headaches accompanied by nausea and high blood pressure may often be an outcome of increased levels of vitamin D within the body.

Vitamin D can also react adversely with some prescribed drugs. Phenobarbital and phenytoin affects calcium absorption, particularly when taken together with vitamin D supplements.   Intake of vitamin D together with steroids and cholesterol-lowering drugs like cholestyramine may prove to be counterproductive. If vitamin d is taken it in tandem with Orlistat (a weight reducing drug)it may cause a reduction in the absorption of vitamin D.

Conclusion

There are no visible symptoms of vitamin D deficiency; however, the lack of vitamin D can have a detrimental on your health.  It has been estimated that about 70of Americans are deficient in vitamin D.  While vitamin D can be found in small amounts in a number of food products such as fatty fishes and fortified in products such as dairy and juices; the primary source (80-90of what the body gets) of this extremely beneficial vitamin is sunlight. Humans require about 20 minutes of sun exposure a day to receive the daily recommended amount 200 IU but some health care providers are suggesting you can take up to 2,000 IU a day without any adverse affects.  If you live in colder climates, work inside all day, wear a high SPF cream/sun block or depending on the season (winter months) this may be difficult to achieve.  Vitamin D supplements may be the easiest way to ensure you are receiving all the health benefits from this essential vitamin all year round.  If you are a vegetarian, vitamin D2 may be a better solution for your vitamin D deficiency as many vitamin D3 supplements are derived from animal wool or feathers. 

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/nutrition-articles/why-vitamin-d-is-important-for-our-health-3596575.html

About the Author

I have been a fitness enthusiast for over 10 years and I have learned that there is a direct correlation between being healthy and being happy. As you get older, your body stops operating at optimum levels, and physically you become unable to do the things you used to enjoy. It is so important to eat a balance diet because your body will only run as good as the fuel you put into it. That\'s why supplements are so important if you are unable or too busy to consume the proper nutrients through eating alone. At StayFitNutrition.com we specialize in brand name health, bodybuilding, athletic and nutritional supplements at discounted prices.  Whatever your fitness goals may be, we can help you reach them faster. Lowest Prices, Best Service and Fastest Shipping is our promise to you!

Scientific Link Between Vitamin D Deficiency And Cancer

Author: Dr. Sarfraz Zaidi, M.D.

Vitamin D Deficiency and Cancer

Dermatologists have successfully hammered one thought into all of us: sun exposure may cause skin cancer, so wear sunscreen while you\'re out in the sun. What dermatologists don\'t tell us is that the vitamin D we get from sunshine can also prevent serious cancers such as breast, colon, pancreatic and prostate cancers.

Mounting scientific evidence shows a strong link between vitamin D deficiency and cancer. Wouldn\'t it be wonderful if we could prevent cancer by optimizing vitamin D level in the body?  Even in patients with a diagnosis of cancer, proper vitamin D supplementation plays an important role in treating cancer and preventing its recurrence.

What promotes cancer growth?

In the last two decades, research has clearly shown two factors can promote growth of cancer:  Vitamin D deficiency and Insulin Resistance Syndrome.

First, let\'s examine how cancer develops. In your body, old cells are constantly dying and fresh new cells are being born. In other words, there is a continuing cycle of death and birth of cells. There is also a fine balance between the death and the birth of cells.

Vitamin D is involved in the death of cells and insulin is involved in the growth of new cells. Now consider a scenario where vitamin D is low in the body and insulin level is high. Both of these factors cause a shift in the normal balance of the death and birth of cells.  Low vitamin D causes a decrease in the death of cells and a high insulin level causes an increase in the growth of cells. The net result is an enormous increase in the number of cells. This is exactly what happens when you have cancer; an unlimited growth of abnormal cells in your body.

A high level of insulin is present in people with Insulin Resistance Syndrome (also known as Metabolic Syndrome).  Briefly, Insulin Resistance Syndrome consists of obesity, hypertension, low HDL cholesterol, high triglycerides, pre-diabetes or diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome and high uric acid level. You don\'t have to have all of these features. Just a couple of them are enough to have a diagnosis of Insulin Resistance Syndrome. Some complications of Insulin Resistance Syndrome include: coronary artery disease, stroke and fatty liver.  For an in depth look at Insulin Resistance Syndrome, please read my book, 'Take Charge of Your Diabetes.'

We could call Vitamin D deficiency and high insulin two important promoters of cancer. It\'s interesting to note that Vitamin D deficiency has been shown to worsen Insulin Resistance Syndrome which results in a further increase in insulin level.

In addition, obesity, which often plays a central role in Insulin Resistance Syndrome, also causes vitamin D deficiency. Obesity is the obvious common denominator for insulin resistance and vitamin D deficiency. For a long time, physicians have known obesity to be a strong risk factor for cancer. Now we understand that Vitamin D deficiency and insulin resistance are two pathways for how obesity is linked to cancer.

Both vitamin D deficiency and Insulin Resistance Syndrome have reached epidemic proportions, affecting hundreds of millions of people around the world. What\'s alarming is that both vitamin D deficiency and Insulin Resistance Syndrome are getting worse. It is intuitive to predict that we will continue to see increasingly large numbers of cancer cases as time passes.

Can Vitamin D help in the treatment of cancer?

The answer is yes!

Vitamin D not only helps to prevent cancer, but it also helps in the treatment of cancer. A researcher from Harvard Medical School published an excellent article (3) in 2005 citing the enormous evidence which strongly supports the anti-cancer role of vitamin D supplementation in patients with colon cancer.

In the case of breast cancer, the role of vitamin D as an anticancer agent is promising. In the case of prostate cancer, it appears that the more active form of vitamin D, known as 1,25, (OH)2 vitamin D, provides anti-cancer activity.

Amazingly, many oncologists don\'t seriously consider the great anti-cancer benefits of vitamin D. Some oncologists who stay updated on current knowledge may casually recommend vitamin D to their patients.

What I\'ve seen in my patients is usually something like this:  If a patient brings up the subject of vitamin D, the oncologist might say, 'Yeah, it\'s a good idea. You should take vitamin D.' Unfortunately, that\'s often the end of the advice. Vitamin D level is not checked. Dosage amount is not discussed.  The patient usually ends up taking vitamin D on their own at dose of 400 I.U. per day, which according to the bottle label, meets 100of the daily recommended dose.  When these patients come to see me for some other reason, such as diabetes, I check their vitamin D level.  In most cases, their vitamin D level is low, despite being on the recommended dose of 400 I.U per day.

So beware and take charge of your vitamin D status and supplementation!

References:

1. Garland CF, Garland FC, Gorham ED et al. The role of vitamin D in cancer prevention. Am J Pub Health.2006;96(2):252-26.
2. Tretli S, Hernes E, Berg JP, et al. Association Between serum 25(OH)D and death from prostate cancer. Br J Cancer.2009;100(3):450-454.
3. Giovannucci E. The epidemiology of vitamin D and cancer incidence and mortality: a review( United States). Cancer Causes Control.2005;16(2):83-95.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/cancer-articles/scientific-link-between-vitamin-d-deficiency-and-cancer-1807874.html

About the Author

Sarfraz Zaidi, MD, FACP, FACE is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at UCLA. Dr. Zaidi is a leading expert on Vitamin D, Diabetes and Thyroid. He frequently lectures other physicians as well as the public. He has published numerous articles in medical journals. Dr. Zaidi is also director of the Jamila Diabetes and Endocrine Medical Center in Thousand Oaks, California, where he treats patients on a daily basis. Dr. Zaidi is also the author of the popular Diabetes book, Take Charge of Your Diabetes, and the newly released book, Power of Vitamin D, both of which are available at www.DoctorZaidi.com.