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Benefits of Vitamin D And Its Side Effects

Last Updated: Apr 25, 2024

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Vitamin D or sunshine vitamin is very essential for the overall body growth and it is produced by the body when the body is under the exposure of sunlight. However, it is also said that vitamin D is also produced by consuming food supplements, but that amount is quite less.
In the human body, Vitamin D plays an important role as it promotes the mineral absorption, be it calcium or Phosphorous. It also helps in strengthening the bones and teeth, protecting against Type-1 diabetes, Multiple Sclerosis, and cancer.
There are many other benefits which Vitamin D can help with. Therefore, it is said that the human body should get adequate amount of sunlight to keep promoting the production vitamin D.

Vitamin D

Being an essential nutrient for the human body, vitamin D is fat soluble and produced when the human body is exposed to sunlight. The body gains an excess amount of vitamin D from Sun; food supplements give a very little amount of this vitamin.
Vitamin D is not a single entity, but it has five different types of vitamins namely vitamin D1, D2, D3, D4 and D5, of which our body is capable of utilizing only D2 and D3. Also, as Vitamin D is inert, it goes through many biochemical reactions to become active to be used by the body. However, it is the only Vitamin which our body can produce on its own.
This vitamin is said to be found in many food items, such as mackerel, tuna, sardines, and herring, yet the amount gained from these food items is not enough as much as the body requires. There are many food items, including juices, cereals, dairy products, etc. which are fortified with this vitamin. Defined as one of the essential nutrients for the human body, vitamin D is essential for preventing many types of health problems which arise due to its deficiency. Some of them are treating the weak bones, treating rickets, treating hyperthyroidism, and osteomalacia. Doctors even suggest it good for improving fractures, high blood pressure, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, muscle weakness, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), obesity, bronchitis, tooth & gum disease and high cholesterol.

Nutritional Value of Vitamin D

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is naturally present in very few foods, added to others, and available as a dietary supplement. It is also produced endogenously when ultraviolet rays from sunlight strike the skin and trigger vitamin D synthesis. Vitamin D obtained from sun exposure, food, and supplements is biologically inert and must undergo two hydroxylations in the body for activation. The first occurs in the liver and converts vitamin D to 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], also known as calcidiol. The second occurs primarily in the kidney and forms the physiologically active 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1, 25(OH)2 D], also known as calcitriol.

Health Benefits of Vitamin D

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Mentioned below are the best health benefits of Vitamin D

It is good for healthy bones

Vitamin D is best known is very beneficial for maintaining healthy bones. It helps in the proper production of phosphorous and regulation of calcium in the body. The deficiency of this vitamin can cause rickets and osteoporosis.

It helps in proper absorption of minerals

Proper intake of vitamin D helps in the proper absorption of minerals like phosphate and calcium in the digestive tracts. It also helps in strengthening of teeth and bones by stimulating the calcium incorporation.

Its intake reduces Flu risk

If children are regularly given a dose of 100 IU vitamin D for 4 months, it can help battling with the risk of flu. During the winters, the risk of getting influenza is reduced by 40% by.

During pregnancy, it helps an infant grow healthy

A pregnant woman is suggested to take vitamin D regularly to keep the infant healthy. The normal limit for vitamin D intake is 2000IU/day.

It reduces the diabetes risk

Diabetes and vitamin D have an inverse relationship, but not Type-1 diabetes. If a child is getting a daily dose of 2000IU/Day, then the child is likely to get type-1 diabetes.

It is a gift for a healthy pregnancy

In pregnancy, vitamin D helps a lot. The deficiency of vitamin D can develop the risk of getting cesarean and preeclampsia. It is also said that poor intake of this vitamin develop in bacterial vaginosis. Therefore, for a healthy pregnancy proper intake of this Vitamin is very necessary.

It also helps in preventing Cancer

This vitamin is very essential for the cell growth and better communication between the cells. Also, the proper amount of vitamin D can also reduce the risk of production of cancerous tissues in the blood vessels and increase the death of cancerous cells.

It helps in losing weight

According to evidence, it is also believed that proper intake and proper production of vitamin D in the body helps in weight loss. It is seen both in kids and in adults.

It helps to balance the blood pressure and to relieve stress

Vitamin D has a great impact on balancing the blood pressure and reducing the stress level in the body. It also helps in elimination body pain and muscle spasms.

It helps the body to fight depression

In our body, this vitamin helps in differentiating between the cells and enabling better insulin secretion. This, in turn, helps in fighting depression.

It helps to battle the risk of sclerosis

The issues of multiple sclerosis are very common in the places where there is no availability of ample amount of sunlight, like the tropics. In this case, Vitamin D intake helps to battle the risk of developing it.

It keeps the brain active in old age as well

The proper intake of the vitamin D is good for elderly people too. It keeps the brain active in the old age and helps maintain their proper senses.

Uses of Vitamin D

Vitamin D is a vitamin which is self-produced by the body when exposed to the sun. However, there are many food supplements which also give a small amount of vitamin D to the body. So, it can be used in both ways, where getting it naturally is far better. The intake of vitamin D can help combat various disorders and deficiency like a low level of phosphate in the body, softening of bones, renal osteodystrophy, psoriasis, cancerous growth, cavities and respiratory infections, etc.

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Side-Effects & Allergies of Vitamin D

Vitamin D is an essential nutrient present in the body which is likely to be safe if consumed orally or given into muscle directly. Therefore, there are no major side effects, yet the excess of the vitamin D can harm too. So, as per the observation, if a person exceeds the intake limit of this vitamin beyond 4000 units, then it could pose the danger. It can effect by showing symptoms like weakness, loss of appetite, nausea, metallic taste, vomiting, sleepiness etc. Also, increasing the intake limit beyond 4000 units can increase the level of calcium in the blood which in turn can cause the kidney disease.
Excess of vitamin D is also not safe for pregnant women as it can cause serious impact on infant feeding on mother’s milk. Some other effects are hardening of arteries, lymphoma, tuberculosis, and hyperthyroidism etc

Origin And Cultivation of Vitamin D

Vitamin D is an essential nutrient present in the body which is likely to be safe if consumed orally or given into muscle directly. Therefore, there are no major side effects, yet the excess of the vitamin D can harm too. So, as per the observation, if a person exceeds the intake limit of this vitamin beyond 4000 units, then it could pose the danger. It can effect by showing symptoms like weakness, loss of appetite, nausea, metallic taste, vomiting, sleepiness etc. Also, increasing the intake limit beyond 4000 units can increase the level of calcium in the blood which in turn can cause the kidney disease.
Excess of vitamin D is also not safe for pregnant women as it can cause serious impact on infant feeding on mother’s milk. Some other effects are hardening of arteries, lymphoma, tuberculosis, and hyperthyroidism etc

References

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    Written ByDrx Hina FirdousPhD (Pharmacology) Pursuing, M.Pharma (Pharmacology), B.Pharma - Certificate in Nutrition and Child CarePharmacology
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    Reviewed ByDt. Ms. Shilpa MarwahB.Sc (Home Science), Post Graduation Diploma in Dietetics and Public Health NutritionDietitian/Nutritionist
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