Vitamin D

Is a group of chemicals that resemble hormones (prohormones), which have two major forms: vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) and D3 (cholecalciferol). The active form is called calcitriol. Its major role is to regulate the use of calcium and phosphorus in the body, and therefore plays a great part in the health of bones. It is also part of bone growth and remodeling.

What foods have it in?
Very few foods contain this vitamin. The best sources are fish liver oils and fatty fishes such as salmon or catfish. Obviously, this is not ideal for a vegetarian diet.

Why might I need to take it?
Without sufficient vitamin D, bones do not receive the calcium and phosphorus they need to maintain their health and become thin or brittle. A deficiency would lead to impairment in bone mineralization and possibly osteomalacia or (in infants) rickets. Along with calcium, it helps protect the elderly from osteoporosis. It seems this vitamin may also play a part in preventing high blood pressure, tuberculosis, seasonal affective disorder, memory impairment and ‘foggy brain’.

It is recommended that older people, people with darker skin and people who are not exposed to much sun to increase the amount of vitamin D in their diet. There is evidence to show it is useful in the elderly to prevent fractures and falls. Like vitamin A, vegetarians might consider supplementing their diet, as well as people with fat malabsorption issues.

Lifeplan Vitamin D 400iu 60's

£3.67

HealthAid Super A&D Natural Vitamins 60 capsules

£4.09

HealthAid Vitamin A&D 60's

£4.09

In humans the active form produced by ultraviolet light is cholecalciferol (vitamin D3). This form is not produced by plants and therefore can only be found in the diet from animal foods or fortified plant products. Vitamin D is essential for development bone growth and density, by increasing the intestinal uptake of calcium. This regulation is accomplished by the so-called vitamin D endocrine system, which functions in a way similar to the thyroid hormone. Vitamin D is also essential for heart functioning and helps to produce happy hormones which regulate the natural body rhythm. Vitamin D is found in dairy products, fish and meat. Deficiency causes rickets (child bone mineralization failure), poor growth, poor bone mineralisation (osteomalacia) and joint pain. It also interferes with T lymphocyte-mediated immunity. This means that antigens of xenobiotics (foreign substances or cells) in the body are no longer recognized, or that autoimmune disease may occur. Autoimmune disease cause the immune system to battle private body cells, rather than xenobiotics. Vegetarians, vegans, people with osteoporosis, osteomalacia, rickets, SAD syndrome or depression may wish to supplement with Vitamin D.