As a fat-soluble vitamin, vitamin D is crucial for all biological processes. Calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium are among the vital elements that vitamin D aids the body in absorbing.
When exposed to sunshine, skin begins to synthesise vitamin D. Since the body can only synthesis this vitamin under specific circumstances, there is a potential that the body lacks it. There are various causes for this, including the fact that many people live in areas with little sunlight and that occasionally people’s jobs and lifestyles do not allow them to spend much time outdoors. Many other times, human vitamin D deficiency results from simple ignorance.
What does vitamin D deficiency cause?
Read more: Overheating And Reusing Cooking Oil Can Turn It Into A Disease Magnet
- Since vitamin D helps with the intestinal absorption of a number of minerals, its absence will have an impact on the health of the corresponding body organs that depend on those minerals the most.
- Since calcium helps to strengthen bones, bone loss may result from a lack of vitamin D in the body.
- Lack of vitamin D in children can cause rickets, a condition in which they develop soft bones that cause skeletal deformity.
- It may result in osteomalacia, a disorder in adults where the bones become softer. Osteoporosis is not this condition; with osteoporosis, the bones become porous and fragile.
Neurological problems brought on by a vitamin D deficiency:
In addition to the problems listed above, vitamin D has been strongly associated with brain health. It is because of its role in brain function that its absence impairs cognitive function. Clinical studies have connected vitamin D insufficiency to cognitive decline, neurodegenerative illnesses, and neurological and neuropsychological disorders.
Studies have validated the role of vitamin D as a neurosteroid, which is essential for the healthy operation of the brain. Neurodegenerative diseases like multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and neurocognitive impairments may be brought on by low levels of this vitamin.
Additionally, studies have connected vitamin D to depression. According to a 2017 study that was published in the Journal of Diabetes Research, women with type 2 diabetes who took vitamin D supplements reported feeling happier overall.
What amount of vitamin D must one consume daily?
An adult should ideally consume 10–20 mcg of vitamin D per day. Although this is the minimum standard for people, newborns, young children, teenagers, and the elderly may require more. Depending on several biological and environmental circumstances, each person has a very different need for vitamin D. For the precise dosage, it is advised to speak with a doctor.