Vitamin D3 - is it as essential as everyone says?

So lets take a look at VITAMIN D3 25OH.

What is vitamin d3?

Vitamin D is a group of fat-soluble secosteroids responsible for increasing intestinal absorption of calcium, magnesium, and phosphate, and many other biological effects. In humans, the most important compounds in this group are vitamin D₃ and vitamin D₂. Vitamin D is a secosteroid with an endocrine mechanism of action (hormone) which is sequentially synthesized in humans in the skin, liver and kidneys. The active hormone, 1alpha,25-dihydrocholecalciferol [1,25(OH)2D3], is often considered only in terms of its role in controlling calcium and phosphorus homeostasis. However, cumulative evidence points to the presence of vitamin D receptors in many tissues.

What does Vitamin D do in the body?

The answer is EVERYTHING! Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin that has properties of both a vitamin and a hormone and it is required for the following things:

· Absorption and utilization of calcium and phosphorous.

· Needed for growth and especially important for the normal growth and development of bones and teeth in children (and adults really)

· Protects against muscle weakness

· Regulates heart rate and heartbeat

· Prevents and treats against the following diseases:

· Breast and colon cancer

· Osteoporosis

· Osteoarthritis

· Hypocalcaemia (lack of calcium in the body and bones)

· Poor immune system or overactive immune system causing auto immune diseases

· Thyroid and hormonal function

· Normal blood clotting

The big misconception about Vitamin D is that it is only a Vitamin. In actual fact Vitamin D is a hormone! Surprise Surprise!!! And it is a very necessary hormone at that. In fact so necessary that our bodies do not function without it, and without it we become extremely unwell

Vitamin D3 works with the Parathyroid Glands of the Thyroid Gland. This is part of the Endocrine or Hormonal system of the body.

The Parathyroid Glands produce a hormone called Calcitonin. This regulates and distributes calcium to the various parts of the body that require it. Therefore if the Vitamin D is low, the parathyroid glands can’t regulate the calcium therefore producing illnesses such as Osteoporosis etc

What happens when you are deficient in Vitamin D?

Severe lack of vitamin D causes rickets, which shows up in children as incorrect growth patterns, weakness in muscles, pain in bones and deformities in joints. However, children who are deficient in vitamin D can also have muscle weakness or sore and painful muscles.

Lack of vitamin D is not quite as obvious in adults. Signs and symptoms might include:

· Rickets

· Osteomalacia

· Osteoporosis

· Osteoarthritis

· Periodontal disease (teeth and gums)

· Burning sensation in mouth and throat

· Insomnia

· Visual problems

· Thyroid problems

· Weight gain

· Insulin resistance

· Type 1 diabetes

· High blood pressure

· Heart disease

· Cholesterol

· Infertility

· Bone pain

· Colon problems

· Cancer of the breast, prostate, colon, uterus etc

· Weakness of the body, muscles and bones

· Hair loss

· Preeclampsia in pregnant women

· Stroke

· Lupus, arthritis, rheumatism

· Metabolic problems

· Inflammation of the prostate and thyroid with no known reason

· Falls in the elderly

· Knee replacements and hip replacements

· Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Dementia and Senility

· Depression, Anxiety, ADD, ADHD, Mood swings,

· Epilepsy

· Tumours

· Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy,

· Migraine headaches

· Asthma

· Women have an increased requirement for Vitamin D during Pregnancy. Vitamin D deficiency during Pregnancy may result in numerous health problems in offspring. Children born to mothers with inadequate Vitamin D status during pregnancy may have an increased risk of the following ailments:

- Low birth weight.

- Impaired Teeth development.

- Impaired Bone development.

- Diabetes Mellitus Type 1

- Multiple Sclerosis

• PMS, Menstruation problems

• Polycystic ovaries

• Skin conditions such as Urticaria, Psoriasis, Eczema, rash, sensitivity to the sun, pigmentation, blotches, acne, boils etc

So as you can see Vitamin D is exceptionally important for the body. More so these last two years as C*&^% showed us. In all the tests done with C*&^% it was proved that if you had low Vitamin D3 levels you were far more likely to contract C*&^% as well as actually becoming very ill if you got it. The ranges that are shown to be "optimal" on our lab results are now shown after C*&^% to be too little and a normal, good, optimal range is that of 50-80.

Never checked your Vitamin D3 level? Well maybe its time. This could be one of the major reasons you may be feeling not "quite like your usual self".

To book an appointment contact 083 654 9943 and let us get you back to LIVING and not EXISTING!!! THIS IS OUR SUPERPOWER!!!