What Makes Vitamin D Supplementation Essential?

Why Do We Need Vitamin D?

Nearly half of the world's population suffers from vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D insufficiency affects an estimated 1 billion people globally of all races and ages. You've probably heard about vitamin D. It’s been getting a lot of attention nowadays, especially post-pandemic.

You might be confused about whether the hype is real or cap, aren’t you? Let’s make everything crystal clear for you. Glance through this article and learn how vital vitamin D is for your health. Also, get to know everything about vitamin D supplements. Let’s begin from the basics.

What is vitamin D?

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that can be made inside our bodies. It acts as a steroid hormone too. Typically, our body itself meets most vitamin D requirements. When we get exposed to sunlight, the UV-B rays of the sun interact with the cholesterol beneath our skin, and after some complex mechanism, vitamin D is formed. Thus the name “sunshine” vitamin.

Vitamin D is known for its capacity to improve calcium and phosphorus absorption, which ensures our bone health. Vitamin D receptors have been discovered in almost every part of our body, indicating that vitamin D is not just essential for bone health but also has other noteworthy functions. Studies have recently discovered vitamin D’s vital significance in illness prevention and immune building.

An adult requires about 20mcg of vitamin D daily. Food sources of vitamin D include salmon, herring, sardines, tuna, mushrooms, cod liver oil, egg yolks, etc. To maintain optimal vitamin D levels naturally, get midday sunlight exposure for about 15-30 minutes several times a week. The time required will be 10-20 minutes more for dark-skinned people as the pigment melanin in their skin hinders vitamin D production. A vitamin D supplement is also an excellent way to get adequate vitamin D.

Why is vitamin D so crucial?

● Vitamin D helps absorb dietary calcium and phosphorus, two crucial nutrients determining bone health. It thus helps to make our bones stronger and prevents osteoporosis. Calcium is essential for muscle contraction and nerve function too.

● Vitamin D modulates both innate and acquired immunity. Therefore, it has a crucial role in preventing infections and autoimmune diseases.

● It prevents cell proliferation and cancer formation. It prevents inflammation which further helps to prevent cancer.

● Vitamin D has a neuroprotective function and thus maintains nervous health, brain function, and memory.

● Vitamin D3+K2 helps to reduce blood pressure and uplifts cardiovascular health. Its anti-inflammatory properties help to prevent damage to blood vessels and the heart.

● Research studies have shown vitamin D deficiency to be directly linked with the development of obesity. This is because optimal vitamin D levels help keep your body fat in check.

● Adequate amounts of vitamin D can help lower plasma glucose levels and thus be beneficial for diabetic patients.

● Researchers have found that adequate vitamin D supplements have helped with depression and upliftment of mood.

● Chronic vitamin D deficiency can put you at greater risk of developing Parkinson’s disease and macular degeneration.

● Vitamin D deficiency contributes to the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases like diabetes mellitus, autoimmune thyroid disease, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis.

What makes vitamin D supplementation essential?

Vitamin D deficiency, also known as hypovitaminosis D, has been declared a pandemic as it is commonly seen in most people all around the globe. Proper sunlight exposure is essential for producing sufficient vitamin D. But, nowadays, due to our changing lifestyle, we tend to be more indoors than outdoors. This makes it difficult for our bodies to produce vitamin D naturally.

Also, nowadays, we tend to use sunscreens to protect our skin from harmful UV rays. This is indeed a good thing, but it’s indirectly preventing vitamin D production. Apart from this, dark-skinned people and those with high body fat content will have difficulty producing sufficient vitamin D naturally. Some places far from the equator don’t even receive adequate sunlight, making their population deficient in vitamin D.

Lastly, a diet that lacks proper quantities of vitamin D-rich food will aggravate the condition. Due to all these factors, it’s best to get your vitamin D through a supplement. Vitamin D supplements will ensure your body gets sufficient vitamin D, no matter what.

How to pick the best supplement?

Vitamin D is available in two forms, mainly D2 and D3. D3 is the one produced by animals and has excellent bioavailability. So go for a vitamin D3 supplement. But remember one thing, always pick a vitamin D3+K2 supplement. Why? Because vitamin K2 will ensure that the calcium you will absorb with the help of vitamin D gets transported to the place where it’s needed, like your bones or muscles.

Without vitamin K2, the calcium might get deposited at random places, including your arteries, which is the last place someone wants calcium to be. Calcium in arteries is directly linked to the development of arteriosclerosis. Thus taking vitamin D3+K2 is essential.

That’s it, friends. How do you get your vitamin D, naturally or through supplements? Comment below!