
Vitamin D supplements are trendy because they have many benefits to the body. In case you wonder, do vitamin D supplements work? Let us tell you, yes! They do!
Taking vitamin D supplements, as well as getting enough calcium, can improve your bone health. However, you don’t need a lot of vitamin D to get the benefits.Â
After all, more is not always good!
- Vitamin D is often called the “sunshine vitamin” because your body produces it in response to sunlight.
- Studies have shown that vitamin D may improve athletic performance by enhancing muscle strength.
- Vitamin D can help reduce the risk of developing certain types of cancers, including breast, prostate, and colon cancer.
- Research suggests that vitamin D deficiency can contribute to hair loss and thinning.
- Vitamin D is essential for the proper functioning of your immune system and may reduce the severity of illnesses like the flu.
Why is Vitamin D important?
Vitamin D is crucial for supporting bone and teeth. For example, it helps reduce the risk of osteoporosis, a common disease that affects millions of people. Besides that, it also helps increase the absorption of nutrients like calcium and phosphorus, two substances that are essential for healthy bones.
Vitamin D is also an effective source of building blocks for vitamin D receptors, which promote the absorption of calcium and phosphorus.
The Rate of Vitamin D Absorption in the Body
Vitamin D is absorbed in the portion of the small intestine shortly downstream from the stomach, where it is taken in food or as a supplement. The amount of vitamin absorbed is influenced by stomach fluids, pancreatic secretions, bile from the liver, and intestinal wall health.
One of the significant factors affecting the absorption rate is the type of vitamin D you consume, whether from fish, eggs, milk, or other foods. The more active form is calciferol.
What Causes Vitamin D Deficiency?
Nowadays, it is hard to attain high vitamin D levels without supplements. The reasons are many. Poor diet, genetic factors, and an inactive lifestyle cause Vitamin D deficiency.Â
It helps to find out from your doctor if you fall in any of these groups before consuming vitamin D supplements.
Lack of balanced diet
Vitamin D deficiency may also occur due to insufficient vitamin D intake through food or supplementation. Vitamin D supplements help increase vitamin D intake through food or a dietary supplement.
 However, there are specific guidelines before consuming vitamin D.Â
People with a strong bone structure and adequate exposure to sunlight should consume vitamin D regularly.Â
Pregnant women and those going through pregnancy or breastfeeding should consult their doctor before consuming vitamin D supplements.
Insufficient Sun Exposure
Vitamin D deficiency can also occur because of some lifestyle factors and not the vitamin. Inadequate sunshine exposure is one such issue.Â
For example, people who live in a country with less than 40% of the sunshine exposure required for adequate vitamin D synthesis must take vitamin D supplements.
Gut disease
Diseases including celiac disease, chronic pancreatitis, Crohn’s disease, and cystic fibrosis that impact the stomach and metabolism may decrease vitamin D absorption.Â
The insufficiency develops as a result.Â
What are the consequences of vitamin D deficiency?
Vitamin D is essential for bone health. It helps maintain good posture, reduces the risk of fractures, and improves blood vessel elasticity.
Deficiency in vitamin D can lead to severe diseases like osteoporosis and rickets, which can be severe problems in pregnancy and childhood development.Â
Vitamin D deficiency can also lead to cancer, obesity, kidney disorders, heart disease, stroke, high cholesterol, and many other chronic diseases.Â
Osteoporosis
One of the main reasons people need to take vitamin D supplements is that insufficient vitamin D can cause the weakening of the bones. It’s only one of the numerous problems that may arise from a lack of vitamin D.Â
Deficiency occurs not only in adults. Children, older adults, and infants may be at risk for low vitamin D insufficiency.
Parathyroid Disease
One of the risk factors for vitamin D deficiency is parathyroid disease, which occurs when the PTH level becomes too low. This condition can lead to osteoporosis.
Vitamin D deficiency is the leading cause of parathyroid disease, which occurs when the parathyroid gland does not function properly. Parathyroid glands produce the parathyroid hormone, PTH.
The PTH level declines when vitamin D and calcium are absent in the diet, leading to calcium insufficiency and osteoporosis.
- Vitamin D insufficiency may also lead to
- weak immune function
- decreased mineralocorticoid growth
- fragile bones
- fragile cartilages
- Decreased fertility.
Effects of vitamin D deficiency in Infants
Newborn babies are the only ones who cannot use the skin’s natural sunlight to produce adequate vitamin D. A baby’s body cannot change the skin pigment that it gets from its mother’s milk until about 12 months.Â
Therefore, infants also need to be monitored for their levels of vitamin D.
While most people think this is not enough time to make a difference, new studies have shown that low vitamin D levels in children are associated with higher risks for several diseases such as asthma and colic.
Who should take Vitamin D supplements?
Vitamin D is essential for assimilating the calcium in our diet. Hence, people who are not getting enough vitamin D in their diet or during certain events, like pregnancy, breastfeeding, or breastfeeding, should take vitamin D supplements to achieve the required daily amount of vitamin D.
People with inadequate sunlight
People who stay in regions without sunlight should take a vitamin D supplement regularly.
Mothers and infants
Pregnant women and infants should also take vitamin D supplements to ensure adequate vitamin D levels.Â
However, please consult your health professional before taking any Vitamin D supplements, especially if you have certain pre-existing medical conditions.
People with certain medical conditions
Some conditions can prevent the body from producing vitamin D or reduce the absorption rate. For instance, if you have kidney stones or kidney disease, avoid foods that contain a large amount of vitamin D and calcium.
Old age people
Some older adults have reduced exposure to sunlight, either because they live in a very dark sky or in a city where sunlight is blocked. These people should take vitamin D supplements to bring back the necessary amount of sunlight exposure.
How to Get the Right Vitamin D Levels in Your Body
Most current nutritional guidelines recommends daily intakes of about 1,000 international units or between ten and twelve micrometers for children and adults.
Your age determines your daily vitamin D needs.
In international units (IU), the recommended quantities are:
- 0 to 12 months – 400
- 1y – 13y – 600
- 14 – 18y – 600
- 19 – 70y – 600
- 71y and above – 800
- Pregnant and mothers of infants – 600
However, certain circumstances make consuming vitamin D difficult. For instance, to optimize vitamin D absorption, you need to consume high doses of sunlight.
Which Time is More Suitable for Sun Exposure?
You should expose yourself to natural sunshine to maximize vitamin D absorption. Preferably, the sun should be faced for at least three to four hours each day. Hence, adequate sun exposure and regular vitamin D intake will go a long way in maintaining healthy bones and muscles.Â
People living in regions that receive less than an hour of sunlight per day are disadvantaged. The optimal times to enjoy natural sunlight are early or late afternoon.
If one lives in a place with perfect winter weather, one may need more time in the sun to get sufficient vitamin D.
What is the Best Time to Take Vitamin D Supplements?
Many individuals prefer taking vitamin D pills first thing in the morning. It’s more convenient and simpler to remember to bring your vitamins first thing in the morning rather than later in the day.
In addition, it is imperative to take several supplements since staggering vitamins or medicines throughout the day may be difficult.Â
As a result, it may be a good idea to take your vitamin D pill with a nutritious breakfast.
How Long Does it Take to Raise Vitamin D Levels with Supplements?
Besides vitamin D supplements, you need to incorporate healthy eating into your daily diet. You may see improvements in as little as three to four months by taking an over-the-counter vitamin D pill.
Takeaway
Vitamin D is important for your health, and supplements may help you get more of it in your blood. Because vitamin D is fat soluble, taking it with meals may help it work better.Â
While the optimum time to use vitamin D supplements has yet to be determined, scientific evidence to back up anecdotal claims that boosting at night may interfere with lack of sleep.Â
According to a recent study, you may include vitamin D supplements into your daily routine anytime you choose.
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