Health Impacts Of Lack Of Vitamin D In The Body
What is vitamin D?
This is a fat-soluble vitamin that is naturally present in very few foods, and available as a dietary supplement or it can be made in the body when the sunlight is absorbed through the skin. Vitamin D helps in regulating the amount of calcium and phosphate present in our blood. It also helps in the absorption of calcium which is important to maintain strong and healthy bones. It also contributes to the health of our muscles, nerves and immune system.
There are two types of Vitamin D in the diet and supplements:
* Vitamin D2 called as ergocalciferol ( majorly found in mushrooms)
* Vitamin D3 called as cholecalciferol ( majorly found in animal food products such as oily fish, fish liver oil and egg yolks)
D3 is more powerful and raises vitamin D levels almost twice as much as D2, according to Gurpreet Kaur, Clinical Nutritionist, Cloudnine Group of Hospitals, Chandigarh.
Vitamin D is actually a hormone rather than a vitamin as the final product of vitamin D conversion in the body is considered a hormone. And this hormone has a wide effect on our immune system, Kaur breaks it down.
How does vitamin D deficiency affect your body?
If we do not get enough vitamin D, we may be at risk for
* Developing Rickets (rare disease that causes bones to become soft and bend)
* Osteomalacia (that causes weak bones, bone pain and muscle weakness) and other bone disorders
* Diabetes
* Hypertension
* Alzheimer’s disease
* Cancer
* Heart Stroke
* It may slow the aging process
* Increased risk of acute illness, inflammatory injuries and stress fractures.
