Vitamin D3 is known as the Sunshine vitamin, since it can be absorbed and synthesized from the sun. However, Vitamin D3 is still the most common deficiency in North American countries. An estimated 85% of people are deficient in vitamin D and unaware of it. Nearly every tissue in our body has a vitamin D receptor; it plays a crucial role in disease prevention and maintaining optimal health.
What are the benefits of Vitamin D3?
- Vitamin D is essential for the absorption of calcium
- It can prevent or reduce inflammation
- Associated with increased muscle mass and favourable body composition
- Strong disease-fighting properties. Vitamin D is associated with a decreased risk in a number of conditions:
| Cancer* | Cardiovascular Disease | Bone Fractures |
| Cold and Flu | Type 2 Diabetes | Hypertension |
*Demonstrates risk reduction in 16 types of cancer including colorectal, pancreatic, and breast cancer
Could you benefit from taking a Vitamin D supplement?
Vitamin D deficiency is one of the most common vitamin deficiencies in North America. Vitamin D deficiency has three main causes: inadequate sun exposure, inadequate intake, or poor absorption. There are a number of variables that contribute to the effectiveness of vitamin D absorption from sunlight that make relying on the sun for adequate vitamin intake very difficult. These factors include: time of day, season, latitude, clothing, sunscreen use, pigmentation, and age.
Vitamin D deficiency is most accurately measured by 25-hydroxy-vitamin in the blood serum. To give you an idea of whether or not Vit D supplement could worker for you, we put together a symptom based chart. The Column on the left is lifestyle choices that can decrease the good adequate exposure and absorption of Vit D. The column on the right lists some symptoms that you will feel as a result. If you are checking off more than one of these on each side, a Vit D supplement may be something to consider!
| Darker Skin Tone | Poor Immune system function | ||
| Age 50+ | Loss of Appetite and weight | ||
| Inadequate exposure to sunlight: Common Use of Sun protection Spend a lot of time indoors | Difficulty Sleeping | ||
| History of liver or kidney disease | Diarrhea | ||
| Type 2 Diabetes | Osteomalacia | ||
| Use of anticonvulsants, corticosteroids, or cholesterol lowering medications | Bone Pain, Common Bone Fractures | ||
| High alcohol intake | Muscle Spasm | ||
| History of Cystic Fibrosis | |||
| High Levels of Stress | |||
| Digestive disease (e.g.Crohn’s, IBS) |
References:
Brody T, Finley K. Vitamin D deficiency. The Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. Ed. Laurie J. Fundukian. 4th ed. Detroit: Gale, 2011. 6 vols.
Gale Encyclopedia of Nursing and Allied Health, 3rd ed., Detroit: Gale, 2013, pp. 3524-3527.
Harvard Reviews of Health News. April 9, 2009 pNA.
Mercola, Joseph Dr. Vitamin D Lecture to clear up all the Confusion on this vital Nutrient. Mercola. December 16, 2008. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/12/16/my-one-hour-vitamin-d-lecture-to-clear-up-all-your-confusion-on-this-vital-nutrient.aspx
Mercola, Joseph Dr. Vitamin D Resource Page. Mercola. November 1 2008. http://www.mercola.com/article/vitamin-d-resources.htm
Vitamin D. Examine.com. November 12, 2014. Accessed March 3 2015. https://examine.com/supplements/vitamin-d/
