Vitamin D
2009-08-19
Loading...
View/Download File
Persistent link to this item
Statistics
View StatisticsJournal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Title
Vitamin D
Authors
Published Date
2009-08-19
Publisher
Type
Other
Abstract
Since the term Vitamin D contains the word “vitamin” most people
wrongly assume adequate amounts can be obtained by eating a healthy diet. But to
obtain adequate amounts these diets must contain wild-caught fatty fish, Shitake
mushrooms, reindeer meat, or cod liver oil. Vitamin D promotes the reabsorption of
calcium and phosphorus from the intestines and the kidneys, which is needed for bone
growth and normal mineralization. Vitamin D also acts as a molecular switch, activating
more than 200 target genes. Vitamin D receptors exist in most tissues of the body, like
the brain, colon, prostate, and breast. This explains why Vitamin D may have a role in
preventing so many different diseases such as protection against rheumatoid arthritis,
psoriasis, lupus, type 1 diabetes, and multiple sclerosis. The skin’s production of
Vitamin D is based on distance from the equator, season of the year, time of day, air
pollution, cloud cover, melanin content of the skin, use of sunblock, age, and extent of
clothing covering the body. Anyone who works indoors, lives at higher latitudes, wears
excessive clothing, regularly uses sunblock, is dark-skinned (melanin acts as an effective
sunscreen), obese, or who avoids the sun is at risk.
Vitamin D deficient patients display symptoms that are extremely common,
difficult to treat, and easy for doctors to dismiss. Symptoms such as muscle weakness, a
feeling of heaviness in the legs, chronic musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and tiring easily
are common. These symptoms are due to Vitamin D receptors present in the skeletal
muscle and bone. As a result, patients with Vitamin D deficiency often complain of
aches and pains in their joints and muscles. The vast majority of Vitamin D deficiency
cases may appear normal on exam although frequent infection and autoimmune illness
may be warning signs that a deficiency has been present for many years. Illnesses
associated with Vitamin D deficiency are cancer, heart disease, multiple sclerosis,
diabetes, autism, stroke, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, periodontal
disease, macular degeneration, mental illness, depression, preeclampsia of pregnancy,
rickets, osteomalacia, and osteoporosis. Treatment of Vitamin D Deficiency is Vitamin
D supplementation, sunlight, and artificial ultraviolet B radiation. As little as 10 minutes
of sunlight is thought to be enough to prevent Vitamin D deficiencies.
Description
The information provided in this handout does not necessarily reflect the views of the University of Minnesota Medical School physicians and faculty. These materials are provided for informational purposes only and are in no way intended to take the place of the advice and recommendations of your personal health care provider. You use the information provided in these handouts at your own risk.
Related to
Replaces
License
Series/Report Number
Funding information
Isbn identifier
Doi identifier
Previously Published Citation
Suggested citation
Kuffenkam, Kerry Lynn. (2009). Vitamin D. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/52777.
Content distributed via the University Digital Conservancy may be subject to additional license and use restrictions applied by the depositor. By using these files, users agree to the Terms of Use. Materials in the UDC may contain content that is disturbing and/or harmful. For more information, please see our statement on harmful content in digital repositories.