Vitamin D – Important For Bone Growth and Osteoporosis Prevention!

D vitamin is an important steroid which helps your body in numerous ways.

D vitamin helps to aid the body in regulation of calcium and phosphorus levels as well as help the mineralization process which takes place in your bones.

D vitamin affects all of your body’s cells as vitamin D receptors have been found in different types of human cells.

D Vitamin is actually a group of different steroid hormones which includes D2 and D3.

D2 is known as ergosterol and can be found in various plants.Vitamin d

D3 is known as cholecalciferol and is produced in the skin of animals when light is absorbed by a certain molecule.

D vitamin can be obtained through sun light. You can get D vitamin additionally from numerous dietary sources including egg yolk, fish oil and several species of plants.

D vitamin when found in the forms D2 or D3 does not perform too many processes. They should be metabolized inside the body to become hormonally active. The process is performed in the kidney allowing D vitamin to be utilized by the body.

The most important function of D vitamin in your body is bone growth. It is crucial for developing child’s skeletal system. D vitamin helps to balance phosphorus and calcium levels in bones leading to proper mineralization.

Vitamin D deficiency can lead to rickets, which results in bone deformities. With lack of vitamin D, osteoporosis occurs in adults as bone mineralization may be impaired. D vitamin is also associated with a higher risk of breast and prostate cancer.

D vitamin deficiency can be developed in a person with lack of sunlight, disease of liver and kidneys or genetic effect. D3 production stops with lack of sunlight. Body is blocked from successfully processing vitamin D by using sunscreens of SPF 8 and above. Exposure to sunlight minimum three times a week for 15 to 20 minutes is recommended for those who live in climates that are encouraging to this activity. But, high exposure may cause skin burn.

Liver or kidney diseases stop the body from effectively processing the vitamin D into the compound your body uses. Deficiency can occur when genetic defects have been found where vitamin D receptors on cells are improperly formed.

A lack of this vitamin can also contribute to brittle, fragile bones, insomnia, diarrhea and low blood calcium levels.

Foods are fortified with D vitamin in most industrialized countries. It helps to prevent D vitamin deficiencies in elderly people who can’t make it outside. D vitamin is fortified into butter, cheese, milk, cream as well as cereals allowing you to get vitamin D without taking vitamin supplements daily.