Benefits of Vitamin D

What is Vitamin D?

Vitamin D is an essential vitamin, as well as a steroid hormone synthesized from cholesterol. Exposure to sunlight triggers its synthesis in our bodies. Because most cells and organs have a vitamin D receptor, vitamin D performs a variety of functions in the body.

What are some benefits of Vitamin D?

  • Maintains calcium homeostasis and bone health

    • Vitamin D is necessary for calcium absorption in the intestines. Calcium is a mineral stored in bones that keeps them strong and healthy. Without adequate calcium, bones are at risk of diminished density and increased incidence of fracture.

  • Modulates innate and adaptive immunity

    • Vitamin D exerts numerous effects on the immune system due to the fact that immune cells have a Vitamin D receptor. Sufficient levels of vitamin D may prevent autoimmune diseases and/or reduce symptoms in autoimmune disease patients. This may be mediated by vitamin D’s ability to shift the immune system from a Th1 to Th2 phenotype, suppress T-cell proliferation, and lower inflammatory cytokine production.

What is vitamin D deficiency linked to?

  • Lowered insulin response

  • High blood glucose

  • Higher risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s

  • Inflammation and autoimmunity

  • Increased risk of infections

References

  1. Ghahremani M, Smith EE, Chen H-Y, Creese B, Goodarzi Z, Ismail Z. Vitamin D supplementation and incident dementia: Effects of sex, APOE, and baseline cognitive status. Alzheimers Dement (Amst) [Internet]. 2023;15(1). Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/dad2.12404

  2. Aranow C. Vitamin D and the immune system. J Investig Med [Internet]. 2011 [cited 2023 Jul 2];59(6):881–6. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.2310/JIM.0b013e31821b8755

  3. Khazai N, Judd SE, Tangpricha V. Calcium and vitamin D: skeletal and extraskeletal health. Curr Rheumatol Rep [Internet]. 2008 [cited 2023 Jul 2];10(2):110–7. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11926-008-0020-y

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