All about vitamin D
Most vitamins you can get enough from a healthy diet, but with vitamin D, the main source is actually sunlight.
With most vitamins you can get enough from a healthy, balanced diet, but with vitamin D, the main source is actually sunlight. The body synthesizes the vitamin under the skin as a direct result of sunlight. Therefore, when you live in places with long winter periods, where the sun is not really guaranteed, then there may be a risk of vitamin D deficiency. Why do we need it? Regulates the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body. Both are necessary for healthy teeth and bones. So to have strong and healthy bones everyone needs enough vitamin D. If the levels of this vitamin are low, then rickets and bone pain are the main symptoms. Apart from sunlight some foods contain this vitamin as well. The main sources are: Oily fish, fortified breakfast cereals and powdered milk Who is at risk of vitamin D deficiency? Potentially, anyone who does not get frequent sun exposure could be at risk, but some groups of people are more at risk than others. These are small children, pregnant women and the elderly. Can you have too much vitamin D? Yes, although the body does not synthesize too much, but if you take high doses of supplements, then this could be too much. High levels of Vitamin D can cause more calcium to be absorbed than excreted and the excess can be stored in the kidneys causing kidney failure. Also excess vitamin D can lead to excess calcium being removed from the bones making them soft and weak. For this reason it is advisable to take the recommended dose of this vitamin. More is not always better.
