understanding vitamin D

understanding vitamin D

25 Apr, 2018

 

Unravelling the mystery of vitamin D

 

Vitamin D has grabbed attention in recent years, however vitamin d deficiency is very common and mostly remains unrecognized, undiagnosed and thus untreated. The human body is capable of synthesising vitamin D once exposed to the sun but VDD(vitamin D Deficiency) is a major cause of concern even in a sunny country like ours.

 

Some terms:

vitamin D2 also called ergocalciferol,

vitamin D 3 also called as cholecalciferol,

vitamin D2 called as  calcidiol and

calcitriol 1,25(OH) calcitriol. Calcitriol is the active form of vitamin D and is the final product in a chain involving steps in skin, liver and kidneys.

 

Vitamin D has multiple actions in the body.

 

1 In small intestine-it helps in absorption of dietary calcium

 

2 In bones- helps in mineralization (along with parathyroid hormone)

 

3 kidneys- facilitates reabsorption of urinary calcium (with parathyroid hormone)

 

Other effects

 

1 Regulation of PTH levels

 

2 modulation of immunity

 

3 blood pressure and blood sugar regulation

 

 

 

Normal levels

 

Children should have blood levels of at least 20ng/ml

 

Older adults should have a blood level of 30-40 ng/ml

 

Severe deficiency

 

Vitamin d levels of less than 10ng/ml is considered as severe deficiency, it is common in middle east and south east Asian countries. Dark skin tone, female sex are other risk factors which make patient prone for vitamin D deficiency.

 

Why Indians are prone for deficiency

 

A large proportion of Indians are vegetarian, fortification of food and drink is still uncommon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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