THE SUNNY VITAMIN

Vitamin D is actually a hormone. Its metabolites are synthesized in kidneys. Blood transports them to bones and tissues. It regulates processes in all tissues and organs. Its active form excretes to cell nucleuses and influences the genetic material. Its importance for human organism is huge.

Most of us think of vitamin D as a compound essential for bone building, as it regulates the level of calcium and phosphorus in our bodies. But those two minerals aren’t only present in bones but also in many other compounds. A right heart contraction isn’t possible without the right level of calcium, for example.

Main functions:

• essential for bone building
• supports calcium and phosphours absorption
• regulates the proportions between calcium and phosphorus
• stimulates calcium release from bones
• keeps the right calcium level in plasma

Vitamin D deficiency leads to bone demineralization – osteoporosis. It’s also harmful to the immune system and may cause autoimmune diseases. Some scientists claim that there may be a relation between vitamin D deficiency and lipid-water disorders, which could result in diabetes for example.

An organism that is short on vitamin D starts to release a parahormone (PTH) from parathyroids. Thus – an increased level of this hormone doesn’t necessarily mean that you have a parathyroid disorder – you just have vitamin D deficiency.

Usually, we’re able to produce the right amount of vitamin D, with the support of sun. You just need to expose 20% of your body surface, for half an hour everyday. What’s interesting is that using solarium doesn’t increase vitamin D level.

Unfortunately, winter in Poland makes it impossible for our organisms to produce vitamin D. We should supplement ourselves with it from September to April. And those that are over 65 – the whole year round. It’s a fat dissolvable vitamin so we take it during a meal that contains fat.

In case of any doubts – consult the supplementation with a doctor. Any level disorders may have bad consequences.

Vitamin D can be found in plant oils and grain – but in minimal amounts. It’s also present in fat fish meat, milk and grain products that are artificially enriched with vitamin D.