Vitamin D can be used as a natural remedy to effectively treat a number of health conditions. It is a fat-soluble vitamin that has properties of both a vitamin and a hormone. It is required for the absorption and utilization of both calcium and phosphorus. It is necessary for growth, and is especially important for the normal growth and development of bones and teeth in children.
This vitamin also protects against muscle weakness, and is involved in the regulation of the heartbeat. It also plays an important role in the prevention and treatment of breast and colon cancer, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and hypocalcemia. This nutrient also enhances immunity, and is necessary for proper thyroid function and normal blood clotting.
There are several forms of this vitamin, including vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol), which comes from food sources, vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol), which is synthesized in the skin in response to exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays, as well as a synthetic form identified as vit D5. Of the three, vitamin D3 is considered to be the natural form of the vitamin, and is the most active.
The form of vit D that we get from food or from supplements is not fully active. It requires conversion by the liver, and then by the kidneys, before it becomes fully active. This is the reason why people with liver or kidney disorders are at a higher risk for osteoporosis.
When the skin is exposed to the sun's ultraviolet rays, a cholesterol compound in the skin is transformed into a precursor of vit D. Exposing the face and arms to the sun for fifteen minutes three times a week is an effective way to ensure adequate amounts of vit D in the body. However, researchers have discovered that very dark-skinned people in particular (because the skin pigment blocks the sunlight), and people living in the upper third of the United States cannot produce adequate amounts of vit D from exposure to the limited amount of sunlight available during the winter months.
Adolescents often are also deficient in this vitamin. For many, a lack of outdoor exercise, and not drinking milk seem to go hand in hand with deficiency.
The benefits brought by vit D include a reduction in the risk of colon polyps and prostate cancer, less coronary artery disease, and a decreased chance of developing type 1 diabetes. It also brings increased muscle strength and coordination, as well as higher bone strength.
Severe deficiency of vit D can cause rickets in children, and osteomalacia, a similar disorder, in adults. Lesser degrees of deficiency may be characterized by loss of appetite, burning in the mouth and throat, diarrhea, insomnia, vision problems, and weight loss.
According to a study in the New England Journal of Medicine, there are indications that vit D deficiency is much more widespread than was previously thought, especially in older adults. In the group of people studied, 57% were found to be deficient in vit D, and of those whose daily intake of vit D was below the RDI, 67% of them were listed as moderately to severly deficient.
The best sources of vit D are fish liver oils, fatty saltwater fish (especially mackerel), dairy products, and eggs. Other sources include butter, cod liver oil, dandelion greens, egg yolks, halibut, liver, milk, shiitake and chanterelle mushrooms, oatmeal, oysters, salmon, sardines, sweet potatoes, tuna, and vegetable oils.
Herbs that contain vit D include alfalfa, horsetail, nettle, and parsley.
Vit D is also formed by the body in response to the action of sunlight on the skin.
Intestinal disorders as well as liver and gallbladder malfunctions interfere with the absorption of vit D. Some cholesterol lowering drugs, antacids, mineral oil, and steroid hormones such as cortisone also interfere with absorption.
Thiazide diuretics such as chlorothiazide (Diuril) and hydrochlorothiazide (Esidrix, HydroDIURIL, Oretic) disturb the body's calcium/vit D ratio. Taking excessive amounts of vit D (over 1,000 international units daily) may cause a decrease in bone mass.
Do not take vit D without calcium.
Also, toxicity may result from taking excessive amounts of supplemental vit D.
This information is not intended to diagnose or treat any specific condition, nor is it intended to replace the advice of your healthcare professional.
Sources
Balch, Phyllis A., CNC. "Prescription for Nutritional Healing". Garden City, NY.: Avery Publishing Group, 2006
Ritchason, Jack, ND. "The Little Herb Encyclopedia". Pleasant Grove, UT.: Woodland Health Books, 1995
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