What is Vitamin D?
Vitamin D is a steroid vitamin, a group of fat-soluble prohormones, which encourages the absorption and metabolism of calcium and phosphorous. There are two major forms of vitamin D: D2 (ergocalciferol) and D3 (cholecalciferol).
People who are exposed to normal quantities of sunlight do not need vitamin D supplements because sunlight promotes sufficient vitamin D synthesis in the skin.
Vitamin D3 is produced naturally in human skin exposed to ultraviolet B light and occurs in some animal products, such as cod liver oil, and, in smaller amounts, in other fatty fish such as herrings, mackerel, sardines, and tuna. Vitamin D3 is the most common form used in dietary supplements and is the form generally used to fortify foods such as milk (which naturally contains a small amount of vitamin D3), orange juice, cereal and yogurt.
What do we need Vitamin D for?
- Vitamin D regulates the amount of calcium and phosphorous in the body, partly by controlling their levels of absorption.
- Vitamin D treats and prevents rickets in children and osteomalacia (bone softening) in adults.
- Vitamin D is an immune system regulator.
- Vitamin D may be an important way to arm the immune system against disorders like the common cold.
- Vitamin D make have a key role in helping the brain to keep working well in later life.
- Vitamin D is probably linked to maintaining a healthy body weight.
- Vitamin D has been shown to reduce the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis in women.
- A form of Vitamin D could be one of our body’s main protections against damage from low levels of radiation.
- Various studies have shown that people with adequate levels of vitamin D have a significantly lower risk of developing cancer, compared to people with lower levels.
- High vitamin D status provides protection against Parkinson’s disease.
- Lower levels are also associated with a higher risk and severity of depression.
- Higher serum vitamin D levels are associated with a reduced risk of allergy in children and adolescents
- Taken with calcium, vitamin D can help decrease post-menopausal bone loss and prevent osteoporosis (loss of bone density), as well as improve tooth retention in the elderly.
- In girls ages 9 to 13, regular supplementation with calcium and vitamin D has been shown to significantly increase bone density and bone strength (measured in arms and legs) compared to placebo.
Approved Vitamin D Product List
Independent lab tested 28 Vitamin D supplements, but only 20 products passed. Eight (8) Vitamin D supplements were found UNSAFE for consumption, 5 of these due to incorrect labeled amounts of Vitamin D:...
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Antioxidants are known to help prevent diseases such as cancer and heart disease, but the presence of the antioxidant glutathione is gaining popularity in helping to fight autism.
The ProSexual Nutrient
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