Vitamin-D – The Sunshine Vitamin

Vitamin D is one of the important vitamins that our body needs and every cell in the body has receptors for Vitamin D. Vitamin D is essential for healthy bones, teeth, cardiovascular system, skin and hair. It is also required for the integrity of the “Immune System”.

Vitamin D is a Fat soluble vitamin and when taken in excess cannot be excreted through the kidneys like Vitamin C or Vitamin B-complex. Human skin is capable of forming Vitamin D when the skin is exposed to the sunlight (the UV rays) in fair complexioned people but it is not very effective in dark colored skin. Exposure to sunlight every day for 10- 15minutes is sufficient.

The adverse effects of Vitamin D – THE CONS

1. Vitamin D may cause either Hyperglycaemia (High blood sugar) or Hypoglycaemia (Low blood sugar)
2. Excess of Vitamin D will cause damage to the blood vessels, kidneys and other related health problems.

How to know the Vitamin D levels in the body?
Vitamin D that is absorbed from the intestine is converted into 25-hydroxy Vitamin D in the liver and it also enters the circulation. Estimation of Vitamin D in the blood is all that is required.

Does the test for 25-OH vitamin D require any patient preparation?
Fasting for eight hours is ideal or at least for 4 hours minimum is mandatory prior to blood sample collection.

Who should get the blood 25-OH Vitamin D test done?

1. Those who are not exposed to sunlight

2. People above 60 years

3. Obese people because Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin and is trapped in the fat and unavailable

to the body needs.

4. Chronic Gastrointestinal diseases prevent absorption of Vitamin D from the gut

5. Those with Parathyroid gland disorders

6. Those who are on Vitamin D therapy to avoid Hypervitaminosis D (Toxicity with Vit.D)

Never take Vitamin D without medical supervision as it has certain adverse effects on the blood
sugar levels and on the kidneys.

What are the foods that are rich in Vitamin D?

1. Fatty fish like salmon, Tuna

2. Egg Yolk

3. Certain Mushrooms

4. Fortified milk and Fortified dairy products

Health Tips :

1. Good physical exercise

2. Balanced food containing fats

3. Exposure to sunlight every day for 10- 15 minutes either in the early morning or before sunsets.