Information About Vitamin D
- Date: 2008-09-18 - Word Count: 408
Share This!
The D vitamin is the only vitamin that is not obtained from foods that are consumed. Instead, the D vitamin is actually obtained by sunlight on the skin. There has been a lot of media coverage about the dangers of getting too much sun but it is essential that the skin is exposed to sunlight to obtain the recommended daily allowance of the D vitamin. In reality, the amount of time that a person has to spend in the sun to receive a sufficient dose of the D vitamin is extremely small and just a few minutes a day will be sufficient and not have any adverse effects from the amount of ultra-violet light received.
The most important function of the D vitamin is to help control how much calcium is absorbed from food. The majority of the calcium is used to build strong teeth and bones but it is also needed to send messages along the nerves and to help muscles, such as the heart muscles, to contract. It is the D vitamin that ensures that there is always sufficient calcium in the blood to perform these tasks. Other functions that require the D vitamin relate to the immune system and it is believed that it is also a contributing factor in reducing the risk of contracting cancer and, in particular, colon cancer.
The variant of the D vitamin that is formed under the skin is known as vitamin D3, or cholecalciferol. This D vitamin is created when the ultraviolet in the sunlight reacts with a type of cholesterol that is found under the skin naturally. The D3 is converted into a more active form of the d vitamin in the liver and is then diverted to where it is needed the most. Some of the D vitamin remains in the liver and kidneys to help reabsorb the calcium from the blood. The rest of the D vitamin is dispersed to the bones to help them retain their calcium and the intestines to aid absorption of calcium from food.
Even though the majority of the D vitamin is formed through the exposure of the skin to sunlight there are some foods that do contain some of the vitamin naturally. This form of the D vitamin is known as vitamin D2, or ergocalciferol. This is used in the same way as the other D vitamins and is the type used to create the majority of D vitamin supplements.
The most important function of the D vitamin is to help control how much calcium is absorbed from food. The majority of the calcium is used to build strong teeth and bones but it is also needed to send messages along the nerves and to help muscles, such as the heart muscles, to contract. It is the D vitamin that ensures that there is always sufficient calcium in the blood to perform these tasks. Other functions that require the D vitamin relate to the immune system and it is believed that it is also a contributing factor in reducing the risk of contracting cancer and, in particular, colon cancer.
The variant of the D vitamin that is formed under the skin is known as vitamin D3, or cholecalciferol. This D vitamin is created when the ultraviolet in the sunlight reacts with a type of cholesterol that is found under the skin naturally. The D3 is converted into a more active form of the d vitamin in the liver and is then diverted to where it is needed the most. Some of the D vitamin remains in the liver and kidneys to help reabsorb the calcium from the blood. The rest of the D vitamin is dispersed to the bones to help them retain their calcium and the intestines to aid absorption of calcium from food.
Even though the majority of the D vitamin is formed through the exposure of the skin to sunlight there are some foods that do contain some of the vitamin naturally. This form of the D vitamin is known as vitamin D2, or ergocalciferol. This is used in the same way as the other D vitamins and is the type used to create the majority of D vitamin supplements.
Related Tags: health, vitamins, vitamin, vitamin a overdose, benefits of vitamin e, vitamin information, vitamin b17, vitamin k foods, sources of vitamin a, vitamin d toxicity, vitamin a foods, sources of vitamin e, b12 vitamins, too much vitamin a, list of vitamins, vitamin e foods, vitamin chart, vitamin c foods
Information on vitamin b17 can be found at the Vitamin Information site. Your Article Search Directory : Find in Articles
Recent articles in this category:
- Working And Reasons To Buy Phentramin- D Diet Pills
Phentramin- d is one of the newest and enhanced versions of the Phentermine diet pill. It efficientl - Genf20 Plus: A Natural Way To Age Backwards
Due to popular demand, Human Growth Hormone (HGH) supplements are flocking the market. Guarantees of - Reverse The Effects Of Aging With Genf20 Plus
Aging comes with a lot of problems. As a person ages, the skin sags, eyesight blurs, bones become br - Health Benefits Of Genf20 Plus
When you get older, your body will surely experience the symptoms such as weaker stamina and bones, - Genf20 Plus Review - What You Should Know About Genf20 Plus
If you are still searching for the best anti-aging treatment that can reverse or at least slow down - Genf20 Plus - Anti-aging Treatment For A Younger You
There are many things in life that you wish you would rather not experience and one of them is aging - Say Goodbye To Fatigue With Detox Cleanse
Are you feeling unceasing fatigue, regular headaches? If you happen to feel your energy meter drops - Kidney Liver Cleanse To Get Rid Of Those Damaging Toxins From Your Body
Determining the right kidney liver cleanse product will assist you to get rid of numerous toxins fro - Erectile Dysfunction - Solving It The Herbal Way
Impotence is an often humiliating condition which most men find hard to accept. While studies show t - Isocort - Understanding The Facts
Isocort is a natural supplement which supports adrenal function. It can have profoundly positive eff
Most viewed articles in this category:
- How to Use Radionics Concepts to Save Money on Vitamins
It usually takes decades for fundamental scientific discoveries to become accessible to everyone. N - Be Wary of Treating Bone Spurs with Coral Calcium
Be Wary of Treating Bone Spurs with Coral CalciumThere are many websites that claim coral calcium ca - Should You Take Herbal Supplements?
A lot of people today are considering herbal supplements as an alternative to, or in addition to, co - Bob Barefoots Coral Calcium
One night, a few years back I as watching early morning television and happened to stumble across a - Mangosteen Supplement Use
The majority of any studies done with the mangosteen fruit to date have been done in a lab. There is - Colloidal Silver for Flu Prevention
Influenza, commonly called as Flu, is a highly contagious and acute infection of the respiratory tra - The Deep Need for a Postnatal Nutritional Program For All Postpartum Women
Throughout the past 30 years in private practice, hundreds of women have told me they felt that thei - Tips For Purchasing A Superior Hoodia Product
There are dozens of Hoodia products in the marketplace today, hence it is very important to take a l - Discovering Antioxidants
As society continues to find new and better ways to combat disease and improve overall health, we ar - Acne And Vitamin Supplements
Since the majority of the worlds population suffer from acne at some point in their lives, there is