Various names for vitamin D
Calcitriol (or 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D); ergocalciferol (vitamin D2); cholecalciferol (vitamin D3); calcidiol (25-hydroxyvitamin D)
What’s vitamin D?
Vitamin D is usually produced within the pores and skin in response to daylight and can be absorbed from meals eaten (about 10% of vitamin D is absorbed this fashion) as a part of a wholesome balanced weight-reduction plan. Lively vitamin D helps to extend the quantity of calcium the intestine can take up from eaten meals into the bloodstream and likewise prevents calcium loss from the kidneys. The liver and kidneys convert vitamin D (produced within the pores and skin and brought up within the weight-reduction plan), into the lively hormone, which is named calcitriol.
How is vitamin D managed?
Parathyroid hormone will increase the exercise of the enzyme (catalyst) that produces lively vitamin D. This enhance within the focus of calcium along with vitamin D feeds again to the parathyroid glands to cease additional parathyroid hormone launch. A fall within the focus of calcium within the bloodstream is detected by the parathyroid glands, which then produce parathyroid hormone. The manufacturing of vitamin D can be instantly regulated by calcium, phosphate and calcitriol.
What occurs if I’ve too little vitamin D?
Public Well being England recommends vitamin D dietary supplements are taken by folks in in danger teams (for instance, ladies who’re pregnant or breast-feeding, younger youngsters and people with osteoporosis). Oily fish akin to sardines, mackerel and salmon are good dietary sources of vitamin D. Calcium might be present in cow’s milk and dairy merchandise. Within the UK, meals akin to breakfast cereals and margarine are fortified with vitamin D. Ample publicity to daylight is essential, particularly between April and October, for round quarter-hour each day.
What occurs if I’ve an excessive amount of vitamin D?
Final reviewed: Feb 2018