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Symptoms And Health Risks Of Vitamin D Deficiency
However, for many people, the symptoms are subtle.
What Exactly Is Vitamin D?
These are the nutrients our body uses to keep our bones, teeth and muscles healthy. ‘One of the ways our bodies manufacture vitamin D is through exposure to sunlight,’ says Dr McClymont.
‘But recently lockdowns, home working and shielding may all have led to us spending less time in the great outdoors than we’d like.
What Is Vitamin D?
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that the body produces when the skin gets exposed to sunlight. It is present in a small number of foods, including fortified products.
When vitamin D enters the body, it is not in an active form. To use it, the body needs to convert it to an active form called 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] or calcidiol. The results of a serum vitamin D blood test may show the following: Too high and possibly harmful : 125 nmol/l or more
: 125 nmol/l or more Sufficient : 50–125 nmol/l
: 50–125 nmol/l At risk of inadequacy : 30–49 nmol/l
: 30–49 nmol/l At risk of deficiency: 30 nmol/l or less Functions of vitamin D Vitamin D has many important functions, including : supporting bone health by enabling the absorption of calcium
promoting muscle health
modulating the immune system
aiding cell growth
reducing inflammation, which helps prevent diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis
regulating blood pressure and supporting cardiovascular health Low vitamin D and diabetes Some experts have suggested that vitamin D may help prevent type 2 diabetes.
Vitamin D levels increased in those who took the supplement.
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D helps regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body. But there is currently not enough evidence to support taking vitamin D solely to prevent or treat COVID-19.