That young children and older people need extra vitamin D is well known. But that extra vitamin D for all of us good in the winter months is less known. Vitamin D is produced in our body itself, by sunlight. But then there is sunlight. In the Netherlands we have really dark and gray days in winter months, so there is the chance that we get vitamin D deficiency. In Finland it swallows a standard high-dose vitamin D supplements in the winter months.
Since the winters are even darker than our Dutch winters.
Vitamin D is thus using sunlight in the skin created. Vitamin D is a minor presence in the food, especially fish. The kidneys and the liver vitamin D is converted to active form
Vitamin D, the functions of these
Ensures the inclusion of calcium and phosphorus from the intestines. (Phosphorus gives strength to the skeleton and plays a role in the energy of the body. For the
metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates and fats is important phosphorus)
Regulates phosphorus and calcium in the blood.
Promotes cell development.
Wrong uncontrolled cell growth slows down.
Is responsible for muscle strength and muscle relaxation.
Vitamin D
A deficiency of vitamin D is sunlight is usually insufficient. It is known that children and elderly
need extra vitamin D, and also people with dark skin, too few people come out, and many immigrant women who have skin covered by clothing. Less known is that in the winter months in the Netherlands all too little sun exposure and thus vitamin D may have. A
vitamin D is also found in people with
Crohn's disease, hypertension, certain cancers, MS, rheumatoid arthritis. Even people who
corticosteroids chance to run a deficit to have / get. In the summer quarter is one exposure to the sun to feel sufficient enough vitamin D to get. But during the winter months is not possible. Not only in Finland swallowed one extra vitamin D. In Canada, the National Cancer Institute advised that during the winter months to take additional vitam D. Extra vitamin D in the Netherlands swallow during the winter months is not an unnecessary luxury.
With a shortage of vitamin D is likely to arise from:
Osteoporosis (osteoporosis)
Weakness and muscle cramps
Auto-immune diseases such as MS, diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis
Cancer, like breast, colon, prostate.
Vitamin D and scientific research
Cancer: In a four years' investigation has shown that vitamin D + calcium reduced the risk of cancer. There have been more studies on the effect of vitamin D in cancer, and in these studies were the colon, prostate, breast, ovarian cancer. It appears that vitamin D prevents cancer formation.
Muscle power: A survey of elderly people found that additional vitamin D improves muscle strength and thus less likely to fracture (anyway because there is less chance of falls).
Immune and rheumatism: Vitamin D appears to play an important role in the wrong part of the immune system that suppresses immune responses. Too little vitamin D, some important antibodies formed in the body sufficiently. Additional intake of vitamin D to prevent auto-immune diseases is currently in the spotlight. In another study showed a group of subjects who took the highest vitamin D levels, lower risk seen in rheumatoid arthritis.
Pregnancy: There is a substantial link between insufficient intake of vitamin D in pregnant women and a higher risk of diabetes in children I.
Multiple Sclerosis: The relationship between MS and vitamin D intake was also examined by a 15-year study. Women who had taken enough extra vitamin D had 41% less likely to run on MS than women who had no additional vitamin D pills. In another study among people with MS also showed clearly that the additional intake of vitam D led to an inhibitory effect on the course of MS. In subjects with a dark complexion led the intake of extra vitamin D is not a difference.