Vitamin D

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin along with A, E, and K. The disease characterized by a deficiency of Vitamin D is rickets.

All vitamins in overdosage can cause toxic symptoms. Vitamin D, however, is that vitamin which causes more serious toxicity than any other vitamin. Vitamin D was used enthusiastically for many years for arthritis, but has now been abandoned because of the many cases of calcinosis which resulted.

Vitamin D is actually a hormone rather than a vitamin. As for all other hormones, the body synthesizes adequate amounts under normal circumstances, and it is not a nutritional requirement. As with most hormones, the amount of hormone produced is dependent on a metabolic control in the liver, which in this case has a feedback mechanism with the blood level of vitamin D to prevent overproduction or deficiency. There is also the metabolism of vitamin D in the kidney, which has a feedback mechanism dependent on the blood calcium level. Together these functions offer some protection against overdose and deficiency. Overdose symptoms include weakness, fatigue, headache, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. As toxicity continues the kidneys begin to fail with a large quantity of urine being produced which necessitates excessive water intake. The urine then contains much protein (Reference 1).

In 1936, Windaus showed that the natural prehormone found in the skin becomes calciferol on ultraviolet irradiation. That prehormone is 7-dehydrocholesterol. Calciferol is then synthesized into the active form of vitamin D in the body. Vitamin D can therefore be acquired either as preformed vitamin D by ingestion or by exposure to sunlight. In foods, it is found only in animal products. Pure vegetarians should be careful to get sunlight, even if only a 6 inch square area of skin exposed to the sun for 10 minutes each day. One exposure for 1 hour at weekly intervals should suffice most individuals except those with very dark skin, which filters out the sun's rays.

Vitamin D is essential for normal growth and development and is important for the formation of normal bones and teeth. Nobody has ever been shown to get too much vitamin D from exposure to excessive sunlight. Such is not the case with taking the vitamin by mouth (Reference 2).

As little as 1800 I.U.s per day over a period of time may cause toxic effects in children. One quart of fortified milk per day contains about all that the body can accept of vitamin D. If, in addition to a quart of milk (which some nutritionists advise), fortified cereals or vitamin supplements are taken containing significant quantities of vitamin D, toxicity could result.3

Vitamin D is prescribed for conditions for which it has absolutely no value. Such things as cold hands, arthritis, and carpal tunnel syndrome are all treated by certain physicians with vitamin D. Psoriasis and other skin conditions, tuberculosis, and "just a tonic" are all conditions for which vitamin D has been administered (Reference 4).

Enough vitamin D will insure straight and strong bones and teeth, a healthy thyroid gland, steady nerves, and normal heart actions and clotting of the blood. Rickets is associated with curved bones, knobby knock-knees, and bumps on the ribs down the front of the chest, bowlegs, enlarged joints, and malformations of the skull. In northern climates in winter when daylight hours are few and where the sunlight is filtered through smog and smoke, strict vegetarians may develop vitamin D deficiency. One should be certain to get plenty of sunshine on all sunshiny days. Especially is this true with babies (Reference 5).

Bibliography:

1. American Family Physician, Vol. 18(2), pp. 106-109, August 1978.

2. Krause and Mahan, Food, Nutrition and Diet Therapy, 6th Edition, Saunders Co. 1979.

3. Life and Health, July 1977, pp. 9-13.

4. Emergency Medicine, August 15, 1979, pp. 139-141.

5. Let's Live, November 1977, pp. 80-86.

Related Articles

More From To Your Health

Tea Skin Care

Green tea, has a long and rich history.
Tea Skin Care

Top Sources of Vegan Protein

…Protein is an essential nutrient... But too much protein is associated with several diseases.
Top Sources of Vegan Protein

The Kidneys Part 2

OTHER FACTORSBecause people lose fluid through sweating in hot weather, kidney stones are more…
The Kidneys Part 2

Heal Thy Heartburn

Can You Feel the Burn? Do You Want it to Stop? Acid reflux is an unpleasant condition that…
Heal Thy Heartburn

Nature Inspired Hair Care

According to the EPA, there are over 10,000 products in your conventional hair products, and…
Nature Inspired Hair Care
Exercise - It Goes to Your Head

Exercise - It Goes to Your Head

Achieving "fitness" is different than just being active. Activity means moving about, burning…
Exercise - It Goes to Your Head

Cravings

Cravings represent abnormal drives that have a compelling nature without regard for the benefit…
Cravings

Help for Acne

During the period of most active growth, the oil glands of the skin go through an extended…
Help for Acne

The Best Form of Health Care

Benjamin Franklin said it best: "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
The Best Form of Health Care

Death by Diet

"No disease that can be treated by diet should be treated with any other means."- Maimonides
Death by Diet

Creating Solid Perfume

Did you know that tons of perfumes contain nasty animal ingredients, such as whale barf…
Creating Solid Perfume

Diet Diabetes and Health

The body is fueled primarily by glucose-a simple sugar. In people with diabetes glucose cannot…
Diet Diabetes and Health
Water 2

Water 2

"Anything but water, please!" We really don't say it, but when we go to the drive-up window or…
Water 2

Publish the Menu module to "offcanvas" position. Here you can publish other modules as well.
Learn More.


donation