Vitamin D

Other Names: Alfacalcidol, 1-alpha-hydroxycholecalciferol, 1-alpha-hydroxycholécalciférol, 1 alpha (OH)D3. Calcifediol: 25-HCC, 25-hydroxycholecalciferol, 25-hydroxycholécalciferol , 25-hydroxyvitamin D3, 25-hydroxyvitamine D3, 25-OHCC, 25-OHD3, Calcifédiol. Calcipotriene : Calcipotriène, Calcipotriol. Calcitriol: 1,25-DHCC, 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol, 1,25-dihydroxycholécalciférol, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamine D3, 1,25-diOHC, 1,25(0H)2D3. Cholecalciferol: 7-déhydrocholestérol Activé, Activated 7-dehydrocholesterol, Cholécalciférol, Colecalciferol, Colécalciférol, Vitamin D3. Dihydrotachysterol: DHT, Dihydrotachystérol, dihydrotachysterol 2, dichysterol, Vitamine D3. Ergocalciferol: Activated Ergosterol, Calciferol, Ergocalciférol, Ergocalciferolum, Ergostérol Activé, Ergostérol Irradié, Irradiated Ergosterol, Viosterol, Viostérol, Vitamin D2, Vitamine D2. Paricalcitol: 19-nor-1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D2, 19-nor-1,25-dihydroxyvitamine D2, Paracalcin. Fat-Soluble Vitamin, Vitamina D, Vitamine D, Vitamine Liposoluble, Vitamine Soluble dans les Graisses.
Vitamin D can most commonly be absorbed through the sunlight – but ironically, there are still a lot of people who are suffering from Vitamin D deficiency. Studies have shown that there is a correlation between deficient vitamin D levels and depression. This is evident in people who live in cold Northern climates who, in winter, often feel irritable, depressed and angry due to the lack of exposure to sunlight. However, this can still be remedied through supplementation of Vitamin D, or much better, getting it directly from exposure to sunlight each day.

• unrefined cod liver oil.
• Salmon (wild-caught)
• Other kinds of fish, including tuna, mackerel, sardines, shrimp, sole and flounder.
• cow’s milk
• Eggs
• mushrooms
• Orange juice

As vitamin D is fat soluble, it is generally recommended that it be taken with a meal containing fats. However, based on this study, it may be best to take vitamin D supplements with your largest meal of the day, which is likely to contain the most fat.
Researchers believe that as calcium increases in the blood, vitamin D drops. Vitamin D has been shown to have amazing anti-cancer properties. Therefore, by decreasing those levels in the body, the risk of cancer potentially increases.

Special Precautions of Vitamin D

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is produced by the skin after exposure to sunlight and is present in a small number of foods. If you are taking vitamin D supplements, you need to pay close attention to the dose you are taking, because taking too much vitamin D can cause serious side effects and interactions with other medications. The National Institute of Medicine has set a tolerable upper intake level of 100 mcg per day, which is equivalent to 4,000 IU. Like all health supplements, you should only take vitamin D with your doctor's approval.

• Without the help of vitamin K2, the calcium that your vitamin D so effectively lets in might be working AGAINST you -- by building up your coronary arteries rather than your bones. There is even evidence that the safety of vitamin D is dependent on vitamin K, and that vitamin D toxicity (although very rare with the D3 form) is actually caused by vitamin K2 deficiency.
• Effects on Drug Activity : Vitamin D can affect how certain drugs are absorbed by the body or activated inside the body. Atorvastatin, often sold under the brand name Lipitor, is a widely used cholesterol-lowering medication. Vitamin D appears to decrease absorption of atorvastin by the body, which can decrease the activity of atorvastin and lead to higher cholesterol levels in the body, reports MedlinePlus. Calcipotriene, sold as Dovonex, is a synthetic version of vitamin D used to treat psoriasis. Because vitamin D and calcipotriene have very similar effects on the body, taking both at the same time can lead to symptoms of vitamin D toxicity.
• Heart Medications : Several heart medications can be affected by vitamin D. Vitamin D increases absorption of calcium by the body. High levels of calcium can affect the heart. Taking large doses of vitamin D can increase the activity of the drug digoxin and result in an irregular heartbeat. In contrast, large doses of vitamin D can decrease the activity of two angina medications, diltiazem and verapamil. Decreasing the effectiveness of these drugs may increase the risk of angina and high blood pressure, explains Medline Plus
• Diuretics : Diuretic medications, also known as "water pills" are used to treat high blood pressure. One side effect of diuretics is increased levels of calcium in the body. Vitamin D also increases calcium in the body, and taking diuretics with high doses of vitamin D can raise calcium to dangerous levels.
• Liver Metabolism : The liver is responsible for metabolizing many drugs. High doses of vitamin D can increase liver metabolism, causing medications to be broken down and removed from the body faster than normal. Several medications may be affected by vitamin D in this manner, including triazolam, indinavir, estrogen, cyclosporine and lovastatin.
• Vitamin D Toxicity : Overconsumption of vitamin D can lead to several harmful effects on the body, some of which can be quite severe. General symptoms of vitamin D toxicity include nausea, vomiting, appetite loss, dry mouth and an unusual metallic taste in the mouth. Headache, drowsiness, weakness and fatigue may also occur. Long-term ingestion of large doses of vitamin D can cause calcium levels to rise in the body. High levels of calcium can cause calcium deposits to form in organs and blood vessels, causing damage that can lead to heart disease, kidney stones or other health conditions.

The benefits of Vitamin D are

Vitamin D is a collective way of referring to several forms of the said vitamin, two of which are most notably essential to humans: ergocalciferol (vitamin D2), as synthesized by plants; and cholecalciferol (vitamin D3), as synthesized by humans. This vitamin may be obtained by consuming fish, fortified milk, and cod liver oil, among other sources. Exposure to sunlight is a good and necessary source of vitamin D, wherein a mere 10-minute exposure can have long-term benefits through preventing deficiency. Apart from its well-studied biological function and favourable contributions, and besides the evidence that showed how vitamin D is more potent than vaccination; there are several other health benefits strongly linked to vitamin D.

• Bone Health : The vitamin’s key function lies in its healthy regulation of calcium and phosphorus blood levels, which enable its calcium-absorption role to significantly contribute in the formation of strong bones. Several effective benefits of vitamin D also extend to skin repair and maintenance. But without the help of vitamin K2, the calcium that your vitamin D so effectively lets in might be working AGAINST you -- by building up your coronary arteries rather than your bones. There is even evidence that the safety of vitamin D is dependent on vitamin K, and that vitamin D toxicity (although very rare with the D3 form) is actually caused by vitamin K2 deficiency.
• Immune system enhancement : A study in Denmark demonstrated why vitamin D should be consumed as often as possible. The researchers discovered that it aids in activating our immune system’s killer cells, which are more formally referred to as T cells.The name itself suggests either a vital or destructive role, and the study results support the positive implication. These killer cells kill, arrest, destroy impaired cells — an act that largely combats potentially detrimental factors.The best part is that immune system activation, in itself, is already a major protective factor in warding off a spectrum of ailments.
• Depression : Links between two D’s: Vitamin D and Depression : Researchers from the US National Institute of Aging discovered that depression symptoms, particularly for elders aged 65 and above, occur due to insufficient amounts of vitamin D in their bodies. Given that direct sunlight exposure is a necessary move in order to prevent deficiencies, a link was established because seniors are more inclined to stay inside the house than engage in activities outside.Led by Luigi Ferrucci, the study involved utilizing a scale called CES-D, which is a tool for measuring depression symptoms. Findings showed that those participants with poor results in the CES-D test simultaneously had lower vitamin D amounts in their bloodstream. On the other hand, better scores were found in those who had higher levels of the said vitamin.Further research and evidence needs to be established, but the strong links have increasingly emerged.
• Diabetes : Researchers from Loyola University Chicago published a review article, which claimed that diabetes can be prevented and delayed, and even those who are already clinically diagnosed may experience a reduction in diabetes-related complications due to ample consumption of Vitamin D. The vitamin is believed to have a significant role in managing glucose intolerance by aiding insulin secretion and sensitivity, which in turn contributes to the risk reduction and management of diabetes. This explains the strong link between vitamin D deficiency and type 2 diabetes. As such, individuals who are at risk of developing the said chronic disease should be gauged in terms of whether they have ample or lacking levels of vitamin D.
• Vitamin D also removes toxins from the brain and helps break down a substance called amyloid-beta, which is a protein that plays a major role in the development of Alzheimer's disease.