Vitamin D is also known as calciferol. It has many health benefits such as treating rachitic rosary, preventing bone fractures, reducing the risk of cancer, protection against PAD (peripheral arterial disease), treating of osteomalacia and curing rickets. This is a fat – soluble vitamin which is very important for our health. Also calciferol is called a steroid vitamin because it can increase the metabolism and absorption of phosphorus and calcium. The normal sunlight is adequate for the production of Vitamin D in your skin [1]. Rickets and osteomalacia are diseases that are caused by Vitamin D deficiency. Rickets is a disease of the bones and it is found in children. The main symptoms of this disease are bowed legs and bowed hands. This is caused by the softening of bones. Osteomalacia is most commonly affecting adults. The main symptoms of this disease are muscle weakness, a waddling walk and increase in bone fractures. Vitamin D is found in foods such as salmon fishes, sardines and mackerel. Also there are other good sources of Vitamin D such as oily fish, cod liver oil, egg yolks and butter. Fortified milk also has some amount of Vitamin D.
Health benefits of Vitamin D (calciferol)
Contents
Treats rachitic rosary
Vitamin D can help in the treatment of rachitic rosary. This condition manifest in bead – like bumps seen at the joints of the ribs with their cartilages. This disease is very commonly found in children who already suffer from rickets. [2]
Prevents disabling fractures
If you eat diet that is rich in Vitamin D, then it can help in the prevention of disabling fractures. If you have a good intake of calcium but if your Vitamin D is missing or lacking, then calcium cannot keep your bones strong. [3]
Protects against cancer
There are some studies in which is shown that the high intake of Vitamin D can reduce the risk of many types of cancers and cardiovascular diseases [1]. Also this vitamin can help to protect against cancers of lymphoma, skin, lung and prostate.
Prevents peripheral arterial disease
This vitamin can reduce your chances of peripheral arterial disease. This vitamin can help your body to absorb calcium which is very important mineral for our bones. It is recommended for your children to sin in the sun for a moderate amount of time because this can help for the absorption of Vitamin D and it can prevent the peripheral arterial disease. [4]
Treats osteomalacia
This is a disease which is found in the skeleton. This term means soft bones. Minerals, phosphorus, calcium and the matrix that is comprised of collagen, osteoblasts and osteoclasts are the 4 main components of our bones. Osteoblasts are bone – manufacturing cells and osteoclasts are bone – removing cells. The collagen fiber which is in the matrix is covered by minerals. The strength of our bones depends upon the rich mineral coating which is over the collagen matrix. If the mineral coating is found in a significant quantity, then it can form a strong bone. Osteoblasts manufacture the new collagen matrix and osteoclasts eradicte old bone. If the process of formation of the mineral coating does not take place correctly, then osteomalacia takes place. In this disease, new bones are formed without the mineral coating which is leading to the softening of the bones. These bones can bend easily or crack. This condition is treated with direct exposure to sun and oral dose of Vitamin D. The use of UV lamps is one alternative for absorbing ultraviolet rays. [3]
Cures rickets
This is a skeletal disorder which is caused by calcium, phosphate and Vitamin D deficiency. Rickets is identified by an X – ray examination of the bones of the legs. An extra dose of oral Vitamin D can help to cure rickets in a very quick way. Rickets which are caused by the deficiency of calcium should be treated with a supplement of extra calcium along with the dose of Vitamin D. [3,5]
Controls phosphate and calcium levels
Vitamin D can help the body to control calcium and phosphate levels in the body. When our body does have Vitamin D deficiency, then it is unable to control calcium and phosphate levels. [3]
References:
[1] Nair R, Maseeh A. Vitamin D: The “sunshine” vitamin. Journal of Pharmacology & Pharmacotherapeutics. 2012;3(2):118-126.
[2] Fernandes ASC, Lobo S, Sandes AR, et al. Vitamin D-dependent rickets: a resurgence of the rachitic lung in the 21st century. BMJ Case Reports. 2015.
[3] Christodoulou S, Goula T, Ververidis A, Drosos G. Vitamin D and bone disease. BioMed Research International. 2013;2013:396541.
[4] Kheiri B, Abdalla A, Osman M, et al. Vitamin D deficiency and risk of cardiovascular diseases: a narrative review. Clinical Hypertension. 2018;24:9.
[5] Sahay M, Sahay R. Rickets–vitamin D deficiency and dependency. Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism.
