Vitamin D

Though the vitamin D is referred to as a vitamin on close scrutiny one will rather refer to it as conditional vitamin, because it could be made and formed by the skin in certain conditions. Vitamin D, biological referred to as calciferol, plays a vial role in the maintenance of calcium and phosphorus level in the human blood.

Vitamin D comprises of vitamin D2 (ergocalaferol) and vitamin D3 on the other hand occurs naturally or is formed by the human body in the skin particularly when there is a reaction of 7-dehydro dolesterol with the UVB ultraviolet rays or high with wavelengths of 290 to 315 mm. the sunlight is an essential source of vitamin D3 specifically when the sun is on the high side enough above the horizon. This will enable the UVB ultraviolet rays to pass through the atmosphere which lead to the formation of cholecalciferol. This reaction can produce as much as 20,000 I U in the skin if the skin is opposed to the UB rays long enough.

Vitamin D3 is have more effect in the human body than D2 as, well as in the squirrel monkey. But the reverse is the case in the rat. The vitamin D2, which is found by irradiatry fungi to give off ergocalciferol, have more effect in rat than vitamin D3.

In some part of the world with higher latitudes, production of vitamin D is relatively low, particularly in the winter. That reason, there is the anxiety about lack of sufficient vitamin D which may result in chromic diseases. However, this can be curbed if milk could be fortified with vitamin D up to at least 100 I U per cup of milk been present in the milk. Read about vitamin d groups affected

To know if there is vitamin deficiency, a test can be run on the blood calcidiol level, the hydroxylated calcidiol level should be between 40 and 60 Aglml. Calcitriol (1,25D), which is synthesized from calcidiol mainly to perform its function calcium maintenance, is the most active form of vitamin D. the main function of calcitrial is to maintain calcium and phosphorus levels in the blood, and specifically the bone. Furthermore, in the human body, a number of tissues also produce and regulate their own calcitriol.

The question about what vitamin D really is has arose because of the fact that the body can produce it. For this reason, vitamin D can not really be referred to as vitamin; though it is rather called vitamin generally. Because it is refered to as vitamin, most people thought it to be dietary essential and some times look for its supplement. You can read about vitamin d in food. and human skin and vitamin d.

Because of this view of vitamin d as steroid or secorsteroid, there is need for a closer scrutiny examination has concluded that vitamin D are rather secosteroids. This was further proven by professor Ronald M. Evens, a fellow of the salk institute in one of continuing medical education seminar to which was delivered to FDA'S center for drug evaluation and research. He kicked against the use of vitamin D supplement because it is harmful in many chromic diseases like living cancer, sarccoidosis, lymphoma, to mention but a few. In that case, vitamin D is not truly a vitamin, rather is more of a secosteroid which are very similar to steroid in structure, which can enable vitamin D to bind to some the same receptors as steroids; therefore making it no more different form secosteriods. Also read about vitamin d overdose

However, there are still continuing investigation on the essentiality and benefit of vitamin D supplements

The articles on this website should not be used as a basis for any form of diagnosis or treatment for any medical condition. Always seek professional medical advice.