What Is The Level Of Vitamin D In Human Body

What Is The Level Of Vitamin D In Human Body – Vitamin D, commonly known as the “sunshine vitamin,” is actually not a vitamin, but a prohormone. It is also known as calcitriol, ergocalciferol, calcidiol, and cholecalciferol. Of these, calcidiol is the form that doctors usually focus on when measuring vitamin D levels in the blood.

When exposed to sunlight, cholesterol in the skin absorbs UV B radiation, which converts it into vitamin D3. Vitamin D3 is then metabolized in the liver and kidneys to 25-hydroxyvitamin D, the major form circulating in our blood serum.

What Is The Level Of Vitamin D In Human Body

In food and dietary supplements, vitamin D has two primary forms, D2 (ergocalciferol) and D3 (cholecalciferol). Both forms are well absorbed in the small intestine and then stored in the liver and adipose tissue of the body for long-term use. (1), (2), (3)

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Despite fortified foods, 40% of adults in North America are still vitamin D deficient.

There are several main causes of low vitamin D levels, and certain groups of people are at greater risk of vitamin D deficiency.

If you live above 37 degrees latitude, you are at higher risk of vitamin D deficiency. At these latitudes, the skin produces little vitamin D from the sun, except during the summer months, because the UVB rays needed at other times of the year cannot penetrate the higher latitudes.

Unfortunately, breast milk itself is a poor source of vitamin D, putting exclusively breastfed babies at greater risk of not getting enough of this essential vitamin.

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The good news is that with adequate vitamin D intake or supplementation, a nursing mother can completely transfer the vitamin D needed for an optimally nourished infant’s vitamin D nutrition from her blood into her milk, without the infant needing additional supplements.

The skin’s ability to synthesize vitamin D decreases with age. This is because older people have lower concentrations of the vitamin D precursor 7-DHC in their skin compared to younger people.

UV rays from the sun are necessary for the body to produce vitamin D; it only takes 15-20 minutes two or three days a week to get enough UV rays. However, many people avoid sunlight for many reasons. If this is the case, a vitamin D supplement may be the best option.

A higher amount of melanin in the skin causes a darker skin color. Although higher levels of melanin protect the skin from sunburn, unfortunately, it also reduces the skin’s ability to synthesize vitamin D from direct sunlight.

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Absorption of vitamin D is fat-soluble, meaning that its utilization and storage depends on the body’s ability to absorb dietary fat.

Conditions such as celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, cystic fibrosis and some liver diseases, as well as after gastric bypass surgery, reduce the ability to absorb fat, which is necessary to maintain optimal vitamin D levels.

Certain prescription medications can lower vitamin D levels in the body, mainly by reducing the absorption of vitamin D from food and supplements. Common medications that reduce or decrease vitamin D absorption include:

Plant-based diets avoid many foods rich in vitamin D, such as dairy products and fatty fish. There are vegan supplements that will help boost your levels if needed.

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Increased adipose tissue keeps vitamin D isolated, so it is not easily excreted. Therefore, people with a body mass index greater than 30 are at risk for lower vitamin D levels and often need higher doses of vitamin D supplements to achieve and maintain normal D levels.

Low levels of vitamin D have been linked to heart disease, cancer and weakened immune function. Long-term severe deficiencies can lead to muscle and bone weakness such as rickets, osteoporosis or osteomalacia. So monitoring your levels should be a top priority.

Determining vitamin D levels is easy and can be done at home with a blood test or in a lab with a blood sample.

Comprehensive metabolic panels can help determine whether liver or kidney function is the underlying cause of low vitamin D levels.

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Because conditions that affect digestion and absorption can decrease vitamin D levels, it is important to rule out underlying digestive disorders. A thorough stool examination can demonstrate a patient’s ability to break down and absorb dietary fat and rule out any inflammatory markers that may be limiting the patient’s ability to properly absorb nutrients.

If you suspect a patient is gluten sensitive or has celiac disease, a full celiac and gluten sensitivity panel can be run.

If it’s summer or you live at a lower latitude, 15-20 minutes of direct sunlight 2 or 3 times a week with a UV index of 3 or higher is sufficient for most people to synthesize vitamin D.

A quick search for “local UV index” can help you determine the amount of UVB available to you at any given time. In general, the sun’s rays are at their strongest between 10am and 3pm, but the shadow rule is a quick guide to judging the intensity of UV rays.

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Remember to block the UV rays necessary for vitamin D production by wearing sunscreen and standing outside windows.

Vitamin D is found naturally in fatty fish such as salmon, sardines, swordfish and tuna. Cod liver oil contains the highest amount of vitamin D, with more than 1,300 IU per serving. Milk also contains vitamin D, but in much smaller amounts.

Processed foods are now commonly fortified with vitamin D to prevent deficiencies worldwide. Be sure to check the labels of fortified foods, as vitamin D levels can vary greatly.

*Please note that most functional medicine practitioners will ask you to avoid dairy and processed foods to maintain optimal gut health.

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Supplements are the most effective way to increase vitamin D deficiency. It’s also a safer choice for people at high risk of skin cancer from sun exposure. Various supplements are available both by prescription and over the counter.

Vitamins D2 and D3 are slightly different. Both forms increase vitamin D levels in the blood and can treat and prevent vitamin D deficiency rickets. However, studies have shown that vitamin D3 is more effective at increasing blood levels of vitamin D than vitamin D2.

Why is vitamin D2 prescribed? Vitamin D2 is indicated for the treatment of calcium disorders and parathyroid diseases. It is also the preferred form for patients with chronic kidney disease.

Taking supplements can be challenging for those following a plant-based or vegan diet due to dietary restrictions on dairy and fish. Although most vitamin D3 is made from animal sources, D3 can be found in vegan sources such as lichen.

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Finally, vitamin K2 works synergistically with vitamin D. Studies show that taking vitamin D and vitamin K2 together increases the body’s ability to metabolize calcium efficiently compared to vitamin D alone.

Ultraviolet light sessions have been shown to increase vitamin D levels in people with malabsorption syndromes or living in northern areas where natural sunlight cannot naturally illuminate the body. UV light therapy emits UVB rays similar to natural sunlight.

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, which means it is stored in the body’s fat, so it takes time for these levels to change. It is recommended to wait 3-6 months before retesting vitamin D levels after starting supplementation or UV light therapy. Remember that it is possible to get too much vitamin D, so it is very important to check it periodically and after treatment.

Vitamin D is essential for the body’s ability to function. It is a prohormone that helps with neurotransmitter function and supports a healthy immune system.

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Having your blood tested for vitamin D is the best way to determine if you are deficient. There are many possible causes of low vitamin D levels. Addressing the underlying cause, along with a diet rich in oily fish and 2-3 times a week in the sun, can help maintain healthy vitamin D levels.

The information provided is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or other qualified health care provider before taking any dietary supplement or changing your diet or exercise.

This test determines the level of vitamin D in the blood. This is the serum version of the test. It is also available as a blood spot test.

The Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) is a commonly ordered 14-test panel that provides information about a person’s current metabolic status, including kidney and liver status, electrolyte and acid/base balance, blood glucose and protein levels. . NOTE: Children MUST enter their height on the application form. Seasonal trends have been observed in several diseases. Vitamin D deficiency is known to be more common at certain times of the year and may increase the risk of certain seasonal diseases. For example, there is a 70% reduction in the risk of vitamin D deficiency (less than 17.8 ng/mL or 44.4 nmol/L) in summer compared to winter.

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, shows a strong influence of season on vitamin D levels and risk of deficiency. Researchers analyzed vitamin D levels and mortality using Health