Less than 12 ng/ml is considered clinical Vitamin D deficiency.Ĥ0% of Americans get too little Vitamin D, while 10% are clinically Vitamin D-deficient. A four-year study of Vitamin D and calcium supplementation demonstrated a 60% drop in the incidence of cancer among a test group of postmenopausal women.ĭoctors consider normal blood Vitamin D levels to be between 20 and 50 ng/ml (nanograms per milliliter). Vitamin D paired with fiber has been linked to reduced formation of colon polyps, which can become cancerous. A study of 166 breast cancer patients revealed a 70% incidence of low Vitamin D levels, prompting scientists to hypothesize a link. Lower Susceptibility to Cancer - Some studies have linked Vitamin D to slowed rates of tumor growth.
This may be correlated to the fact that most people experience less exposure of the skin to sunlight, reducing their Vitamin D levels in the winter. More Stable Mood - Some studies have correlated healthy Vitamin D levels with reduced rates of clinical depression, especially seasonal affective disorder.Vitamin D may also improve cardiovascular endurance. The reasons for this effect are not entirely clear, but doctors suspect that Vitamin D regulates heart cells, preventing the ventricle walls from getting too thick.
Better Heart Health - Two studies have correlated low Vitamin D levels with susceptibility to heart attacks.A Boston University study demonstrated an improvement in blood pressure among hypertensive subjects when administered Vitamin D3. Lower Blood Pressure - Vitamin D3 reduces the concentration of the enzyme renin in the kidneys, which impacts blood vessels and blood pressure.Greater Insulin Control - Vitamin D3 has been shown to stimulate the pancreas, triggering its insulin-production functions.Better Bone Health - Vitamin D plays a key role in the absorption of calcium, which makes it critical for maintaining bone density, promoting bone crystallization, and preventing bone disorders like osteoporosis.Examples of the positive effects of Vitamin D include: Studies have shown the ability of Vitamin D to switch off cancer-causing genes, switch on genes critical to immune system function, and have a positive impact on a variety of bodily systems.
When Vitamin D3 or another calciferol binds to a Vitamin D receptor, it turns as many as 2,000 genes within the cell on or off, causing cellular changes. People unable to obtain sufficient Vitamin D from sun exposure should consider taking a Vitamin D3 supplement, especially if they are vegetarians, vegans, or otherwise avoid eating animal products.Īlso known as “calciferol,” Vitamin D plays a crucial role in human health. Similar to but different from the form of Vitamin D that the skin produces when exposed to sunlight, Vitamin D3 can be obtained by eating certain animal products, including egg yolks, liver, fatty fish, fish oil, cheese, yogurt, and other foods.įew plant-based foods contain Vitamin D3. Vitamin D3 is a form of Vitamin D, a fat-soluble hormone. Lets dig deep into this subject-what is Vitamin D, and what is magnesium for, for that matter? Why are they inextricably linked according to the science of nutrition? What do they do for the body, and what happens to the body when there isn’t enough of it? Should you supplement your diet with one? Both? And how much? Should you take a vitamin D test at home? This is everything you need to know about Vitamin D and magnesium, What is Vitamin D3 and what does it do for your body? Moreover, any conversation about Vitamin D is incomplete without a discussion of the mineral magnesium. Since patients with ailments from breast cancer to COVID-19 display decreased levels of Vitamin D, renewed interest has focused on this vitamin, which is actually a hormone, that your body produces naturally when your skin is exposed to UV rays from the sun or other sources. Vitamin D is quickly overtaking Vitamin C as the buzziest supplement on the market.