Vitamin D: More information
There are several forms of Vitamin D however the two major forms are Vitamin D2 (Ergocalciferol) and Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol) all of which are fat soluble. Vitamin D can be obtained from exposure to Sun, food and supplements. Vitamin D has to be activated in the body to Calcitriol which is extremely important in maintenance of organ systems. Vitamin D more importantly increases the flow of calcium into the blood by increasing the absorption of calcium from food. Calcium is essential for growth and strengthening of bones hence without Vitamin D, the concentration of calcium in the blood decreases leading to bones becoming brittle, thin and misshapen.
Natural sources of Vitamin D include Cod liver oil, Fatty Fish such as Herring, Salmon, Tuna and Sardines.
Malnutrition in Vitamin D may also be linked to several chronic conditions. A wide variety of external factors affect production of Vitamin D for example time of day, cloud cover, smog and even sunscreen therefore it is important for individuals who have a limited exposure to the sun to include Vitamin D in their diet by the way of supplements.