Vitamin D3: These Benefits and Uses for the Body

Some literature states that vitamin D3 is the most natural form of vitamin D. Vitamin D3 plays an important role in regulating calcium levels in the body and maintaining the strength of bones and teeth. In addition, vitamin D3 is also used to treat certain diseases.

Vitamin D is a type of fat-soluble vitamin. Chemically, there are 2 active forms of vitamin D, namely vitamin D2 or ergocalciferol and vitamin D3 called cholecalciferol.

Vitamin D3: These Benefits and Uses for the Body

Vitamin D2 is only found in foods from certain types of plants, such as mushrooms. Whereas vitamin D3 is formed naturally when your skin is exposed to direct sunlight. In addition, vitamin D3 can also be found in foods derived from animals, such as:

  • Sea fish, such as salmon, tuna and cob
  • Fish oil and cod liver oil.
  • Egg.
  • Milk and its preparations, such as cheese and yogurt.
  • Beef liver.
  • Cereals or fruit juice fortified with vitamin D3.

Not only from food, intake of vitamin D3 can also be obtained from supplements containing vitamin D3.

Benefits and Uses of Vitamin D3

The main benefit of vitamin D3 is that it helps the body absorb calcium and phosphorus which are important for building and maintaining strong bones. Intake of vitamin D3 from food or supplements is consumed by people who do not get enough vitamin D intake, either from sunlight or from food.

For example, in people with lupus, people who spend a lot of time indoors, or suffer from digestive disorders that make vitamin D difficult to absorb by the body.

Vitamin D both in the form of vitamin D2 and vitamin D3 can also be used as a treatment and prevention of several diseases, including:

1. Treat and prevent rickets and osteomalacia

Vitamin D3 can be used to treat and prevent rickets and osteomalacia. Both of these conditions are caused by a lack of vitamin D, calcium, and phosphorus.

Rickets is an abnormality of bone growth in children, whereas osteomalacia is an abnormality in bone that makes bones soft and easily broken.

2. Preventing osteoporosis

Various studies have shown that an adequate intake of vitamin D3 can help prevent osteoporosis or bone loss and increase bone density in older people. Vitamin D3 is also said to reduce the risk of fractures in the elderly.

3. Prevent worsening of kidney disorders

Certain kidney diseases, such as chronic kidney failure, can disrupt kidney function in producing vitamin D. As a result, many kidney failure patients experience vitamin D deficiency.

To increase the intake of vitamin D in the body, patients with kidney disorders are advised to get enough vitamin D3 from food or supplements.

In addition, several studies have also shown that the use of vitamin D3 supplements seems to prevent deteriorating kidney failure and improve the condition of patients with kidney failure. Vitamin D3 supplements also appear to be effective in reducing the risk of complications in diabetic nephropathy.

4. Treating disorders of the parathyroid gland

The parathyroid gland is a gland that functions to regulate calcium levels in the body by producing parathyroid hormone. When this hormone is produced, the body will naturally produce more vitamin D to absorb more calcium.

If the function of the parathyroid gland is disrupted, for example in hypoparathyroidism, the amount of vitamin D and calcium in the body will decrease.

Therefore, vitamin D3 supplements are often needed to treat disorders of the parathyroid gland.

Although it plays an important role for health, daily intake of vitamin D is not recommended for excessive consumption.

Based on the Nutrition Adequacy Rate (AKG) recommendation from the Ministry of Health, the daily requirement of vitamin D for women and men is 15 micrograms, equivalent to 600 IU. While the elderly are advised to get enough vitamin D daily as much as 20 micrograms, equivalent to 800 IU.

This amount can be fulfilled by consuming food sources of vitamin D. If you want to take vitamin D3 supplements, you are advised to consult with a nutrition specialist, so the dosage can be adjusted to your health conditions.

Label : Healthy life cat_Healthy life

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Information Related to Pediatricians

Foods That Contain Harmful Gluten? Here are the facts

7 Ways to Reduce Menstrual Pain