Vitamin D - Use, Sources, Deficiency, Requirement - Nutrition And Health

                                                         

Vitamin D (Calciferol)

What Is Vitamin D :

Vitamin D is a crucial nutrient that plays several important roles in the body, primarily related to bone health, immune function, and mood regulation.

It is also called the anti-rachitic vitamin because its deficiency interferes with calcium and phosphorus usage, which in turn causes rickets.

Function of Vitamin D :

1. Calcium Absorption : 

Vitamin D promotes calcium absorption in the gut, maintaining proper bone and teeth health.

Bone Health: It helps in the mineralization of bones, preventing rickets in children and osteomalacia or osteoporosis in adults.

2. Immune System Support : 

Vitamin D modulates immune responses and helps in defending against infections like the common cold.

3. Mood and Mental Health : 

Low levels of vitamin D have been associated with mood disorders like depression and Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

4. Cell Growth and Inflammation Reduction : 

Vitamin D plays a role in cell growth and helps reduce inflammation in the body.

Sources of Vitamin D :

1. Sunlight : 

- The body can produce Vitamin D when the skin is exposed to sunlight, especially UVB rays.

2. Food Sources :

- Fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, and tuna

- Cod liver oil (Cod liver oil is a type of fish oil supplement derived from the liver of codfish)

- Fortified foods (like milk, orange juice, and cereals)

- Egg yolks

- Mushrooms exposed to UV light.

Deficiency of Vitamin :
1. Rickets : 

Deficiency of vitamin D, usually in young children (aged 6 months to 2 years), causes rickets.

C/M (Clinical Manifestations) :

- Bone deformity like curved legs, deformed pelvis, pigeon’s chest or chicken breast (also called pectus carinatum), which is a condition where the sternum projects anteriorly due to inadequate mineralization of developing cartilage and newly formed bone.
- Muscular hypotonia (reduced muscle tone).
- Tetany (intermittent tonic muscular spasms that typically involve the arms or legs due to hypocalcemia).

2. Osteomalacia (adult rickets) : 

Softening of bones due to vitamin D deficiency in adults, called osteomalacia.

It is common in women during pregnancy and lactation.

Daily Requirement :
RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance) of Vitamin D according to ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) are,
Adults : 2.5 µg (100 IU)
Infants and children : 5 µg (200 IU)
Pregnancy & lactation : 10 µg (400 IU)