Some people refer to vitamin D as the "sunshine vitamin," due to the body's ability to synthesize it from UV exposure. It is commonplace and recommended that vitamin D also be consumed in supplemental form on account of its crucial health benefits.
Vitamin D(3) and The Body's Needs
Vitamin D3 is one of two primary forms of vitamin D. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble sterol that works as a prohormone in the body. The alternative form is known as vitamin D2. Chemically referred to as cholecalciferol, D3 is the form of vitamin D which the body synthesizes from sunlight. D3 is also that is commercially synthesized as a dietary supplement.
No matter how it's consumed, vitamin D will be metabolized the same way. Vitamin D3 is transported to and has reactions in both the kidneys and the liver. The vitamin performs a variety of functions in different organs and tissues, which are are enabled by its interactions with responsive elements, such as calcitriol, that exist in the body. There are a litany of vitamin D reactions that take place affecting cell proliferation and much more. Scientists have reason to believe that therapeutic/preventative actions against some chronic conditions, cardiovascular disease, and other ills are carried out by vitamin D interactions.
Benefits from Taking D3
There are a few different reasons why you might benefit from supplementing with D3. The physiological effects of deficiency in vitamin D, as well as the proven benefits of consuming more of it, make a D3 supplement potentially critical for some people. Here are three prominent, well-researched benefits you could experience by supplementing with vitamin D3.
Preventing chronic disease, as mentioned previously, is believed to be one of the most important reasons to regularly consume sufficient amounts of vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiency is linked to the development of multiple sclerosis (MS), as well as to cardiovascular conditions including hypertension, stroke, and heart failure. For this reason alone, it is worth being conscientious about bolstering your vitamin D intake.
Strong bones: Your vitamin D levels over time can have a bearing on the health of your bones. Vitamin D is critical for bone formation and growth. If a young child is deficient in vitamin D, rickets (a form of bone disease/malformation) can occur. Adults who are deficient in vitamin D can experience osteomalacia, which is a condition characterized by weak, softened bones, but which is reversible by supplementing with vitamin D. The benefits to bone health of taking vitamin D carry over into old age, when it could prevent osteoporosis as well as reduce susceptibility to bone fractures. Multiple large studies have corroborated these benefits. Vitamin D best benefits your bones when taken alongside calcium.
Regulating mood and alleviating depression could be helped by supplementing with vitamin D. Research supports vitamin D's role in both of these purposes. Deficiency in vitamin D has also been linked to anxiety. This link between vitamin D makes sense in the context of seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a depressive disorder that some people experience in settings where there is very little sunlight each day. Low levels of vitamin D3 are shown to correlate with serotonin depletion. Taking a D3 supplement can make up for this deficiency.
If you believe that you or someone you know might benefit from bolstering vitamin D3 intake, then consider taking a D3 supplement. Your long-term health, as well as the health of your bones, and your own mental health, might benefit from taking more of this vitamin. It is recommended that you talk to your healthcare provider before taking any supplement for the first time.