Vitamin D3 deficiency poses a serious health risk

What connects people with diabetes, depression, osteoporosis, multiple sclerosis, cardiovascular disease and cancer? The answer is surprising: vitamin D deficiency. While scientists are reluctant to say outright that a lack of “D” causes these diseases, the fact that it has been found in most people who suffer from these problems speaks volumes. Moreover, in winter, a deficiency of this nutrient puts most of us at risk.

Most people know that vitamin D is essential for proper bone development – it regulates the body’s calcium and phosphorus balance through several mechanisms. However, vitamin D also has epigenetic effects – it binds to receptors on the cell nucleus and thus influences many cellular functions and the activity of many genes in our DNA.

Seniors at risk

Although vitamin D is produced in the skin by sunlight, it is estimated that up to 70% of the European population is deficient. The elderly are particularly at risk, as their ability to produce it decreases by up to 75% with age. According to an article published in March 2015 in the Journal of Aging, it is therefore the lack of sunscreen that is linked to age-related diseases. These include osteoporosis, loss of mental performance, type 2 diabetes and some cancers.

Will it prevent childhood obesity?

For infant and toddler children, vitamin D not only helps proper bone development and growth, but adequate intake is also necessary, according to a study published in Pediatric Obesityto ensure that toddlers develop sufficient muscle tissue and do not develop excessive adipose tissue. For the same reason, the use of diacin is also advisable during pregnancy.

Vitami D is, however, important across all age categories – its deficiency is common in people suffering from multiple sclerosis, cancer, but also depression, and vitamin D is also essential for the proper functioning of the immune system.

When is it appropriate to supplement?

At present, only children under 1 year of age who are prescribed vitamin D by a paediatrician take it regularly. However, as we have already mentioned, there are many more groups at risk of deficiency – in particular, people over 65, women in menopause, children and pregnant women. However, regular supplementation is also worthwhile for people with compromised immunity and all the diseases mentioned above.

Taking vitamin D is particularly useful in winter, when our skin is almost never exposed to sunlight. However, since most of us use UV creams when in the sun, we may be at risk of deficiency during the rest of the year.

If you choose to take vitamin D supplements, you should prefer those that contain the form known as D3, which is common in the animal kingdom. The D2 variant, which is found in plants, cannot be sufficiently absorbed and used by our bodies.

More information about vitamin D, including sources of information, can be found here.