Why is Vitamin D So Important?

"There are two main forms of vitamin D: vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) and D3 (cholecalciferol). Vitamin D2 is found mainly in plant foods and fortified foods, while vitamin D3 is obtained from sunlight exposure, animal-based foods, and supplements. Why is vitamin D so important? Vitamin D plays a pivotal role in our health. It regulates the absorption of calcium and phosphorus, critical for the growth and development of bones and teeth."

"But vitamin D does much more than support healthy bones. It helps govern immune responses, such as regulating the activation of T cells, a key immune cell that helps us ward off infections. Recent research even suggests a possible link between sufficient vitamin D levels and a reduced risk of developing autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS) and type 1 diabetes."

Approximately half of the global population is deficient in vitamin D, leaving over a billion people at elevated risk for chronic diseases. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin and a hormone produced in skin exposed to sunlight. It exists as D2 (ergocalciferol) in plant and fortified foods and D3 (cholecalciferol) from sunlight, animal foods, and supplements. Vitamin D regulates calcium and phosphorus absorption essential for bone and tooth development; deficiency causes rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. Vitamin D also modulates immune responses, including T-cell activation, and low levels associate with higher autoimmune and cardiovascular risks.

Read at Alternative Medicine Magazine