Vitamin D2 Ergocalciferol Deficiency
Vitamin D2 Ergocalciferol is a fat soluble vitamin which is food in very low quantities in foods. The body gets the majority of Vitamin D from the sun. The skin will absorb the sun’s rays and then it will convert the rays into Vitamin D. Vitamin D is very important for the health of the bones in the body, and Vitamin D also plays a key role in other cellar functions in the body as well. Vitamin D is broken down into two separate vitamins—Vitamin D2 Ergocalciferol and Vitamin D3 Cholecalciferol. Until recently it was thought that the two separate parts of Vitamin D could be interchanged to ensure the body gets enough Vitamin D.
Recommend Amounts of Vitamin D
The Mayo Clinic has the following recommendations for Vitamin D among adults: “The Adequate Intake (AI) levels have been established by the U.S. Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences. Recommendations are: 5 micrograms (200 IU or International Units) daily for all individuals (males, female, pregnant/lactating women) under the age of 50 years-old. For all individuals from 50-70 years-old, 10 micrograms daily (400 IU) is recommended. For those who are over 70 years-old, 15 micrograms daily (600 IU) is suggested.”
The Mayo Clinic also has the following recommendations for Vitamin D and Children: “Adequate Intake (AI) levels have been established by the U.S. Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences. The recommendation from birth until 50 years old is 5 micrograms per day (200 IU or International Units per day). Children older than one year should not exceed the "upper limit" (UL) of 50 micrograms (2,000 IU) per day; children younger than one year should not exceed the UL of 25 micrograms (1,000 IU) per day.”
Symptoms of Vitamin D Deficiency
If a person has prolonged lack of exposure from the sun, then they will start to exhibit signs of Vitamin D Deficiency. The kidney in the human body cannot convert Vitamin D to its active form after prolonged lack of sun exposure. Rickets is a classical sign of Vitamin D Deficiency. Rickets is a disease normally found in smaller children. Vitamin D Deficiency will cause the Rickets. A person with Rickets will have a problem in their body with the failure of bone tissue to properly mineralize. This problem will lead to soft bones and skeletal deformities. The disease is very rare in the United State, mainly due to the decision to fortify milk with Vitamin D. Yet, this is a disease which still affects many children around the world. Underdeveloped nations in Africa have the largest number of reported cases of Rickets.
The other classical sign of Vitamin D Deficiency is Osteomalacia. Osteormalcia is the Vitamin D Deficiency which is normally found in adults. During the initial stages it is very difficult for a person to detect Osteomalacia. Osteomalacia will result in weak muscles and bones. Symptoms of Osteomalacia include bone pain and muscle weakness.
New Research Findings about Vitamin D Deficiency
There have been some very recent reports about the link between Vitamin D Deficiency and obesity and heart disease. The initial findings indicate that Vitamin D Deficiency is on the rise in industrialized nations. This lack of sun exposure is due to changes in working conditions which have more people in doors during the day, the changes in fashion which now have people wearing more clothing during the days, and also the use of sunscreens (which is still recommended and essential for people to avoid contracting skin cancers). While some of these changes are productive for the health of humans, it has raised the number of people affected in industrialized countries of Vitamin D Deficiency.
The newest finding speculate that as many as 25-30% of Americans could be at risk of Vitamin D Deficiency. Such a low level of Vitamin D will lead to a lack a lowering of the body’s metabolism which has negative effects on weight gain, and cardiovascular health.
The weight gain which people will experience is actually accentuates the problem of Vitamin D Deficiency. This is due to the fact that when a person is obese studies have found they have more problems absorbing Vitamin D. So the more obese a person is the greater risk they have of not absorbing enough Vitamin D, and that could actually lead to greater problems when a person is trying to lose weight. High body fat and low amounts of Vitamin D seem to lead to a greater chance of heart related disease. Supplementation of Vitamin D is recommended for anyone who is overweight in these new reports.
These new reports are still rather new, and there isn’t a large quantity of data substantiating their finding. There have still been no changes to the recommended daily allowance of Vitamin D, nor the Upper Limits which a person should take if they want to stay healthy. Even the researchers themselves are cautious about their findings, and wish to have more research done before anything substantial is done.
How to Get Enough Vitamin D
The sun is the best source of Vitamin D. The problem is the harms which can occur when a person is overexposed to the sun. This fear of too much exposure from the sun has led many to the use of excessive amounts of sunscreen. While the use of sunscreen is recommended, and beneficial in the fight against skin cancer, it is detrimental to the growing number of people whom are deficient of Vitamin D. Another problem with getting enough Vitamin D from the sun is the different recommendations for sun exposure depending on where a person is located on Earth, their gender, age, weight, race, and health conditions. There is going to be a different sun formula for everyone. For this reason the guidelines which have been given on the amount of sun exposure is very general in nature.
While the sun is the best source, supplementation might be the easiest and healthiest solution to getting proper amounts of Vitamin D. When looking for a supplement to get enough Vitamin D it is important to look for one with Vitamin D3 Cholecalciferol and not Vitamin D2 Ergocalciferol. It was once thought the two vitamins were interchangeable, but now new research shows that Vitamin D3 Cholecalciferol is almost three times more effective than Vitamin D2 Erogocalciferol.
A good multivitamin from a reputable supplier should be sufficient for a person’s Vitamin D needs. When looking for a good multivitamin look for one which uses Vitamin D3 Cholecalciferol to provide the necessary Vitamin D.
