Vitamin D2 Ergocalciferol
Click to see known causes of Vitamin D2 Ergocalciferol Deficiency.
Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin which is broken into two parts—first Vitamin D2 Ergocalciferol, and second Vitamin D3 Cholecalciferol. Vitamin D is very important for the production, health, and strengthening of the bones in the body. A lack of Vitamin D will lead to a decrease in bone density. Other key roles of Vitamin D in the body include: modulation of neuromuscular and immune function and reduction of inflammation; the encoding of proteins which regulate cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis; and the regulations of some cell receptors.
Sources of Vitamin D2 Ergocalciferol
There are very few foods which contain high levels of Vitamin D2 Ergocalcigerol. The body gets most of the vitamin from absorbing it from the sun through the skin. Many foods have been fortified with Vitamin D2 Ergocalciferol. Milk is an excellent example of a food which has been fortified with 100 IU/cup of Vitamin D2. Other foods which are fortified with Vitamin D2 Ergocalciferol include: orange juice, yogurt, butter, margarine, and ready to eat cereals. There are some sources of Vitamin D2 Ergocalciferol which a person can get naturally. These sources include: salmon, cod liver oil, tuna fish, mackerel, sardines, beef liver, egg, swiss cheese, and mushrooms that have been exposed to ultra violet light. While all of these foods contain Vitamin D2 Ergocalciferol—only mushrooms are highest in Vitamin D2 Ergocalciferol content.
Exposure from the Sun
The majority of the people in the world are able to get sufficient levels of Vitamin D through the sun’s rays. Yet, there are factors which will influence how much a person can get their Vitamin D from the sun. These factors include: season of the year, geographical latitude, time of day, cloud cover, smog, skin melanin content, and use of certain types of sunscreens. As a person goes North and South from the equator, the time of year a person can get sufficient levels of Vitamin D from the sun decreases.
It is hard to provide a guideline for sufficient sun exposure due to damage which occurs to the skin due to overexposure depending on the location of a person, body conditions, and time of year. A general rule is that 5-30 minutes of exposure to the face, arms, legs, or back, without sunscreen, twice a week between 10 AM and 3 PM is sufficient. Yet, again these recommendations are general and will differ depending on area conditions and life style.
It is not recommended that a person try to get their sufficient levels of Vitamin D by using a tanning bed or other artificial light means. Research has shown that these artificial methods normally cause more damage than good.
Why is Vitamin D2 Ergocalciferol Important?
There is some data which shows that Vitamin D plays an important role in the prevention of certain types of cancer (colon, prostate, and breast cancers). There is no strong data supporting these claims as of yet, but there are some studies which seem to be indicating these results. There is also some new data which suggests that Vitamin D might play a role in the prevention of other diseases such as: type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, glucose intolerance, multiple sclerosis, and other medical conditions.
How to Get Enough Vitamin D2 Ergocalciferol
Vitamin D2 Ergocalciferol once again is a fat soluble vitamin. This means it is easier for the body to maintain higher levels of Vitamin D than it is for the body to maintain higher levels of water soluble vitamins, like Vitamin B. The sun is the greatest provider of Vitamin D2 Ergocalciferol to the body. The skin will absorb the sun’s rays, and then convert them into Vitamin D2 Ergocalciferol. The problem is many people don’t have the proper exposure to the sun. Many people’s schedules will place them inside working before the sun rises in the morning, and then will have them leaving work after the sun has set. There have been companies trying to install lights which produce sun like rays, but the body’s exposure to these sun like lights leave many people skeptical.
The other problem is it is difficult for a person to supplement their diets with natural Vitamin D2 Ergocalciferol sources through a healthy diet. There just aren’t many foods which provide sufficient levels of Vitamin D2 Ergocalciferol. The best way to get enough Vitamin D2 Ergocalciferol is by taking a good daily multivitamin. A person should look for a daily multivitamin from a reputable company, which is also gender specific. Men and women need different levels of vitamins and minerals, and a reputable company will provide a multivitamin which is tailored to the needs of each gender.
While dietary supplements do provide many of the vitamins and minerals essential to the human body, dietary supplement cannot replace a healthy diet.
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