Vitamin D3 Cholecalciferol Deficiency
Vitamin D is one of the essential vitamins and minerals which are required for the body to function properly. Vitamin D is broken into two separate parts—Vitamin D2 Ergocalciferol and Vitamin D3 Cholecalciferol. It was thought that there was little to no difference between the two vitamins; however, recent new findings indicate that Vitamin D3 helps the body far more than Vitamin D2 Ergocalcifrerol.
Vitamin D3 Cholecalciferol 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. The body will use Vitamin D to help absorb calcium in the body, and new finding show that Vitamin D3 Cholecalciferol serves as a type of super charger for the fast absorption of calcium in comparison to Vitamin D2 Ergocalciferol.
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.”
Those at Risk of Vitamin D Deficiency
Breastfed infants are at a higher risk of developing Vitamin D Deficiency. There are some people who need to have supplementation of Vitamin D in order to avoid deficiency. Infants who are breast fed are among those needing supplementation. In studies of those infants who are breast fed and develop Rickets found infants were breast fed, kept out of direct sunlight, and were darker skinned. Breast milk alone cannot provide proper Vitamin D; a parent must also include milk fortified with Vitamin D as well.
Older adults have a tougher time synthesizing Vitamin D. An older American over the age of 50 is at a much higher risk of developing a Vitamin D Deficiency. The skin of an older adult has a harder time converting the sun’s rays and the kidney is less able to convert Vitamin D to its active form. This lack of Vitamin D will lead to a weakening of bones, and that could lead to bones breaking. A broken hip is one of the most dangerous and deadly accidents which can occur to an older adult.
People with darker skin are also at a higher risk of Vitamin D Deficiency. The darker a person’s skin the more pigment they have. The more pigment a person has the less their skin is able to produce Vitamin D from exposure from the sun. Studies have shown African American women have lower levels of Vitamin D; however, while African American women have levels of Vitamin D which should lead to a deficiency they develop fewer of the symptoms which generally accompany a deficiency.
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.
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.
Supplementation is required for many people to get sufficient levels of Vitamin D. As explained above new research indicates that Vitamin D3 Cholecalciferol out performs Vitamin D2 Ergocalciferol. A person should try to find a daily multivitamin which can help them to get proper amounts of Vitamin D. When looking for a multivitamin a person should be sure to see that the manufacture uses Vitamin D3 Cholecalciferol instead of Vitamin D2 Ergocalciferol to provide the Vitamin D in the vitamin. Studies show that Vitamin D3 is over three times more effective than Vitamin D2.
