VITAMIN D INFORMATION

Vitamin D is important in helping the body absorb and use calcium from food and supplements. It aids in bone and tooth formation and supports muscle and nerve function. Studies have also shown that vitamin D helps to prevent osteoporosis. There are three sources of vitamin D; natural sunlight, fortification of dietary foods, particularly dairy products and some cereals and oily fish, and supplements. The radiation that converts vitamin D in the skin is the same wavelength that causes sunburn, so careful application of sunscreen can inhibit vitamin D production. This is why many choose other alternatives for vitamin D supplementation such as vitamin D supplements and dietary foods rich in vitamin D.

GUARDING COGNITIVE HEALTH

Poor mood often is associated with advancing years. Recent data suggests that poor vitamin D status may be common in the elderly and low levels of vitamin D are associated with poor mood. There are a number of trials that have suggested a role for supplementary vitamin D in the treatment of depression.

The impact of vitamin D status, however, appears to go far beyond merely improving mood. A large trial involving 1,766 adults over the age of 65 identified vitamin D levels as related to cognitive function and dementia. The relationship is strong enough that the researchers suggested supplementation with vitamin D as a possible way to reduce the risk of developing dementia.

CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH AND THE SUNSHINE VITAMIN

The role of vitamin D in cardiovascular health is one of the currently "hot" topics in research circles, and for a good reason. Vitamin D levels have been linked to a number of aspects of heart and circulatory health. Take blood pressure, for instance. It generally is assumed that blood pressure, primarily systolic blood pressure (the upper figure), increases naturally with age. This is the reason the elevation over time is named "age-associated increase in systolic blood pressure." Interestingly, maintaining "optimal" vitamin D status reduces or attenuates the elevation in blood pressure that is expected with age. Another circulatory condition, lower - extremity peripheral arterial disease, similarly is related to vitamin D status. Nearly one third of the higher prevalence of this condition in adults blacks compared to whites is explainable by vitamin D levels being lower in blacks.

Another way of thinking about vitamin D and cardiovascular health is to consider the lively discussions ongoing in research circles regarding the relationship of statins and vitamin D. Cardiovascular disease has a large inflammatory component and some scientists have argued that statins act, in large part, by serving as vitamin D analogs. Moreover, another aspect of cardiovascular disease concerns vascular calcification and statins recently have begun to be touted for bone health as well as reducing calcification of the arteries.

RESOURCES:

The source for this information is Wikipedia.