By Lucy Bridges
Level 2 Coach Dax Moy Personal Training Studios,
Islington, London
The prohormone vitamin D is comprised of a group of fat-soluble vitamins. There are two major forms, vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) and vitamin D3 cholecalciferol). A third synthetic form is known as vitamin D5. Of these three types, vitamin D3 is considered the natural form and is the most active.
Vitamin D is important for its maintenance role of our various organ systems. The type of vitamin D we get from food or supplements requires conversion by the liver and then kidneys and for this reason people with liver or kidney disorders are at a greater risk for osteoporosis.
A deficiency of vitamin D may also be caused by insufficient intake along with a lack of sunlight exposure, which limits its absorption. It has a positive effect on the immune system by promoting anti-tumour activity.
There is overwhelming scientific literature data to confirm the importance of this Vitamin.
The bottom line is that virtually every disease and adverse health condition can in some way be associated with low vitamin D3 levels. Consequently, many of these problems may be fixed with adequate vitamin D3 supplementation, or can be avoided by keeping vitamin D3 levels in the high normal range.
Vitamin D2 is not produced by the human body, but comes from plant and fungal sources.
Vitamin D3 is derived from animal sources, and when your skin is exposed to ultraviolet rays from the sun. Hence if you live in Europe, north of Lisbon you are at greater risk and highly likely to be deficient, especially during the winter months from sunlight exposure and additional supplementation is necessary. When this happens a cholesterol compound in the skin is transformed into a precursor of vitamin D.
Our bodies have 30,000 genes and vitamin D has been shown to influence approximately 3,000 of them. Almost every type of cell in our bodies have receptors that respond to vitamin D, from our brains to our bones, and researchers are continually finding additional health benefits from the prohormone vitamin D.
For a long time vitamin D3 was simply regarded as the anti-rickets and bone health vitamin. Because it was originally labeled as a vitamin, it was assumed that it wasn’t that important. Now it is more properly recognized as a prohormone that is essential to life. Even if it were only good for bone health, vitamin D3 still would be an important supplement, but the benefits go way beyond just bone health.
Research has shown that D3 is essential for:
Fetal brain development
Psoriasis
Cancer prevention
Blood sugar regulation and insulin resistance
Depression and other neurological disorders
Multiple Sclerosis
Immune function:
Shortens symptoms of cold, flu, and respiratory tract infection
Symptoms associated with autoimmune conditions
Hypertension and congestive heart failure
Muscle mass and strength
Weight Loss
Vitamin D3 is a natural supplement that had been shown in scientific research to improve bone health, improve the development of babies’ brains, reduce the incidence of skin problems like psoriasis, prevent or remedy multiple sclerosis, reduce the risk of cancer, improve blood sugar levels and reduce insulin resistance, improve neurological conditions including depression and bipolar disorder, enhance immune defense against cold, flu and other infections, lower blood pressure and protect the heart, improve muscle function, increase the ability to lose body fat and even help people live longer.
