Why Vitamin D is Called the ‘Sunshine Vitamin’-and Reasons for Your Deficiency

Why Vitamin D is Called the ‘Sunshine Vitamin’ - and Reasons for Your Deficiency

Introduction

Vitamin D is one of the most important nutrients for the physical body. It supports immune functions, calcium absorption and nervous system health. Deficiencies in Vitamin D are linked to autoimmune disorders, fatigue, bone pain, and vulnerability to illnesses. Vitamin D is mostly absorbed through sun exposure, thus earning it the name of the ‘sunshine vitamin’. However, despite India being a tropical country, many Indians tend to have Vitamin D deficiencies. In this article, we understand the importance of Vitamin D for the body and the reasons for the deficiency of the essential vitamin.

Importance of Vitamin D for the Body

Vitamin D is an essential nutrient for the body that supports various vital organs and functions. Some of the functions supported by Vitamin D include the following –

Immune System Health - Vitamin D stimulates the production of antimicrobial peptides like cathelicidin and defensins, which are crucial for fighting off pathogens like bacteria and viruses.

Muscle and Nervous Systems - Vitamin D helps maintain calcium and phosphate levels, which are crucial for proper muscle contraction. Also, it is important for neuromuscular coordination and cognitive functions. Low vitamin D level can make one susceptible to neurological conditons, such as Alzheimer’s.

Reduction of Inflammation – Vitamin D deficiency can cause chronic inflammation in the body, while Vitamin D supplements tend to produce an anti-inflammatory response in the body.

Protection from Osteoporosis – This is particularly important for older adults. Vitamin D can help prevent osteoporosis as it allows the physical body to better absorb calcium from food. Calcium is an important nutrient for the maintenance of bone strength, thereby preventing osteoporosis.

Cell Growth – Vitamin D helps with cell growth. It helps in regulating processes such as cell cycle progression and apoptosis (programmed cell death).

Vitamin B12 Absorption – Vitamin D deficiencies can also impact the body’s ability to absorb vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 is also important for maintaining nervous system health and immune system health. Therefore, Vitamin D can help the body with Vitamin B12 absorption.

Relationship of Vitamin D and Sunlight

Vitamin D is essentially absorbed into the body through sun exposure. While foods such as fatty fish and egg contain Vitamin D, most individuals are able to get their Vitamin D through sunlight. This is why Vitamin D is known as the sunshine vitamin.

When sunlight hits the skin, it converts a compound called 7-dehydrocholesterol into pre-vitamin D3, which then transforms into vitamin D3. To initiate the skin synthesis, the presence of UVB rays is important. Vitamin D3 is then transported to the liver and kidneys, where it is converted into a more usable form for the body. The sunshine vitamin also helps protect the body against inflammation and nervous system issues. Get your Vitamin D levels checked with MedCab today!

Reasons for Deficiency of Vitamin D

Vitamin D can be easily absorbed by the body through sun exposure and synthesis via the skin. However, vitamin D deficiencies are very common, particularly in countries such as India. These deficiencies occur because the amount of vitamin D produced from sun exposure can be affected by factors such as the time of year, latitude, skin pigmentation, altitude, and the use of sunscreen.

The deficiency is more common in individuals with darker skin as they have more melanin in their skin, which acts as a natural sunscreen to protect the individual from sun damage. This is common in the case of Indian skin tone, which tends to have high levels of melanin. Indoor lifestyles and full body clothing also impact Vitamin D production as the body is not able to get sufficient sun exposure.

Common Indian diets also tend to be heavily reliant on grains and pulses. These foods are low in Vitamin D, further impacting the development of Vitamin D deficiencies amongst Indians. In turn, this affects bone health and immune functions. This can be overcome through sun exposure during the morning hours, intake of Vitamin D rich foods, and supplementation in case of extremely low levels of Vitamin D.

Furthermore, regular monitoring of one’s Vitamin D levels is also important. This can be achieved with the help of getting a vitamin profile check-up, or a specific test for Vitamin D and B12. Usually, the deficiency in one of the vitamins tends to indicate a reduced production of the other vitamin as well.

Vitamin D Test with MedCab

MedCab offers pathology services with rapid sample collection at the convenience of your home. Get a full vitamin profile or full body check-up at reasonable prices with MedCab. MedCab also offers Vitamin D tests at budget rates. Get convenient, secure and fast testing with MedCab’s pathology services. MedCab also offers detailed and reliable blood reports based on the blood samples. These reports are sent digitally, thereby offering convenience and comfort. Contact us today for a full body check up!

Conclusion

In conclusion, Vitamin D plays an extremely important role in protecting the body’s immune system, bone health and nervous system. Vitamin D can simply be absorbed by the body through regular sun exposure. However, Indians tend to have reduced levels of Vitamin D and can often be deficient in Vitamin D levels. This can be prevented through regular sun exposure at the right hours, taking vitamin D rich foods, supplementation and regular monitoring of your Vitamin D levels. Contact MedCab today for getting your Vitamin D levels tested, and begin your health journey today!

Why Vitamin D is Called the ‘Sunshine Vitamin’-and Reasons for Your Deficiency