Understand the effects of lack and excess vitamin D

Understand the effects of lack and excess vitamin D


The doctor explains the importance of maintaining adequate levels in the body

Vitamin D is essential for the general well -being of the body, playing a crucial role in the absorption of calcium and phosphorus, vital for formation and bone maintenance. In addition, it influences the immune system, helping to combat infections and diseases and repair the immunity and development of the brain.




According to Endocrinologist Araxá not put, the vitamin and serious vitamin deficiency is able to cause diseases such as rachit, delayed growth in children and osteomalacia in adults. The doctor underlines that these situations are unusual today, which does not decrease concern for the topic.

“The subclinical deficiency of Vitamin D.Measured by the low serum concentration of 25 oh vitamin D, it is very common today, due to the lower exposure to the sun and the use of sun protection. What many do not know is that the famous “Sun Vitamin” is conceptually a hormone, due to the ability to be completely synthesized by the body and the fact that it has specific receptors in various body tissues “, comments.

Sources of vitamin D.

During exposure to the sun, UVB high -energy uvb photons (ultraviolet b) penetrate the epidermis (skin layer), thus starting the first stage of vitamin D production. “Therefore, in the liver tissue, the bioactivation of vitamin D is verified and therefore 25 oh vitamin D is transported to the kidneys, where it undergoes greater watering and becomes active. is the exposure to the sun“Explains Thaís Vitale.

The food sources of vitamin D are rather scarce in most diets. The main foods that contain this vitamin are: canned salmon, canned tuna, egg (yolk), cooked ox liver and cod liver oil. The production of vitamin d endogenous by our body provides 60% to 80% of needs and this process is finally regulated to prevent excessive production.



Vitamin D acts on important human body processes

Vitamin D action in the body

Vitamin D is crucial for a series of physiological processes, including musculoskeletal health, brain development, DNA repair, regulation of various genes and action in autoimmune diseases e cardiovascular.

“Its effect on bone metabolism is to increase the duodenal absorption of calcium and act directly on the bone, participating in the mineralization process. The extraoxic effects of vitamin D derive from the presence of vitamin D receptors and an enzyme responsible for its activation, present in various tissues, including pancreas, immune system, stomach, epidermis and placenta”.

Ideal levels of vitamin D

The determination of state Vitamin D is estimated by measuring concentrations of 25 oh vitamin D, the most stable and abundant metabolite in the human serum. “The ideal serum levels of vitamin D are questionable in medical-scientific literature. Endocrine company Consider sufficient levels of 25 oh vitamin D above 30 ng/ml. 25 levels of oh vitamin D between 20 and 29 ng/ml indicates insufficiency and levels lower than 20ng/ml indicate the deficiency. THE National Academy of Medicine (NAM), previously called Institute of Medicine (Iom), defines it as a sufficient serum concentration of 25 oh vitamin D above 20 ng/ml. Despite the disputes on the definition of 25 vitamin D. values that correspond to its sufficiency, experts agree that the levels of less than 20 NG/ml are sub -tree for the health of the skeleton “, explains Thaís Vitale.

Excess vitamin D dangers

There is an intrinsic paradox when considering the replacement of vitaminsSince low levels can be harmful, just as high levels are associated with health risks. “So far, no advantage has been shown to maintain concentrations of 25 oh vitamin D over 60ng/ml. Concentrations above 100ng/ml lead to the highest risk of poisoning. Therefore, 25 levels of vitamin D should be maintained within a normal interval, and here more” more “does not apply” does not apply “, says Thaís Vital.

The most common adverse effect of the excess of vitamin D is hypercalcemia, which manifests itself in fatigue, constipation, nausea, vomiting, dehydration, acute renal failure (loss of renal function), mental confusion and even coma.

By Daniel Nacati

Source: Terra

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