"The groundwork of all happiness is health." - Leigh Hunt

Vitamin D and Physical Function: Is More Better?

Vitamin D's popularity has grown in recent times, largely attributable to its growing list of proposed health advantages. But not all claims are supported by evidence. For example, there have been suggestions that vitamin D can enable you to.

  • Reduce the chance of arthritis.
  • Prevent heart disease
  • Improve your brain function and reduce the chance of dementia.
  • Improve your immune function and reduce the chance of immune diseases.

These are difficult claims to prove – or disprove. Most of those come from studies that link low vitamin D intake, or low blood levels, to an increased risk of disease or death. But, it's possible that individuals with low vitamin D levels or low blood counts also smoke more, exercise less, or produce other explanations for his or her higher rates of disease and death. are

Although it's not entirely clear how vitamin D can deliver these health advantages, getting enough vitamin D is very important, especially to keep up bone health. Severe vitamin D deficiency could cause osteomalacia, which implies “soft bones.” (Abnormal bone growth brought on by vitamin D deficiency in children known as rickets.) Low levels of vitamin D also can contribute to osteoporosis: Vitamin D is required to advertise calcium absorption within the gut. , and calcium is important for constructing and remodeling bones.

Can vitamin D also improve bodily functions?

To explore the chance that vitamin D may provide one other health profit, researchers recently published a study To determine whether taking high doses of vitamin D may also help prevent decline in physical function in older adults. Researchers enrolled 200 individuals who were at the very least 70 years old and who had reported a history of depression. Some got low doses of vitamin D, while others got high doses. After one 12 months, the researchers assessed the participants' physical function (through walking speed, ability to face repeatedly from a sitting position, and balance). Those treated with higher doses of vitamin D had no higher outcomes than those treated with lower doses. In addition, those with higher doses reported significantly More There was no clear explanation for this unexpected finding.

Although this study casts doubt on vitamin D as a treatment for impaired physical function in older adults, it remains to be possible that it might help some people — for instance, perhaps younger adults. Those who've never fallen before will gain more. Or, an extended follow-up period may reveal other advantages related to taking high-dose vitamin D supplements.

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While we all know vitamin D is an important a part of a healthy weight-reduction plan and supplements will be helpful for individuals who don't get enough, we'd like more research to back up a few of its proposed advantages. In the meantime, it seems reasonable to decide on a balanced weight-reduction plan that features Recommended daily intake of vitamin D For your age and gender. Sun exposure (perhaps 10-Quarter-hour a day) also can increase blood levels of vitamin D because UVB rays from the sun convert vitamin D precursors within the skin.

Talk to your doctor about whether it's best to have a blood test to substantiate you're getting enough vitamin D. And read with skepticism in regards to the health advantages of this vitamin (and other vitamins and supplements). There's lots of uncertainty about what vitamin D can do for you—and as this latest study shows, one thing is obvious: more isn't at all times higher.