What does Vitamin do for the body?
- Helps the body absorb calcium and phosphorus for strong bones and teeth
- Protects against infections and some types of chronic diseases
- helps protect older adults from osteoporosis
What are the benefits of Vitamin D?
- Reduction of inflammation
- Modulation of cell growth, neuromuscular function, and glucose metabolism.
- Regulate adaptive (acquired) and innate immune responses to prevent overexpression of inflammatory cytokines
- Lower the risk of breast and colorectal cancer, cardiovascular disease in men, and multiple sclerosis - This research is still inconclusive
What is the recommended Daily Dosage of Vitamin D?
2-70 years = 600 IU (15 mcg)
70+ years = 800 IU (20 mcg)
Where can I find Vitamin D?
Natural Food Sources
- Fatty fish: salmon, trout, tuna
- Fish liver oils
- Egg Yolks
Foods fortified with Vitamin D
- Cow and Goat milk
- Plant based beverages
- Orange juice
Sun Exposure via outdoor activity
The amount of Vitamin D produced from the Sun depends on;
season, time of day, cloud cover, smog and sunscreen, distance from the equator, amount of skin exposed to sunlight and skin pigmentation and age
How much time do I need in the Sun?
- Researchers suggest 5-30 minutes exposure
- from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily or twice a week
- Expose the face, arms, hands, and legs without sunscreen.
- UVB radiation does not penetrate glass
What about Tanning Beds?
Avoid, since the UV radiation from Tanning beds is carcinogen and can cause skin cancer.
What happens if I don’t get enough Vitamin D?
leads to osteomalacia, resulting in weak bones in adults and adolescents
adverse outcomes such as preeclampsia and gestational diabetes during pregnancy
How does Vitamin D Effect my Oral Health?
Plays a key role in bone and tooth mineralization
Vitamin D and calcium supplementation showed moderate positive effects on periodontal health after nonsurgical periodontal treatment
What happens if you are Vitamin D Deficient?
- oral diseases are associated with lack of Vitamin D
- linkage to higher risk of tooth defects, caries, periodontitis and dental treatment failures
- negatively influenced periodontal surgery outcomes
Does Vitamin D Help prevent Covid-19?
- Evidence suggests that Vitamin can play a role in fighting the virus
- People with low vitamin D levels at higher risk for serious outcomes in COVID-19
How Does Vitamin D prevent Covid-19?
- Modulating the immune response to the virus
- Reducing the inflammatory response to infection with SARS-CoV-2
Should Vitamin D levels be increased to mitigate risk factors & fatalities of Covid-19?
Evidence recommends you can safely increase Vitamin D levels up to 2,000 (50 mcg)
How can I naturally improve my Vitamin D levels?
By weight loss through increased activity
Take home messages of Vitamin D:
- essential for good health, especially musculoskeletal health
- critical for a well-functioning immune system
- plays vital role in promoting health and nutritional well-being
