Vitamin D is important for bone and immune system health. It is obtained through sun exposure and dietary sources. Vitamin D aids calcium absorption to strengthen bones and helps T cells activate to fight pathogens. Studies show vitamin D may reduce risks of multiple sclerosis, asthma symptoms, diabetes, heart disease, depression, and some cancers. Ensuring adequate vitamin D intake through diet and sun exposure can support overall health and wellness.

1. Dr. ABHIJEET
VITAMIN-D & HEALTH

2. What is Vitamin D?
-Vitamin D is one of the four fat soluble
vitamins and one vitamin that can be
obtained through exposure to the sun.
- Vitamin D is also nick named the
sunshine vitamin for obvious reasons.
- There are 5 forms of vitamin D, but only
two are physiologically relevant to us.
Forms D2 (ergocalciferol) and
D3(cholecalciferol)

3. - D3 is produced from our skin.
Vitamin D is carried in the blood to
the liver where it is then converted
to calcidiol, which can then be
converted in the kidneys to the
biologically active form of vitamin D
called calcitriol.

4. Vitamin D and Bone Strength
-Vitamin D increases bone strength by
increasing the calcium absorption
from intestines, increasing osteoclast
(bone building)
numbers, maintaining phosphate and
calcium levels, and helping the
parathyroid hormone to maintain
calcium levels

5. Immune System and Vitamin D
• A study done at University of Copenhagen
has come to the conclusion that vitamin D
aids
T cells activation in our body.
• “When a T cell is exposed to a foreign
pathogen, it extends a signaling device or
‘antenna’ known as a vitamin D
receptor, which searches for vitamin D. If the
T cells cannot find enough vitamin D in the
blood, they won’t even begin to mobilize. ”

6. Multiple Sclerosis and Vitamin D
• An autoimmune disease that destroy the
protective sheath of the nerves.
• The body cannot distinguish between
itself and a foreign substance or
infection. This turns the body’s normally
effective defense system against itself.
Vitamin D pills are now being used as a
treatment for MS

7. Vitamin D and Asthma Control
• According to a study, published in
the ‘American Journal of Respiratory
and Critical Care Medicine’, children
who had lower serum vitamin D
levels were more likely to have been
hospitalized from asthma, and use
more inhaled medicine.

8. Other Benefits
• Vitamin D has been casually linked to other
benefits such as
- healthy brain aging,
- helping maintain a healthy body weight,
-protection against low levels of radiation etc.
• some studies have shown that people with
appropriate levels of vitamin D are at lower
risk to develop cancer.

9. Vitamin D Requirements
• Birth to 12 months – 400 IU
• 1-13 years – 600 IU
• 14-18 years – 600 IU
• 19-70 years – 600 IU
• 71+ years – 800 IU
• Pregnant/Breastfeeding women – 600IU

10. • Australian, researchers found that mothers
who had the lowest vitamin D levels in their
blood during their second trimester had
almost double the risk of their babies
developing language problems.

11. • A recent review article published by
researchers from Loyola University Chicago
concluded that adequate intake of vitamin D
may prevent or delay the onset of diabetes
and reduce complications for those who have
already been diagnosed.
• vitamin D plays an integral role in insulin
sensitivity and secretion.

12. • Vitamin D deficiency also may be associated
with hyperglycemia, insulin
resistance,hypertension and heart disease.
• an increased risk of depression may be related
to several vitamin D–sensitive diseases. For
example: cancer, cardiovascular disease,
and multiple sclerosis.

13. • It reduces the production of cytokines which
are proteins that increase inflammation and
are the possible risk factor for depression.

14. • In some recent studies it has also shown great
promise in assisting psoriasis, the immune
system, thyroid function as well as normal
blood clotting.

15. Vitamin D and Heart-Health Benefits
of Weight Loss
• A study from the American Journal of Clinical
Nutrition suggests Vitamin D may enhance
some positive effects of weight loss scientists
discovered that those who took 400 IU of
vitamin D and 1,200 mg of calcium in
supplement form daily during the course of
their 15-week diet had greater improvements
in cholesterol levels (compared to those given
a placebo for the same time period).

16. • Experiments show that vitamin D can inhibit the
growth of human prostate cancer and breast
cancer cells.
• Lung cancer and pancreatic cancer cells may also
be susceptible to the effects of vitamin D.
• High fat diet, which normally would produce a
higher incidence of colon cancer, supplements of
calcium and vitamin D blocked this carcinogenic
effect of the diet.

18. THANK YOU!!!