Vitamin D

Throughout history, there have been many theories regarding the healing process that have come and gone. Sunlight (heliotherapy) was often a part of mankind's healing armamentaria, including that of Hippocrates, the Father of Western Medicine. In the early twentieth century, heliotherapy was used to treat many disorders, such as tuberculosis, rickets in children, and war wounds. Its importance was underscored when Dr. Niels Finsen was awarded the 1903 Nobel Prize for developing an ultraviolet (UV) treatment for tuberculosis.

Sunlight is composed of electromagnetic radiation of varying wavelengths, ranging from the long-wavelength infrared light to the short-wavelength ultraviolet. The ultraviolet light is further subdivided into UVA and the even shorter-wavelength UVB radiation. Although UVB causes sunburns, it is also the component that initiates Vitamin-D production in the skin.

The process by which vitamin D is produced and exerts its biological effects is complicated, involving several vitamin-D-related molecules.

Basically, UVB light triggers a modification of a cholesterol-related molecule located in the membrane of skin cells. The vitamin D that is created is then ejected from the membrane into our circulation system, where it travels to the liver. In this organ, it is transformed into 25-hydroxyvitamin D, the derivative that doctors use to assess overall vitamin-D status.

There a few foods that naturally contain vitamin D, the most abundant being oily fish like salmon, sardines, and mackerel, or old-fashioned, cod liver oil. Because of limited natural sources, numerous foods, such as milk, are vitamin-D fortified.

Many scientists now believe we need 1,000 IU per day of vitamin D (IU = international units, a measure of vitamin potency) to avoid deficiency. For reference, a salmon serving contains about 360 IU, a glass of fortified milk about 100 IU, an egg 25 IU, and a tablespoon of cod liver oil 1300+ IU.

Although everyone is vulnerable to vitamin-D deficiency, especially in winter, certain groups are particularly predisposed. First, when exposed to the same amount of sunlight, elderly individuals produce only 20% of the vitamin-D young adults do. As a result, more than half of individuals older than 65 are vitamin-D deficient.

Second, due to their skin pigmentation, African Americans require much more sun to produce the same levels of vitamin D than do fair-skinned Caucasians. At least 50% of African Americans, who are also less likely to drink fortified milk due to lactose intolerance, are vitamin-D deficient sometime during the year. Apparently, as a consequence, they have a much greater incidence of disorders associated with reduced sun exposure of northern latitudes.

Since vitamin D is so important, and most of us DO NOT get enough sunlight, especially those of us who live in the northeastern section of the US, supplements may be the answer. Like all supplements, first check with your doctor, or health professional before taking them.

To learn more about TriVita's VitaCal-Mag D, go to http://trivitaproduct.info and click on the Vitamin D link.

Jeffrey Sloe
440-725-3729
jeff@internetmarketingadvisors.net
TriVita Independent Business Affiliate, 12871028

Resources:
Content of this article is taking from and article written by Laurance Johnston, Ph.D., called SUNLIGHT, VITAMIN D & HEALTH. You can read the entire article by going to http://www.healingtherapies.info/Sunlight&VitaminD.htm.