It offers information about ways to boost your own vitamin D levels.

Why Vitamin D?

You may think of vitamin D as you do other vitamins such asvitamin Cor B.

Woman relaxing on allotment

Lilly Roadstones / Getty Images

Yet vitamin D is unique in that it functions more like a hormone than a vitamin.

Listed below are a few of the conditions that vitamin D may help treat or prevent.

Non-melanoma types ofskin cancershave nearly a 99% survival rate.

For example, the medicationrituximabused for blood-related cancers is less effective in those with low vitamin D levels.

Studies have yet to demonstrate exactly why obesity, vitamin D, and bone health may be related.

However, the evidence for these benefits remains inconclusive.

It’s not yet clear if it can help prevent diabetes.

More studies are needed in this area.

Several studies are currently in progress looking at the possible causal relationship between low vitamin D levels and diabetes.

While vitamin D deficiency does seem to be associated withcardiovasculardisease, its not clear why this is so.

Most studies have failed to connect supplementing with vitamin D to the improvement of cardiovascular risks.

For example, some people should not take calcium supplements.

Those who have a history ofkidney stonesshould talk to their healthcare provider before taking any of these preparations.

Other Health Conditions

Vitamin D has been studied for its role in treating and preventing other conditions.

Your healthcare provider can complete the test and discuss the results with you.

Nutrition guidelines recommend a daily intake of 200 to 800 international units (IUs) depending on your age.

The key in of vitamin D supplement you use can be important.

Many healthcare providers recommend using vitamin D3 but talk to your healthcare provider.

One of the side effects that may occur with too much vitamin D is painful kidney stones.

Summary

Vitamin D plays a key role in maintaining your health.

Its benefits in preventing conditions like osteoporosis are well-documented while other effects remain under study.

2020;21(5):1770. doi.

Gallagher JC.Vitamin d and aging.Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinics of North America.

2013;42(2):319-332. doi.

MedlinePlus.gov.Calcium, vitamin D, and your bones.

National Cancer Institute.Vitamin D and cancer prevention.

2019;181(5):907-915. doi.

2017;8(4):6873-6882. doi.

Skin Cancer Foundation.Skin Cancer Facts & Statistics.Published January, 2021.

2020;36(6):549-559. doi.

2017;9(2):e1038.

doi:10.7759/cureus.1038

Sorensen MD.Calcium intake and urinary stone disease.Translational Androlpgy and Urology.

2014;3(3):235-240.

2020 Nov;74(11):1498-1513. doi:10.1038/s41430-020-0558-y.

2018 Apr 17;10(4):497. doi:10.3390/nu10040497

National Institutes for Health.Vitamin D Fact Sheet.

8(1):e1248325.

Harvard Health Publishing.Taking too much vitamin D can cloud its benefits and create health risks.Published December, 2019.

(Epub ahead of print).

(Epub ahead of print).

doi:10.1016/j.jsbmb.2016.11.021

Razzaque, M.Sunlight Exposure: Do Health Benefits Outweigh Harm?.Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

(Epub ahead of print).