We all talk about vitamin D, but it would be more correct to refer to vitamins D. With this term, in fact, we mean all the pro-hormone compounds that contain various isoforms of calciferol: vitamin D1, D2, D3, D4, D5. They are part of the fat-soluble group to which A, E, K also belong. The sun is the best source of vitamin D
The most effective way to integrate vitamin D is certainly not to take high doses of food supplements. On the contrary, there is a completely natural method to have it available in a highly assimilable way: sun exposure. In reality, solar radiation offers us an inactive form which, following a hydroxylation reaction, is transformed into calcitriol – the active isoform.

  • Did you know…
    Vitamin D was first discovered in 1919. During this time it was recognized that children with rickets recovered when exposed to ultraviolet light. A few years later some researchers found that the same effects were achieved with sunlight. We need to wait until 1923 to discover that a compound present in our skin, called 7-dehydrocholesterol, forms cholecalciferol once hit by ultraviolet rays. The ergocalciferol isoform is instead produced when ultraviolet rays strike ergosterol.

Difference between Vitamin D2 and D3
The difference between Vitamin D2 and D3 is that the former (calciferol) occurs naturally in humans and all mammals. Conversely, vitamin D3 (or cholecalciferol) can be produced mostly from sun exposure. The D3, however, is at least fifty times more active than the D2. However, it should be noted that the amount of vitamin D available through food is very small. For this reason it is essential that it be synthesized in the skin starting from ultraviolet light. Where is vitamin D found
As mentioned, dietary sources of vitamin D are quite scarce. The famous cod liver oil is an exception. It is also contained in fatty fish such as salmon, liver, eggs, butter, red meats and green leafy vegetables.

  • Did you know…
    Vitamin D3 or cholecalciferol on a structural level is a steroid with particular similarities to testosterone, cortisol and cholesterol.

Vitamin D and cancer risk
Among the numerous benefits of vitamin D it cannot be forgotten that there are many scientific researches that have highlighted how this precious substance can reduce the risk of cancer. It seems that vitamin D is able to fight cancer by preventing its proliferation and inducing programmed cell death (apoptosis). According to research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the intake of 1100 IU per day of vitamin D combined with 1500 mg / day of calcium has led to a drastic reduction in cancer risk. Other studies, conducted by Columbia University, believe that vitamin D can protect particular membrane proteins, essential for cellular communication. When this communication is interrupted, the cells go into a state of regression and develop tumors. According to their results, increasing plasma vitamin D to 40ng / ml would see a reduction of over 100,000 cases of cancer in the US alone. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association and conducted on over two thousand postmenopausal women, was able to highlight that women with a greater amount of vitamin D3 and calcium lowered the risk of cancer by 30%. Finally, according to what emerged from a work conducted by the Cancer Treatment Centers of America, cancer patients seem to have a common feature: reduced doses of vitamin D. and managed to highlight that women with a higher amount of vitamin D3 and calcium lowered the risk of cancer by 30%. Finally, according to what emerged from a work conducted by the Cancer Treatment Centers of America, cancer patients seem to have a common feature: reduced doses of vitamin D. and managed to highlight that women with a higher amount of vitamin D3 and calcium lowered the risk of cancer by 30%. Finally, according to what emerged from a work conducted by the Cancer Treatment Centers of America, cancer patients seem to have a common feature: reduced doses of vitamin D.How Much Vitamin D Need to Reduce Cancer Risk
A study published in Anticancer Research believes that a minimum dose of 4,000-8,000 IU of vitamin D is needed to reduce the risk of breast and colon cancer. The research also cites a reduced likelihood of contracting multiple sclerosis and type 1 diabetes. According to BreastCancer.org, sun exposure for 15 minutes a day can provide the daily dose of vitamin D needed to prevent cancer. Alternatively, one to three teaspoons of cod liver oil can be taken.
Vitamin D cycle Vitamin D and cardiovascular risk
Other research has shown a high cardiovascular risk in people who had low vitamin D, often caused by a lack of sun exposure. “A deficiency of vitamin D is very common both in the United States and in the rest of the world – explain the scientists of the Department of Biostatistics of the University of Alabama in Birmingham – Several recent epidemiological studies have shown that there is a strong association between the insufficiency of vitamin D and the risk of cardiovascular events, diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Several prospective studies have suggested that vitamin D deficiency predisposes individuals to a greater risk of cardiovascular accidents: hypertension, ischemic heart disease, sudden cardiac death or heart failure ». Vitamin D reduces asthma and tuberculosis episodes
Researchers at Harvard Medical School in Boston have found that vitamin D reduces the frequency and severity of asthma-related symptoms. “We hypothesize that vitamin D supplementation can lead to better asthma control by inhibiting the influx of inflammatory cytokines into the lung and increasing the secretion of interleukin 10 by T-regulatory and dendritic cells,” explain the researchers of the Creighton University Division of Allergy and Immunology (Nebraska). While, as was already known in the past, tuberculosis is much easier to heal following sun exposure. A study published in PNAS confirmed the positive effects of the role of vitamin D in tuberculosis. Vitamin D protects against dementia
Recent medical investigations believe that vitamin D may also reduce the risk of dementia. However, the studies are to be confirmed because other scientific works seem to have obtained conflicting results. Vitamin D and multiple sclerosis
To date, there are many works that associate vitamin D deficiency with the onset of multiple sclerosis. Just think that the first study on the role of cholecalciferol in patients with multiple sclerosis was conducted back in 1986. At the time, a certain Dr. Goldberg administered 5000 IU of vitamin D3 along with calcium and magnesium. The results were decidedly positive, with a number of relapses reduced to less than half. On the other hand, more recent research has highlighted the immunomodulatory effect of vitamin D, which is generally altered in cases of autoimmune diseases. According to recent findings, low levels of vitamin D3 are associated with a very high risk of developing the disease. Probably partly related to a modification of the CYP27B1 gene, the alteration of which leads to reduced levels of vitamin D in the blood. D3 appears to be able to repair damaged nerves by rebuilding the myelin sheath. A work conducted in 2014 showed a strong association between reduced outdoor physical activity – therefore sun exposure – and an increased risk of multiple sclerosis. In fact, the American Society for Nutrition considers plasma vitamin D levels to be a marker of disease. ‘Maintaining adequate levels of vitamin D has an important influence on several aspects of health and well-being. Vitamin D deficiency is a modifiable risk factor for multiple sclerosis and its role in controlling immune responses almost certainly has beneficial effects on the course of the disease “[9]. D3 appears to be able to repair damaged nerves by rebuilding the myelin sheath. A work conducted in 2014 showed a strong association between reduced outdoor physical activity – therefore sun exposure – and an increased risk of multiple sclerosis. In fact, the American Society for Nutrition considers plasma vitamin D levels to be a marker of disease. ‘Maintaining adequate levels of vitamin D has an important influence on several aspects of health and well-being. Vitamin D deficiency is a modifiable risk factor for multiple sclerosis and its role in controlling immune responses almost certainly has beneficial effects on the course of the disease “[9]. D3 appears to be able to repair damaged nerves by rebuilding the myelin sheath. A work conducted in 2014 showed a strong association between reduced outdoor physical activity – therefore sun exposure – and an increased risk of multiple sclerosis. In fact, the American Society for Nutrition considers plasma vitamin D levels to be a marker of disease. ‘Maintaining adequate levels of vitamin D has an important influence on several aspects of health and well-being. Vitamin D deficiency is a modifiable risk factor for multiple sclerosis and its role in controlling immune responses almost certainly has beneficial effects on the course of the disease “[9]. A work conducted in 2014 showed a strong association between reduced outdoor physical activity – therefore sun exposure – and an increased risk of multiple sclerosis. In fact, the American Society for Nutrition considers plasma vitamin D levels to be a marker of disease. ‘Maintaining adequate levels of vitamin D has an important influence on several aspects of health and well-being. Vitamin D deficiency is a modifiable risk factor for multiple sclerosis and its role in controlling immune responses almost certainly has beneficial effects on the course of the disease “[9]. A work conducted in 2014 showed a strong association between reduced outdoor physical activity – therefore sun exposure – and an increased risk of multiple sclerosis. In fact, the American Society for Nutrition considers plasma vitamin D levels to be a marker of disease. ‘Maintaining adequate levels of vitamin D has an important influence on several aspects of health and well-being. Vitamin D deficiency is a modifiable risk factor for multiple sclerosis and its role in controlling immune responses almost certainly has beneficial effects on the course of the disease “[9]. In fact, the American Society for Nutrition considers plasma vitamin D levels to be a marker of disease. ‘Maintaining adequate levels of vitamin D has an important influence on several aspects of health and well-being. Vitamin D deficiency is a modifiable risk factor for multiple sclerosis and its role in controlling immune responses almost certainly has beneficial effects on the course of the disease “[9]. In fact, the American Society for Nutrition considers plasma vitamin D levels to be a marker of disease. ‘Maintaining adequate levels of vitamin D has an important influence on several aspects of health and well-being. Vitamin D deficiency is a modifiable risk factor for multiple sclerosis and its role in controlling immune responses almost certainly has beneficial effects on the course of the disease “[9].Vitamin D Reduces Depression
Finally, one cannot fail to mention the relationship that some scientists have found between vitamin D deficiencies and depression. According to what emerges from a study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, when sun exposure is not possible, supplements of very high doses of vitamin D have significantly improved the disease. Scientific sources
[1] Vitamin D and calcium supplementation reduces cancer risk: results of a randomized trial, Lappe JM, Travers-Gustafson D, Davies KM, Recker RR, Heaney RP in Am J Clin Nutr, vol. 87, nº 3, March 2008, pp. 794, PMID 17556697.
[2] Vitamin D for Cancer Prevention: Global Perspective – Annals of Epidemiology.
[3] Does Vitamin D decrease risk of cancer
– Science Daily
[4] Low Vitamin D Levels – Breast Cancer
[5] Am J Med Sci. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2010 Apr 8. Published in final edited form as: Am J Med Sci. 2009 Jul; 338(1): 40–44. doi: 10.1097/MAJ.0b013e3181aaee91 PMCID: PMC2851242 NIHMSID: NIHMS187182 Vitamin D Deficiency and Risk for Cardiovascular Disease Suzanne E. Judd and Vin Tangpricha.
[6] Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2010 Sep;105(3):191-9; quiz 200-2, 217. doi: 10.1016/j.anai.2010.01.013. Epub 2010 Mar 1. The role of vitamin D in asthma. Sandhu MS, Casale TB.
[7] Scand J Clin Lab Invest Suppl. 2012;243:79-82. doi: 10.3109/00365513.2012.681969. Vitamin D and cognitive function. Soni M, Kos K, Lang IA, Jones K, Melzer D, Llewellyn DJ.
[8] Neurology. 2012 Sep 25; 79(13): 1397–1405. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0b013e31826c197f PMCID: PMC3448747 Vitamin D, cognition, and dementia A systematic review and meta-analysis Cynthia Balion, PhD, Lauren E. Griffith, Lisa Strifler, Matthew Henderson, Christopher Patterson, George Heckman, David J. Llewellyn and Parminder Raina.
[9] Iran J Neurol. 2014; 13(1): 1–6. PMCID: PMC3968350 Vitamin D and multiple sclerosis Asghar Amini Harandi, Ali Amini Harandi, Hossein Pakdaman and Mohammad Ali Sahraian.
[10] Nutrients. 2014 Apr; 6(4): 1501–1518. Published online 2014 Apr 11. doi: 10.3390/nu6041501 PMCID: PMC4011048 Vitamin D and Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Comparing Studies with and without Biological Flaws
Hair falling out or hair loss: it could be vitamin D

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