Vitamin D is a group of fat-soluble vitamins that are acquired from cholesterol and functions to maintain bone health by optimizing calcium absorption (Zimmerman & Snow, 2019). To optimize calcium absorption, vitamin D works conjointly with parathyroid hormone (PTH). Though the main function of vitamin D is linked to bone health, there are many other benefits that it offers; these include the prevention of infection, heart disease, inflammation, the growth of certain cancers, and the risk of developing an autoimmune disease (Zimmerman & Snow, 2019).
Vitamin D can be obtained from sun exposure, food sources, and supplements. There are few food sources that are naturally rich with vitamin D, the main source being salmon or other oily fish. Because of the lack of options, many foods are now being fortified with vitamin D, including milk and other dairy products, cereal, and orange juice (Zimmerman & Snow, 2019). It is recommended to check the food label to verify the recommended daily amount it contains per serving. Because of the lack of food sources containing vitamin D, a deficiency it commonly developed, especially when a person’s sun exposure is limited, in elderly folks, and in dark-skinned populations (Zimmerman & Snow, 2019).
If a child has a vitamin D deficiency (most common in developing countries), they may develop rickets, a nutritional disease causing “…soft, weak, deformed bones that are exceptionally susceptible to fractures” (Zimmerman & Snow, 2019). In adults, a vitamin D deficiency has been linked to an increased risk of developing an autoimmune disease, type I diabetes, osteoporosis, and hypertension (Zimmerman & Snow, 2019). Just as a lack of a certain vitamin can cause health problems, so can having too much of a particular vitamin; this is called vitamin toxicity. When a person has vitamin D toxicity, it usually results from over-supplementation, not from diet or too much sun exposure, and can result in an excess amount of calcium in the blood, or hypercalcemia (Zeratsky, 2020). The symptoms associated with hypercalcemia include nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, weakness, frequent urination, and in more severe cases, bone pain and kidney problems (Zeratsky, 2020).
References:
Zeratsky, K. (2020, April 17). Vitamin d toxicity: What if you get too much? Mayo Clinic. Retrieved October 19, 2021, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/vitamin-d-toxicity/faq-20058108?reDate=19102021
Zimmerman, M., Snow, E. (2019, February 24). Book: An Introduction to Nutrition LibreTexts. March 20, 2019. CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license.
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