Vitamin D Update

Deficiencies Contribute to Autoimmune Diseases and Various Cancers

Recent evidence shows that vitamin D deficiencies are widespread and contribute to autoimmune diseases as well as various cancers. Blood tests of vitamin D are essential.

What is Vitamin D?

Vitamin D is a nutrient hormone although it's not a vitamin in the classic sense. Vitamin D exists as an inactive prohormone until it is metabolized within the body to a steroid hormone. Deficiencies of vitamin D have been found to contribute to various cancers and autoimmune diseases, particularly conditions of type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and psoriasis. Recent studies indicate that there’s a critical need for testing blood levels of vitamin D.

Sources of Vitamin D

About 80 percent of the body’s supply of vitamin D is produced photochemically when ultraviolet radiation from sunlight reacts with a precursor chemical found in the skin. The end product is vitamin D3 or cholecalciferol. The liver metabolizes vitamin D3 into calcidiol, which is the main form of vitamin D that circulates in the blood. The kidneys then convert calcidiol into compounds that bind with protein. Linked to protein, vitamin D travels to various organs within the body.

With age, the body’s ability to manufacture vitamin D declines. Sunblocks, cloud covers, and pollution also reduce absorption of vitamin D. Recent studies show that vitamin D deficiency is widespread, especially among minority groups. Levels of vitamin D are also low in celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, and in pancreatic enzyme insufficiency. Besides sunlight, vitamin D is available from cod liver oil, fatty fish, and vitamin D-fortified milk.

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