Vitamins, which are very important for human health and must be found in sufficient quantities in the body, play a role in the realization of many biochemical functions and in maintaining body order.
What is Vitamin D?
While some vitamins can be synthesized by the organism, some vitamins must be taken from outside. An important part of vitamin D can be synthesized by the body, but its deficiency causes some discomfort and is a vitamin that takes part in many tasks in metabolism. The main source of vitamins that the body cannot synthesize adequately is the food consumed. Vitamins and minerals needed by the body are obtained from green plants and animal foods. Deficiency of vitamins can cause many diseases by affecting the functioning of metabolism. In order to meet the vitamin needs of people who are malnourished and unbalanced, drug supplements are applied.
- Vitamin D is a sterol that is among the fat-soluble vitamins and has hormone-like functions.
- Vitamin D is also called calciferols.
- Two different forms of vitamin D is found. D2 (ergocalciferol) and D3 (cholecalciferol).
- The D2 (ergocalciferol) form is mostly found in plants and fungi. The D2 form is formed by the UV-B rays of ergosterol from the sun.
- The D3 (cholecalciferol) form is formed by the conversion of dehydrocholesterol (provitamin) in the epidermis layer of the skin into previtamin D3 and UV-B rays.
- Both forms are named under the heading of vitamin D because they are obtained in a similar way. Most of the synthesized vitamin D is stored in adipose tissue. It is known that vitamin D can be stored in adipose tissue for 3-4 months.
What Does Vitamin D Do?
Vitamin D has many important functions in the body.
- It is necessary for muscle and bone health. It contributes to bone health by absorbing calcium from the kidneys and prevents osteoporosis.
- It is important for the immune system. It plays a role in the prevention of immune diseases such as asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, Multiple Sclerosis (MS) disease.
- By controlling the growth of normal and cancer cells, it prevents the formation of colon and breast cancer in particular.
- Prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes by stimulating insulin synthesis
- Vitamin D, which is very important for skin health, is used in the treatment of skin diseases such as psoriasis.
- It prevents heart diseases by lowering cholesterol.
- such as depression It is used in the treatment of mental disorders.
- It takes part in the synthesis of blood coagulation factors.
What are the Symptoms of Vitamin D Deficiency?
The main source of vitamin D is sun and food. For this reason, vitamin D deficiency can be seen especially in people who work indoors, light-skinned people, the elderly, and people with nutritional disorders.
What are the Sources of Vitamin D?
The main source of vitamin D is the sun. 90-95% of the required vitamin D is synthesized by sunlight.
- Oily fish such as salmon, mackerel, sardines,
- kefir, milk, eggs, butter, yogurt,
- mushrooms, broccoli, parsley,
- nuts,
- oats, nettle and avocado can be important sources of vitamin D.
What is the Daily Need for Vitamin D?
The World Health Organization recommends 400-800 IU/day of vitamin D in adults regardless of the level of vitamin D in the blood. Newborn infants receive 400 IU of vitamin D supplementation.
- 5mg (200 UI) for children and lactating women
- 5mg (200 UI) for under 50s
- 51 - 10mg (400 UI) for 65 years old
- Recommended 15 mg (600 UI) for over 65 years old.
When is Vitamin D taken?
Depending on the type of vitamin supplement you take, it is important to take it on a full stomach after meals or on an empty stomach before meals.
- Take an empty stomach or in between meals for water-soluble vitamins� While it is recommended to be taken early
- Fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamins A, E, D and K should be taken on a full stomach.
- The effects of these vitamins must be dissolved in fat in order to be seen.
- Therefore, the best time to take Vitamin D is after meals.
- In this way, vitamin D or easily dissolves. It is carried into the bloodstream and can perform the necessary functions.
Should Vitamin D be Taken in the Morning or in the Evening?
Although there are limited studies on the use of vitamin D supplementation at the right time Some studies have shown that vitamin D taken after meals at night affects sleep patterns. It is seen that vitamin D supplement added to breakfast in the morning is more effective than taking it later. Thus, the routine use of vitamin D supplement, which is taken every morning after breakfast and becomes a habit, is also ensured. or it can be used in forms fortified with different minerals.
With Which Vitamins Should Vitamin D Be Used?
- Some studies show that taking fat-soluble vitamins together strengthens their effects.
- Vitamins A and K can be used with vitamin D. In this way, it is ensured that vitamin K, which many people do not get enough, is taken in sufficient amounts to the metabolism. Vitamin K works as a team with vitamin D. Vitamin K ensures the passage of calcium from the blood to the bones, while vitamin D ensures the passage of calcium from the bones into the blood. This cooperation maintains the calcium balance in the blood and bones. Especially vitamins D2 and K3 should be used together.
- Magnesium, which is necessary for metabolism, can also be used together with vitamin D.
- Magnesium is known to be beneficial for the function of vitamin D.
How to Use Vitamin D Drops and Vitamin D Ampoules?
- In cases where vitamin D cannot be taken adequately with food, vitamin D supplements can be applied.
- Vitamin D ampoules can be taken orally or by intramuscular (intramuscular) injection, in accordance with the physician's recommendation. In addition to meeting the daily requirement of vitamin D, vitamin D drops It is also used for therapeutic purposes. In the treatment of osteomalacia (bone weakening), hyperparathyroidism and osteoporosis, a treatment protocol is applied by the physician according to your vitamin D value in the blood for 6-12 weeks.
- Vitamin D drops can be used orally or by dripping into foods. Since 2005, approximately 3 drops (400 UI) of vitamin D per day are given free of charge to newborn babies until the age of 1 to prevent rickets, which is especially common in children. In adults with vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency, 5-30 drops per day are recommended according to your vitamin D value in the blood. ml) can be drunk with water.
- The use of vitamin D supplements, which plays a role in many metabolic activities from cancer to the immune (immune) system, from skin diseases to bone and muscle strengthening, has become more popular in recent years. Many people think that symptoms such as fatigue and weakness are caused by vitamin deficiency. This thought also increases unconscious vitamin use. It should not be forgotten that the use of over-the-counter vitamins without a doctor's advice will be harmful to the body.
- Incorrect and excessive use of vitamin D can cause calcium collapse in the kidneys and vitamin D poisoning. Do not forget that the use of vitamin D should be applied in line with the doctor's advice, by determining the required doses with the tests.
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