Vitamin D

Vitamin D is stored in our body fat. The major functions of vitamin D are to increase the efficiency of intestinal calcium absorption and utilization the calcium required for bon and teeth formation. It also helps to maintain a stable nervous system and normal heart action.

A good food sources containing vitamin D are fortified milk property, fatty fish such as salmon and mackerel, cod liver oil, fish liver oil, certain breads and cereals and egg yolks.

In humans, deficiency in vitamin D may lead to symptoms including:

• Rickets
• Tooth decay
• Softening of bones
• Improper healing of fractures
• Misshapen bones in children
• Softening and fractures of bones in adults such as osteoporosis
• Lack of vigor
• Muscular weakness
• Neuromuscular irritability causing muscle spasms of the larynx and hands
• Inadequate absorption of calcium
• Retention of phosphorous in the kidneys

Clinical research has show excessive doses of vitamin D can result in the increase of calcium absorption from the intestinal tract, causing increased calcium re-absorption from the bones leading to high levels of calcium in the blood. The high level of blood calcium can cause calcium deposition in the soft tissues such as the lungs and heart, hence reducing their ability to function properly. It can also cause kidney stones, muscle weakness, vomiting and fatigue.