Vitamin D supplements: all the benefits

 

What it is  Where it is  Use in supplements  Risks and contraindications

Vitamin D supplements are gaining in popularity thanks to the undeniable benefits of this substance, but are they really suitable for everyone? And exactly what functions does the molecule perform in our body? Let's find out together.

What is 

Vitamin D is actually a group of multiple fat-soluble prohormones: vitamins D1, D2, D3, D4, and D5. In the context of supplementation, however, the term vitamin D usually refers to D3, also known as cholecalciferol.

These compounds perform a fundamental function within our body. Their discovery, by the German pediatrician Kurt Huldschinsky, is linked to the study of rickets, a disease caused precisely by a lack of synthesis of prohormones which, if left untreated, leads to problems in bone development in the youngest. In fact, vitamin D sees among its main functions the promotion of bone calcification.

Vitamin D also appears to have additional benefits in other applications. According to some researches (which, it must be underlined, have not yet provided unambiguous results) it is in fact able to lower the risk of depression. Instead, the clues that lead to the assumption of a positive role of cholecalciferol in the prevention of multiple sclerosis. 

appear clearer

Vitamin D deficiency afflicts the Italian population especially in the winter months: this is explained by the fact that our body can synthesize this molecule endogenously only through the absorption of ultraviolet radiation from the sun's rays, at which we are less exposed in certain periods of the year. 

Where is it

In case of absence or deficient synthesis of cholecalciferol it is very difficult to take vitamin D in appreciable quantities only through food. In any case, among the foods richest in ergocalciferol (or D2, the form we take with food) we find cod liver oil, salmon and other fatty fish, eggs and red meat. 

Use in supplements

The correct synthesis of vitamin D is closely linked to bone health, but, as seen previously, certain pathologies or environmental conditions could lead to potentially dangerous deficiencies. If ascertained through blood tests, these can be counteracted through the use of food supplements. 

Among all the formats available, the gummy supplements Gummyvit Vitamin D stand out for their practicality. Prepared with ingredients of natural origin, lactose-free and gluten-free, they are the ideal solution for taking the daily requirement of cholecalciferol even outside the home and without the need for water.

Risks and contraindications

Vitamin D intake should be preceded by medical advice, without neglecting to periodically monitor blood levels during therapy. This is because, if on the one hand the lack of this substance leads to serious consequences, the same goes for those who abuse it.

Very high doses of vitamin D taken in an uncontrolled way can be toxic to our body, and lead to hypercalcemia (an excess of calcium in the blood). Consequently, this can be declined in symptoms such as nausea, diarrhea, hypercalciuria, hypercalcemia, polyuria, calcification of soft tissues.