Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium, which is one of the main building blocks of bone. A lack of vitamin D can lead to bone diseases such as osteoporosis or rickets. Vitamin D also has a role in your nerve, muscle, and immune systems.
Vitamin D enhances immunity, providing protection towards pathogens, and exerts immunosuppressive effects by preventing the detrimental effects of prolonged inflammatory responses. Vitamin D-rich foods include egg yolks, saltwater fish, and liver. Some other foods, like milk and cereal, often have added vitamin D. Sun exposure, diet and genetic factors determine the of levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in the body.
Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) is produced from skin exposure to sunlight, from your diet, and from supplements. The CYP2R1 gene encodes for Vitamin D 25-hydroxylase, an enzyme which is responsible for converting Vitamin D3 (found in the diet and in supplements) into 25-OH D3 - the major circulating form of Vitamin D in the body.
Here are some relevant studies related to Vitamin D:
- Vitamin D Deficiency Is Associated with COVID-19 Incidence and Disease Severity (study)
- High dose of vitamin D, significantly reduced the need for ICU treatment of patients requiring hospitalization due to proven COVID-19 (study)
- Possible association between obesity and vitamin D deficiency (study)
- Vitamin D Deficiency Is an Independent Risk Factor for Urinary Tract Infections (study)
Related to:
Cholecalciferol, Ergocalciferol, covid, obesity