Vitamin D is one of the most, if not the most important nutrient for men's health. It is a hormone that our body can make when exposed to sunlight and it is absolutely critical to the way our body works. Vitamin D is actually a hormone precursor, which means that after our body makes it, it goes to our kidneys and is converted into a hormone that we use. Vitamin D is also a fat-soluble vitamin, meaning that it is stored in your fat and is released over time.
It's also important to note that vitamin D is different from the other vitamins in that our body requires it to function. If you don't have enough vitamin D in your body, you will develop rickets, a disease that causes your bones to become soft and weak. Vitamin D deficiency is also connected to a number of other diseases, including multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes, and cancer.
Vitamin D, the Sunshine Vitamin
Vitamin D is actually a steroid hormone that is found in the body. It is also a precursor for a steroid hormone that our body uses. Vitamin D is two separate compounds. One of these compounds is ergocalciferol, or vitamin D2, which is found in plants. The other compound is cholecalciferol, or vitamin D3, which is the form that our body makes when exposed to sunlight. It was actually the identification of vitamin D2 in plants that led to the discovery of vitamin D.
Vitamin D is synthesized from cholesterol in the skin when exposed to UV-B light. This is why it is so important to get vitamin D from sunlight. Vitamin D is the only vitamin that our body can make if we are exposed to sunlight. Many people think that the only reason we need sunlight is to get vitamin D, but that is only part of it. Sunlight is also important because it stimulates our body to make serotonin, which is a chemical that is used to regulate our mood.
In fact, sunlight is so important that there is a condition called seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, which is a mood disorder that affects people during the winter. The symptoms include depression, fatigue, and weight gain. The sun's rays are also important for helping our body make vitamin A, which is important for our immune system.
How Does Vitamin D Work?
Vitamin D is actually a precursor for a hormone called calcitriol, which is the active form of vitamin D. Calcitriol works in the kidneys to reabsorb the vitamin D from the kidneys, which is then converted into calcitriol. Calcitriol then works in the kidneys, muscles, and other tissues to control the level of calcium and phosphorus in the body.
This means that vitamin D is responsible for the following:
- Regulating the level of calcium and phosphorus in the blood
- Stimulating the formation and growth of bone
- Suppressing the immune system
- Helping the blood to clot
- Helping maintain blood pressure
- Protecting against cancer
- Regulating cell growth
- More
Signs of a Vitamin D Deficiency
The sun is the best source of vitamin D, and if you do not get any sun, you are likely deficient in vitamin D.
Symptoms of a vitamin D deficiency can include:
- Feeling generally weak and tired
- Having frequent infections
- Feeling depressed and unmotivated
- Having poor muscle tone and bone health
- Having weak or brittle bones
- Having dry skin
- Having weak teeth or dental decay
- Having a hard time absorbing nutrients
- Having high blood pressure
- Having poor moods
- Having frequent headaches
Vitamin D 5000 IU Tablets: Are They Just for Deficiencies?
Vitamin D 5000 IU Tablets provide a whopping 5000 IU of vitamin D3 per serving. This type of vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that helps in calcium absorption and promotes bone health. 5000 IU of vitamin D is also used to support immune and cardiovascular health and to maintain normal blood levels of cholesterol. If you have been diagnosed with a vitamin D deficiency, it is important that you take a daily supplement of vitamin D3 to ensure that you are getting the daily recommended amounts of vitamin D.
Even if you haven't been diagnosed with a vitamin D deficiency, you should still consider supplementing with Vitamin D 5000 IU tablets. Vitamin D helps support the immune system and has been shown to help fight off infection. Vitamin D is also used to treat osteoporosis, a disorder that causes bones to become weak and brittle.
Your body's absorption of calcium is also affected by vitamin D.
Can You Overdose on Vitamin D?
While you should never take more than the recommended daily dosage of any supplement, you should be aware that high doses of vitamin D are not believed to be toxic or dangerous. However, it is possible to overdose on vitamin D, so you should never take more than the recommended dosage. Symptoms of Vitamin D overdose include:
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Increased urination
- Fatigue
- Irritability
- Weakness
Overdosing on vitamin D can cause severe toxicity in the body, especially in people with kidney or liver problems.
How Much Vitamin D Should I Take?
The amount of vitamin D that you need to take depends on your age and health condition. The amount of vitamin D that you need to take each day depends on your age. The recommended daily allowance (RDA) of vitamin D is around 2,000 IU daily. So if you're considering taking a supplement but you're not diagnosed with a deficiency, you might want to take a supplement that provides somewhere around 2,000 IU of vitamin D per day.
It is important to note that the recommended daily allowance of vitamin D has been set for adults. The RDA for children is significantly lower than the adult RDA. The recommended daily allowance for children depends on other factors that should be discussed in person with your child's doctor.
You should always speak to your doctor about any changes in your health, including if you’re taking vitamins or supplements.
This blog post is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical or other professional advice. Your specific circumstances should be discussed with a healthcare provider. All statements of opinion represent the writers' judgement at the time of publication and are subject to change. Phoenix and its affiliates provide no express or implied endorsements of third parties or their advice, opinions, information, products, or services.