What are health benefits of vitamin D?
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Dr. Michael Roizen answered:Vitamin D is essential for proper absorption of calcium. Vitamin D helps strengthen bones and prevents the joint deterioration that accompanies arthritis. Vitamin D and its metabolites also appear beneficial in reducing certain kinds of breast, colon, prostate, and lung cancers.Vitamin D is essential for proper absorption of calcium. Vitamin D helps strengthen bones and prevents the joint deterioration that accompanies arthritis. Vitamin D and its metabolites also appear beneficial in reducing certain kinds of breast,... More -
Dr. Mehmet Oz answered:Vitamin D plays a number of roles in our bodies, including:
- Promoting absorption of calcium and bone health
- Boosting immune function
- Reducing inflammation
- Healthy neuro-muscular function
- Protecting against some forms of cancer
Vitamin D plays a number of roles in our bodies, including: Promoting absorption of calcium and bone health Boosting immune function Reducing inflammation Healthy neuro-muscular function Protecting against some forms of cancer More -
Stacy Wiegman answered:Vitamin D, also called the "sunshine vitamin," has many health benefits, a number of which have been discovered only recently.
Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium, so it's essential for bone health. Getting enough vitamin D helps keep bones strong and may help prevent osteoporosis.
Emerging research shows that vitamin D may help prevent cancer, though experts say more study is needed. Other studies have pointed to the possibility that vitamin D may help prevent and treat type 1 and type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. And low levels of vitamin D have been linked to a worsening of multiple sclerosis symptoms.
Vitamin D, also called the "sunshine vitamin," has many health benefits, a number of which have been discovered only recently. Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium, so it's essential for bone health. Getting enough vitamin D helps keep... More -
Multiple Sclerosis Foundation answered:Vitamin D is considered a hormone as well as a vitamin for its role in body processes. It works together with calcium and phosphorus to strengthen bones and teeth, and aids in assimilation of vitamin A. Vitamin D may also help eye problems such as conjunctivitis, myopia, and cataracts.Vitamin D is considered a hormone as well as a vitamin for its role in body processes. It works together with calcium and phosphorus to strengthen bones and teeth, and aids in assimilation of vitamin A. Vitamin D may also help eye problems... More -
Dr. David Katz answered:Watch as preventive medicine specialist Dr. David Katz explains the health benefits of vitamin D.
Watch as preventive medicine specialist Dr. David Katz explains the health benefits of vitamin D. More -
Dr. Rovenia Brock answered:Vitamin D has emerged as a "star supplement" because of its many nutritional benefits for men, women and children. Vitamin D plays a key role in the proper absorption of calcium for strong bones and teeth and has been shown to support colon, breast, prostate, ovarian, heart and colorectal health. This important vitamin also supports a healthy immune system in adults. Unfortunately, too many Americans have suboptimal levels of vitamin D. The typical symptoms of vitamin D deficiency are achy bones and muscle discomfort.Vitamin D has emerged as a "star supplement" because of its many nutritional benefits for men, women and children. Vitamin D plays a key role in the proper absorption of calcium for strong bones and teeth and has been shown to support colon,... More -
Ashley Koff answered:Vitamin D has gained a lot of attention in recent years due to an enormous body of research confirming its role in human health and the fact that we don't get enough of it. It's not just a result of us working indoors all day and protecting ourselves from the sun's damaging rays, but it's also a consequence of geography. The vast majority of people who live in North America can't get the same amount of sunlight as those closer to the equator. It's easy for the body to manufacture plenty of vitamin D from brief exposure to UVB radiation a few times a week, but it's very hard to get that same amount of vitamin D from diet alone.
Why is this vitamin so important? It's actually a hormone critical to survival because it has a role in numerous communications. A number of studies have found that higher vitamin D, which the body makes when sunlight hits the skin, protects against some cancers and illnesses such as rickets, bone-thinning osteoporosis, and diabetes. It also helps the body's immune system work properly, reduces inflammation, and plays a role in muscle, cardiac, immune, and neurological functions. If you're not casually exposed to sunlight or brief periods a few days a week ("brief" meaning ten to fifteen minutes and long before you'd begin to burn), consider adding a vitamin D supplement that has at least 1,000 IU to your daily regimen.
Vitamin D has gained a lot of attention in recent years due to an enormous body of research confirming its role in human health and the fact that we don't get enough of it. It's not just a result of us working indoors all day and protecting... More -
Dr. Joe Mercola answered:Family Physician and Integrative Health Specialist Dr. Joe Mercola discusses the health benefits of vitamin D. Watch Dr. Mercola's video for tips on overall health and wellness.
Family Physician and Integrative Health Specialist Dr. Joe Mercola discusses the health benefits of vitamin D. Watch Dr. Mercola's video for tips on overall health and wellness. More -
Dr. Lindsey Duncan answered:Vitamin D, the "sunshine vitamin," promotes bone and tooth development as well as normal growth. This vitamin helps your body with the utilization of phosphorus and calcium. Vitamin D is also essential for heart health.Vitamin D, the "sunshine vitamin," promotes bone and tooth development as well as normal growth. This vitamin helps your body with the utilization of phosphorus and calcium. Vitamin D is also essential for heart health. More -
RealAge answered:A number of studies have found that higher vitamin D, which the body makes using sunlight, protects against some cancers and illnesses, such as rickets, bone-thinning osteoporosis, and diabetes. It also helps the body’s immune system work properly. Certain foods and vitamin supplements contain vitamin D, but the main source for the body is the sun. It only takes ten to twenty minutes of sunlight a few times a week to make plenty of vitamin D. Still, if you spend most of your time indoors and/or live in the northern half of the country, producing enough D can be problematic, especially in winter.
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A number of studies have found that higher vitamin D, which the body makes using sunlight, protects against some cancers and illnesses, such as rickets, bone-thinning osteoporosis, and diabetes. It also helps the body’s immune system work... More -
Bryce Wylde answered:Many show that the vitamin from sunshine boosts the immune system and even helps prevent some cancers and heart disease. Vitamin D comes mostly from strong sunshine, pills, or milk and some fish. People with the lowest levels of vitamin D in their blood are the most likely to catch colds. Vitamin D levels vary widely in the population. Fair-skinned people in sunny regions tend to have the most; dark-skinned people who don't get much sun exposure have the least. Most people I test have very low levels.
You should ask your doctor to test you -- the blood test is called 25OHD. This will help determine the dose that it right for you. On average, I'd recommend 2,000 international units (IU)/day of the vitamin D3. Mixing it into a fish oil is even better!Many show that the vitamin from sunshine boosts the immune system and even helps prevent some cancers and heart disease. Vitamin D comes mostly from strong sunshine, pills, or milk and some fish. People with the lowest levels of vitamin D in... More -
Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian answered:The following are health benefits of vitamin D (calciferol):
- Helps maintain normal blood levels of calcium and phosphorus, which strengthen bones
- Helps form teeth and bones
- Supplements can reduce the number of nonvertebral fractures
The following are health benefits of vitamin D (calciferol): Helps maintain normal blood levels of calcium and phosphorus, which strengthen bones Helps form teeth and bones Supplements can reduce the number of nonvertebral fractures More -
Dr. Maoshing Ni answered:In addition to promoting bone health, vitamin D is also a major factor in regulating metabolism, taming hunger cravings, and boosting your immune system. It is no surprise, then, to see more sniffles in the cold winter months when we are bundled away from the vitamin D-giving sun. For an immunity boost, show some skin! Multiple studies demonstrate the association between increased vitamin D intake and reduced risk for colorectal, skin, breast, and prostate cancers. With the help of calcium and magnesium, vitamin D also improves bone development and cardiovascular health.
Vitamin D sources: Herring, salmon, halibut, cod liver oil, catfish, mackerel, oysters, sardines, tuna, shrimp, eggs, shiitake mushrooms.In addition to promoting bone health, vitamin D is also a major factor in regulating metabolism, taming hunger cravings, and boosting your immune system. It is no surprise, then, to see more sniffles in the cold winter months when we are... More
