Vitamin D3: Why it's Essential for Your Health

The queen of vitamins, which is vitamin D3, is extremely important for our functioning and health. Our body can obtain Vitamin D3 in 3 ways:

• during exposure to sunlight
• from the diet
• through supplementation. To understand how important cholecalciferol, or vitamin D3, is for our life, it's worth knowing that its receptors are located in tissues, bones, skin, intestines, kidneys, brain, eyes, heart, pancreas, muscles, adrenal glands, adipose tissue, and all cells of the immune system. This means that every organ and system in our body detects this vitamin, and we need it to live. Despite being a vital vitamin for life, it turns out that the majority of the adult population suffers from its deficiencies. It's important to remember that laboratory norms starting at 30ng/ml are too low to maintain adequate health quality. It's worth aiming for a blood level between 70-80 ng/ml, as only this level guarantees us good health. That's why it's worth regularly getting blood tests, checking the level of vitamin D3, to adjust supplementation to the results and needs. If we're unable to provide ourselves with the right dose of this vitamin through skin synthesis [minimum 15 minutes of full exposure to the sun between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. with exposed arms and legs] and ensuring its adequate supply through the diet, by consuming an appropriate amount of food such as cod liver oil, fatty fish: herring, mackerel, salmon, offal: liver, dairy products: eggs, milk, and yellow cheese, plant oils, appropriate supplementation is recommended, depending on blood results and our body weight [obese people should take larger doses]. Why is it worth maintaining the right level of vitamin D3 in the blood? Here are the most important positive effects:

1. Increases bone density and prevents osteoporosis and bone fractures,
2. Increases immunity and helps fight recurring infections
3. Reduces the risk of cancer
4. Reduces the risk of depression or helps to reduce it
5. Reduces the risk of hypertension
6. Increases muscle strength
7. Reduces the risk of diabetes, helps fight insulin resistance
8. Optimizes testosterone levels
9. Optimizes the nervous system, reduces the risk of Alzheimer's disease and mental disorders
10. Reduces the risk of prostate enlargement
11. Stimulates the autoimmune system, helping to fight allergies and bronchial asthma
12. Helps fight heart disease, atherosclerosis, Hashimoto's disease, and inflammatory bowel disease
13. Is essential in the fight against obesity
14. Is essential for the development of infants and children, preventing rickets and supporting the development of bones and teeth
15. Supports the fight against skin inflammation and psoriasis
16. Its deficiency significantly affects hearing impairment.

Symptoms of vitamin D3 deficiency:

!

Symptoms of vitamin D3 deficiency include:

• bone and joint pain,
• depression, mood swings,
• chronic fatigue,
• difficulty walking, maintaining balance,
• increased hair loss, •persistent headache,
• insomnia,
• predisposition to bruising,
• excessive sweating,
• difficulty losing weight (despite adjusting diet and lifestyle),
• constant feeling of cold,
• gum disease,
• vision problems,
• gastrointestinal problems.

To convert doses and units of vitamin D3: 1 microgram=1µg=1mcg=40 IU. So 2.5 µg=100 IU of vitamin D. 100 IU=2.5 mcg=2.5 µg.

The use of vitamin D3 supplements is safe, but it is important to remember to take the appropriate dosage and not exceed the recommended amount. It is recommended to consult a doctor. Unlike water-soluble vitamins, fat-soluble vitamins can be stored in the body's fat tissue, which increases the risk of overdose. Fortunately, vitamin D overdose is rare and only occurs when very large doses are used for a long time. During supplementation, it is also important to ensure an adequate level of magnesium, which is important for the proper absorption of vitamin D. When there is a deficiency of magnesium, vitamin D is in an inactive, stored form. With magnesium, vitamin D3 can be activated and enter the bloodstream. Supplementing with vitamin D3 is a great way to ensure good health and well-being for you and your loved ones. Especially in autumn and winter, when we are more prone to deficiencies of this essential component due to lack of sunlight. We invite you to visit our pharmacy or shop online at https://poloniapharmacy.ie/en/search?query=d3, where you can purchase vitamin D3 in various doses for both children and adults.