{"id":1898,"date":"2024-01-21T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-01-21T08:36:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/192.168.1.150\/user2\/wp_prototypes\/medical\/?p=13"},"modified":"2026-04-09T02:28:36","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T02:28:36","slug":"how-to-create-a-social-media-calendar-to-plan-your-content","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/elthama.com\/?p=1898","title":{"rendered":"What Does Vitamin D Do?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As Jerry Seinfeld might say, \u201cWhat\u2019s the deal<\/em> with vitamin D<\/a>?!\u201d It\u2019s known as the \u201csunshine vitamin\u201d because your body absorbs it during time spent outdoors \u2014 but then again, it\u2019s also in some of the foods you eat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can both be true? What is<\/em> the deal with vitamin D?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This important vitamin has an important role to play in keeping your bones strong and your immune system healthy. Registered dietitian Devon Peart, RD, MHSc, BASc<\/a>, helps make sense of vitamin D, including what it does, how much you need and how to get enough of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is vitamin D?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Vitamin D, formally known as calciferol, is a fat-soluble nutrient that has two main responsibilities: helping calcium reach your bones (which keeps them strong) and supporting your immune system<\/a> so it can fight off infections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But an estimated 35% of adults have a vitamin D deficiency<\/a>, and around the world, that number is much higher. Why? Because vitamin D is a little bit tricky \u2014 and harder to get enough of than you might expect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur bodies make vitamin D from exposure to sun,\u201d Peart explains. \u201cIt\u2019s also naturally present in some foods, like salmon, and added to others, like milk. Depending on a few factors, like how sunny it is where you live, you might need a vitamin D supplement.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What does vitamin D do for your body?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Vitamin D plays a key role in bone health and helps your immune system stay strong. Peart delves deeper into both of these benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Supports bone health<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Calcium<\/a> is an essential mineral that\u2019s critical to healthy bones and teeth. And vitamin D is like calcium\u2019s trusty sidekick, lending it a helping hand so it can get the job done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cVitamin D helps calcium get into your bones,\u201d Peart further explains. \u201cWhen your body has enough vitamin D, it\u2019s better able to absorb calcium from your small intestine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Studies show<\/a> that when your body has enough vitamin D, its overall calcium absorption is 30% to 40%. But when vitamin D levels are low, calcium absorption from food is only 10% to 15%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An untreated vitamin D deficiency can lead to a condition called hypocalcemia<\/a>, which means there\u2019s not enough calcium in your blood. This can cause issues like soft bones (osteomalacia<\/a> in adults and rickets<\/a> in children), brittle bones (osteoporosis<\/a>) and an increased risk of bone fractures. In one study<\/a>, more than half of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis were found to have a vitamin D deficiency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Supports a healthy immune system<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

When you think about taking vitamins to ward off sickness, you probably think about vitamin C, which may help make a cold less severe<\/a>. But vitamin D also plays an important role in promoting healing and helping your body fight off illness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cVitamin D has been shown to help regulate the immune system,\u201d Peart shares, \u201cand having a good level of vitamin D helps prevent infections.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Studies show<\/a> that having low vitamin D levels is associated with a higher risk of infections, especially those that affect the respiratory system<\/a>. Vitamin D deficiency has even been associated with a higher risk of developing autoimmune diseases, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n