Highlights
- Vitamin D is a nutrient essential to human health
- Adequate Vitamin D consumption is important for calcium absorption
- Vitamin D deficiency is almost pandemic in the country
Vitamin D is a nutrient essential to human health owing to its role in the development and strengthening of our bones. Regular and adequate Vitamin D consumption is important for optimum calcium absorption by the body. A recent study notes that Vitamin D is also crucial for expecting mothers. Experts studied data from close 11 studies involving about 2700 women who were undergoing in-vitro fertilization. It was found that live births were more likely to occur by a third in women with adequate levels of vitamin D.
Vitamin D deficiency is almost pandemic in the country, while the 'sunshine vitamin' is found chiefly in sunlight, a host of common ingredients like mushrooms, soybean, cheese, fish and eggs are also loaded with vitamin D. The vitamin also helps in moderating cell growth, regulation of the immune function and reducing inflammation in the body. People with inadequate levels of vitamin D may show signs of mood swings, depression, constant fatigue, muscle pain, daytime sleepiness, frequent flu attacks and a weakened immunity. Some of the most recent medical studies have tied adequate amount of vitamin D to facilitate speedy recovery from burns and reduced risk of diabetes. Experts have also established a link between adequate levels of vitamin D in women and reduced risk of breast cancer and early menopause.
"Higher blood levels of vitamin D are associated with a lower risk of breast cancer compared to women with low levels of the vitamin. For example, one study found that women who got plenty of vitamin D in early life - either in their diet or by spending time outdoors, where sun exposure triggers vitamin D production in the skin - had a lower risk for breast cancer," as mentioned on Harvard's online health portal.