{"id":18,"date":"2025-06-07T18:46:40","date_gmt":"2025-06-07T18:46:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ruperthealth.com\/blog\/?p=18"},"modified":"2025-07-23T18:56:50","modified_gmt":"2025-07-23T18:56:50","slug":"the-importance-of-vitamin-d","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ruperthealth.com\/blog\/nutrition\/the-importance-of-vitamin-d\/","title":{"rendered":"The Importance of Vitamin D"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What is Vitamin D?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Vitamin D<\/strong>, also known as calciferol<\/strong>, is an essential vitamin that has many functions. It plays a role in absorbing calcium, helps in building and maintaining strong bones, supports the immune system, and improves muscle functions like balancing and reducing the risk of falls and injuries (Mavar et al., 2024). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are two types of vitamin D; vitamin D3 <\/strong>(cholecalciferol) and vitamin D2<\/strong> (ergocalciferol). Vitamin D3<\/strong> comes from animals and is also synthesized in humans when our skin epidermal cells come in contact with sun rays (Chang & Lee, 2024). Whereas vitamin D2<\/strong> comes from plants and fungi containing the precursors for vitamin D2 (Mavar et al., 2024). Vitamin D is also a fat-soluble vitamin<\/strong>, meaning that it is stored in the body\u2019s fat cells. Fat in the small intestine also enhances vitamin D absorption (Mavar et al., 2024). This makes sense as most of the naturally occurring vitamin D-rich foods are high in dietary fat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Furthermore, sunlight exposure remains the most common intake of vitamin D for humans as there are very few foods that contain vitamin D naturally. Certain food products on the shelves are fortified with vitamin D in regulation with Health Canada to maintain sufficient levels of vitamin D in our diets. Without sufficient levels of vitamin D in our bodies, we may suffer from vitamin D deficiency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vitamin D Deficiency<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vitamin D deficiency<\/strong> is classified by insufficient serum vitamin D levels <\/strong>and is a rising global public health concern. Vitamin D deficiency can increase the risk of many health conditions. Some of these include our bones becoming brittle and thin due to lack of vitamin D, causing osteoporosis and rickets in children (Chang & Lee, 2024). The global increase in vitamin D deficiency could be due to lifestyle changes, as more people are spending time indoors, limiting sun exposure according to Mavar et al. Aging populations are also more susceptible to vitamin D deficiency as their ability to synthesize vitamin D from sun exposure weakens and becomes less effective (Mavar et al., 2024). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Furthermore, people residing in the Northern hemisphere of the world are more at risk of vitamin D deficiency, due to a lack of sun exposure (Mavar et al., 2024). There are other risks to our health due to vitamin D deficiency, such as respiratory infections and autoimmune diseases (Mavar et al., 2024). Which is why we need to maintain sufficient levels of vitamin D in our bodies. To do so, we can incorporate more vitamin D into our daily lives. The main sources of vitamin D include: supplements, food, and sunlight exposure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Supplements<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Health Link BC<\/a> recommends that we choose supplements that have a Natural Product Number <\/strong>(NPN) because they meet Health Canada\u2019s safety measures. There are three main kinds of supplements: liquid, chewable,<\/strong> and pill form.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n