Vitamin D is type of fat-soluble vitamin your body can produce when you expose your skin to sunlight. Vitamin D works in tandem with calcium to help build your bones and keep them strong. Ergocalciferol and cholecalciferol are two types of vitamin D, advises the University of Maryland Medical Center. Everyone below the age of 70 should have at least 200 IU of vitamin D daily, the Mayo Clinic website explains. People over age 70 should have about 600 IU of vitamin D daily.
Colorectal Cancer
High vitamin D levels in your body lower the risk of developing cancer, the American Cancer Association explains. A study involving more than 3,000 adults who underwent colonoscopies from 1994 to 1997 showed that adults with higher vitamin D levels were less likely to have colorectal cancer.
Diabetes
People with low levels of vitamin D were more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, reports the Mayo Clinic website. Type 2 diabetics who take vitamin D supplements have displayed improved sensitivity to insulin. Vitamin D taken from cod liver oil may help lower the risk of developing type 1 diabetes.
Heart Disease
Vitamin D may play a role in lowering the risk of developing heart disease as shown in population studies, the University of Maryland Medical Center explains. Vitamin D helps prevent calcium from accumulating in your arteries. Calcium deposits in your arteries increase your likelihood of having a heart attack or stroke.
Multiple Sclerosis
Current studies suggest that daily vitamin D doses of at least 400 IU may reduce the risk of developing multiple sclerosis in women, the University of Maryland Medical Center explains. There seems to be an inverse relationship between vitamin D levels and the risk of developing multiple sclerosis in men.
Osteoporosis and Other Bone Problems
Insufficient vitamin D intake can impair calcium absorption and weaken bones, according to Mayo Clinic. Weakened bones may be more prone to fracturing. Osteogenesis imperfecta is a condition that causes bones to become so fragile that they break easily. Vitamin D deficiency may cause rickets in children. Hepatic osteodystrophy is a kind of bone disease typical of people suffering from chronic liver disease. Vitamin D may help manage this condition. Vitamin D increases the body's calcium absorption by up to 40 percent, and improves phosphorus absorption by up to 80 percent. Getting sufficient vitamin D and calcium is essential in preventing osteoporosis in people over the age of 50, the American Academy of Dermatology notes.
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