Vitamin D is a vital nutrient that your skin can manufacture when it is exposed to sunlight, specifically ultraviolet B rays. The vitamin is most commonly associated with the absorption of calcium into your bloodstream. A deficiency of vitamin D can result in the onset of many health issues, including osteoporosis, osteomalacia, rickets and high blood pressure.
Vitamin D Production
MayoClinic.com indicates that just 10 minutes of sun exposure per day is enough for your body to make sufficient amounts of vitamin D to keep you healthy and prevent calcium-related diseases. If you prefer to cover your skin or wear sunscreen whenever you go outdoors, the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University recommends you ingest foods or supplements containing vitamin D. A sunscreen containing as little as SPF 8 can decrease your ability to produce vitamin D by up to 95 percent.
Vitamin D and Calcium
When serum calcium levels in your blood are low, your parathyroid glands release a hormone called parathyroid hormone, or PTH, signaling your body to absorb calcium from your intestines. If you have not been exposed to enough sunlight to produce sufficient levels of vitamin D in your skin, or you have not ingested sufficient vitamin D, your body will pull calcium from your bones when PTH is released.
Bone Disorders
Osteoporosis and osteomalacia are common disorders related to vitamin D deficiency. When your body regularly taps into the calcium stores in your bones because there is not enough available in your blood, your bones can become weak and brittle, resulting in osteoporosis. Osteomalacia results when your bones become brittle in combination with muscle pain and weakness. In children, insufficient levels of vitamin D may result in rickets, which causes softening of the bones and can cause skeletal deformities as they age. Many parents are careful to apply sunscreen or cover their children's skin when out in the sun for extended periods. Because of this, it is important to include foods that contain vitamin D in your children's daily diet.
Other Disorders
Studies suggest people deficient in vitamin D are more at risk for developing high blood pressure than those with sufficient levels of the nutrient, the University of Maryland Medical Center notes. There is also some evidence that people suffering from seasonal affective disorder, a mood disorder associated with limited exposure to sunlight, may experience some relief with vitamin D supplements. The University of Maryland Medical Center suggests discussing the option of adding vitamin D supplements to your SAD treatment with your doctor.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Vitamin D
- Linus Pauling Institute; Vitamin D; Jane Higdon, Ph.D.; March 2004
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Vitamin D
- "The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism"; Effects of a Short-Term Vitamin D3 and Calcium Supplementation on Blood Pressure and Parathyroid Hormone Levels in Elderly Women; M. Pfeifer, et al.; April 2001
- "The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology"; Vitamin D: A Negative Endocrine Regulator of the Rennin-Angiotensin System and Blood Pressure; Y.C. Li, et al.; May 2004
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