Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin that your body produces naturally after exposure to direct sunlight. You can also obtain vitamin D from certain foods and supplements. Vitamin D is important for calcium absorption, which makes it an essential nutrient for your bone health. According to the National Institutes of Health, vitamin D also assists your body with cell growth, neuromuscular function, immunity and in reducing inflammation.
Female Fertility and Pregnancy
Vitamin D may help enhance female fertility and improve your health during pregnancy. According to a study published in the September 2010 issue of "Fertility and Sterility," women with higher levels of vitamin D who were undergoing IVF had higher pregnancy success rates than women with deficient vitamin D levels. Another study published in the November 2010 issue of the "Journal of Midwifery and Women's Health" states that adequate vitamin D intake during pregnancy can help enhance bone health, assist your body with glucose regulation, improve your immunity and help regulate uterine contractions during labor.
Male Fertility
Vitamin D may help improve sperm motility, thereby enhancing male fertility. According to a study published in the June 2011 issue of "Human Reproduction," researchers found a direct correlation between adequate vitamin D levels and male fertility. The study compared the sperm quality of 300 males from the general population in relation to their blood vitamin D concentrations. Researchers found that sperm motility and morphology were better in males with adequate vitamin D levels compared to males who were deficient in this important nutrient.
Immunity
Vitamin D is an important nutrient that may help support your immune system. According to the Linus Pauling Institute, many cells of your immune system, such as T cells and antigen-presenting cells, express the vitamin D receptor. Your immune system relies on vitamin D for healthy functioning, including maintenance of normal immunity and preventing your body from developing any number of autoimmune disorders -- a condition in which your immune system attacks itself.
Recommended Daily Intake
The Institute of Medicine set a Recommended Dietary Allowance of vitamin D in 2010. This recommendation was based on the amount necessary to maintain bone health. The recommended intake for both children and adults age 1 to 70 years old, including pregnant and breastfeeding women, is 600 IU of vitamin D per day. The recommended intake for infants age 0 to 1 is 400 IU per day -- and for adults 71 and older it's 800 IU daily.
References
- "Fertility & Sterility"; Replete vitamin D stores predict reproductive success following in vitro fertilization; Ozkan, S. et. al.; September 2010
- "Human Reproduction"; Vitamin D is positively associated with sperm motility and increases intracellular calcium in human spermatazoa; Jensen, Martin Blomberg, et. al.; June 2011
- "Journal of Midwifery and Women's Health"; Maternal nutrition and perinatal outcomes; Barger, M.K.; November - December 2010
- "Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health: Vitamin D"
- "Linus Pauling Institute, Micronutrient Information Center: Vitamin D"
