Vitamin D-3 is a fat-soluble vitamin that is very limited in food sources in your diet. Humans have the ability to make D-3, also known as cholecalciferol, when skin is exposed to ultraviolet-B, or UVB rays. Having limited sun exposure or wearing sunscreen affects how much D-3 your body makes. Your doctor can run a routine blood test to determine if you have adequate vitamin D in your blood. In some cases, you may need to take a vitamin supplement.
Activation of Vitamin D3
Vitamin D-3, along with other forms of vitamin D, must be activated in order to have any functions in your body. After you ingest it or synthesize it through your skin, your liver and kidneys put the inactive form of D-3 through a series of biochemical reactions. Inactive vitamin D, including D-3, is converted into 25-hydroxyvitamin D, which is the most prominent form of vitamin D in your body.
What it Does
The most common and well-known function of vitamin D3 and other forms of the vitamin, is to absorb calcium, aiding in bone and teeth structure. Vitamin D also helps regulate your immune system, cell growth, nerve transmission and works to reduce inflammation throughout your body.
Checking Your D3 Level
Your doctor can send your blood out to a lab, which evaluates your blood using the 25-hydroxy vitamin D test, the most accurate vitamin D test, says Medline Plus. This blood test measures the amount of activated vitamin D in your bloodstream in all forms, such as D-2 and D-3. Ideally, your 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels should range from 30.0 to 74.0 nanograms/mL.
Deficiency
Having a deficiency can cause several problems. Without adequate vitamin D, you may experience bone loss, leading to brittle bones and increasing your risk of fractures. A severe form of vitamin D deficiency known as rickets, prevent bone mineralization, making your bones soft and weak. Rickets is rare in the United States, but children and African American infants are more prone to the disorder. Osteomalacia, another disorder from vitamin D deficiency, happens when bone mineral is lost over time, causing weakened, soft bones in adults.
Supplements
If you have low vitamin D levels in your blood, you may need to take a supplement. Vitamin D supplements come in either D-2 or D-3, both of which are equally absorbed in your body, but vitamin D-2 may not be as effective in preventing bone loss and fractures. In order to support all of these essential functions, you should ingest 15 mcg, or 600 IU of vitamin D daily. After age 70, this amount increases to 20 mcg, or 800 IU, reports the Linus Pauling Institute.
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