In addition to providing calcium with absorption capabilities to form strong bones and teeth, vitamin D enhances the immune system and helps regulate cell development. Vitamin D may play a role in cancer prevention as well, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Low vitamin D levels can contribute to many disorders, including low bone density, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and skin cancer.
Conflicts
Sufficient levels of vitamin D may help reduce your risks of developing skin cancer that often begins with unsightly, itchy blotches on your skin. At the same time, sun exposure, the most common and effective means of getting enough vitamin D, can cause itching, scaling, dry skin and a deadly form of skin cancer called melanoma. It's for that reason the American Academy of Dermatology recommends vitamin D supplements and fortified food and drinks that contain added D to get your daily requirement of the nutrient instead of sun exposure.
Sources
Vitamin D that you get from fortified foods such as cereal and milk and other natural food sources such as eggs, cod liver oil and fatty fish provide the same benefits as the vitamin D you get from the sun, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Talk to your doctor about taking vitamin D supplements so that you don't exacerbate any other conditions you may have. Many calcium supplements contain added vitamin D.
Hypocalcemia
Hypocalcemia is a condition that results from a variety of conditions, including hypoparathyroidism, acute pancreatitis, chemotherapy, surgery and depleted vitamin D levels. According to the Cleveland Clinic, symptoms of hypocalcemia range from severe muscle spasms to mental retardation, cataracts and congestive heart failure. Eczema, dermatitis and coarse dry skin are common symptoms of the condition. The disease is treated with intravenous calcium supplements and oral doses of vitamin D.
Deficiencies
Vitamin D levels are measured in your blood as nanomoles per liter or nmd/L. According to the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements, levels below 30 nmd/L can lead to severe vitamin D associated problems. Healthy adults should have levels above 50 nmd/L and below 125 nmd/L. To maintain sufficient levels, from the age of 1 to 70, you need about 600 IU of vitamin D per day. You get about 447 IU of vitamin D from 3 oz. of salmon and 137 IU from 1 cup of vitamin D-fortified orange juice. One egg yolk provides about 41 IU, and you'll get 1,360 IU from just 1 tbsp. of cod liver oil.
Risks
Rarely can you get an overdose of vitamin D from dietary sources, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements. Overdoses from vitamin D supplements are common, however, and can cause calcifications in your bones and tissues that also could cause severe itching and other complications. Long-term overuse can lead to kidney stones and damaged heart and blood vessels. At the same time, vitamin D supplements can interact with various medications, such as those used to lower cholesterol and corticosteroid medications.
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