Vitamin d Sentence Examples

In its active form, vitamin D works with calcium to help control bone formation.

The formulation includes vitamin D to promote calcium absorption in the gut.

Vitamin A & Vitamin D Ointment is used as a skin protectant to help prevent and.. .

A deficiency of Vitamin D leads to a failure of the bones to grow and causes rickets in children and osteoporosis in adults.

A vitamin D deficiency can lead to osteoporosis in adults or rickets in children.

The vitamin D status of subgroups of the populations has been shown to be poor.

Lack of vitamin D makes development of the bone disease osteoporosis more likely.

Yes, there is a topical form of vitamin D cream that is used to treat psoriasis.

Glucose tolerance and insulin secretion were related to vitamin D status in depleted but not replete subjects.

Vitamin D Babies who do not get enough vitamin D may get rickets, a disease that affects bone development.

It is likely that all reptiles can synthesize vitamin D in their skin when exposed to UVB light.

Foods that contain vitamin D include oily fish, egg yolk, live yogurt.

The previous recommendation of 200 IU was scorned by many experts including the Vitamin D Council as grossly insufficient.

In addition to determining serum calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D levels, the diagnosis of calcium and phosphorus deficiency may involve taking x rays of the skeleton.

Treatment and prevention involves sun exposure and vitamin D supplementation.

Many elements influence bone remodeling, including whether the bone is weight-bearing, vitamin D intake, growth factors, and production of various hormones, including estrogen, thyroid, parathyroid, and calcitonin.

Infants are usually given calcium and vitamin D by mouth.

Vitamin D deficiency is not common in the United States and other industrialized countries because of the wide availability of vitamin D fortified infant formulas and milks.

Children whose faces and bodies remain covered when outside can develop vitamin D deficiency even while living in a sunny climate.

In-born errors of vitamin D metabolism can also cause vitamin D deficiency and rickets; these children cannot convert inactive vitamin D to active vitamin D and suffer the same symptoms as children with a nutritional deficiency.

While we all need sunshine to survive, in order to receive the healthy glow of a tan you essentially need to stay in the sun far past our vitamin D requirement.

Another argument for the use of tanning beds is that they benefit the body by giving it vitamin D, yet people who eat a balanced diet already get the vitamin D that they need.

The body can make vitamin D from sunlight, so most vegans and vegetarians can get enough from sun exposure.

Like the water-soluble vitamins, the percentage of vitamin D is quite high at 200 percent or 800 IU.

According to the Institute of Medicine, adults over 50 need 1,000 to 1,200mg per day of calcium, as well as 400 to 800IU of vitamin D per day to help with calcium absorption.

Osteomalacia-A bone disease that occurs in adults due to a prolonged period of vitamin D deficiency.

In some cases the athlete may be given calcium or vitamin D supplements to lower the risk of osteoporosis.

Calcium or vitamin D supplements also may be recommended.

Calcium must be accompanied by vitamin D in order to have the proper effects.

The most common problems are twitching, and, because of the need for magnesium in the parathyroid gland, soft bones even when calcium and vitamin D are adequate.

The vitamin D added to foods serves the purpose of preventing the deficiency from occurring in persons who may not be exposed much to sunlight and who fail to consume foods that are fortified with vitamin D, such as milk.

Vitamin A and vitamin D can be toxic in high doses.

Calcium deficiency due to lack of dietary calcium occurs only rarely and is often due to vitamin D deficiency, because vitamin D is required for efficient absorption of dietary calcium.

A deficiency in boron is associated with vitamin D deficiency.

Boron supplements can improve calcium levels as well as vitamin D levels, and can help prevent osteoporosis in postmenopausal women by promoting calcium absorption.

When vitamin D deficiency continues for many months in growing children, the disease commonly referred to as rickets occurs.

While some vitamin D is supplied by the diet, most of it is made in the body.

Once consumed or made in the body, vitamin D is further altered to produce a substance called 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D (1,25-diOH-D).

Children with darkly pigmented skin are more likely to be vitamin D deficient than light skinned children.

Children who are exclusively breast-fed without vitamin D supplementation, particularly if they are not exposed to sunlight, are at higher risk of vitamin D deficiency.

As a result, sunshine is often a deciding factor in whether vitamin D deficiency occurs.

The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of vitamin D for both children and adults is 200 International Units (IU) per day.

No harm is likely to result from vitamin D deficiency that occurs only a few days a year.

In vitamin D deficiency, though, calcium is not available to create hardened bone, and the result is soft bone.

The doctor should be called if the parent notices that the child has any signs of vitamin D deficiency or rickets.

If there are lifestyle factors that make the child at risk for vitamin D deficiency, such as low milk or formula intake, a doctor should be consulted about the possibility of using vitamin D supplements.

The normal concentration of this form of vitamin D ranges from 25 to 50 ng/ml.

Rickets heals promptly with large doses vitamin D administered orally each day for approximately one month.

Care must be taken in treating vitamin D deficiency, since high doses of vitamin D are toxic (poisonous) and can result in the permanent deposit of minerals in the heart, lungs, and kidneys.

In adults, vitamin D toxicity occurs with eating 50,000 IU or more per day.

Attempts to acquire sunlight through glass windows fail to help the body make vitamin D because UV light does not pass through window glass.

No amount of vitamin D can cure the rickets of a child with a diet that is extremely low in calcium.

For this reason, it is recommended that calcium be given in conjunction with vitamin D supplementation.

The prognosis for correcting vitamin D deficiency and rickets is excellent.

Eating foods that are high in vitamin D or foods that have been fortified with additional vitamins in combination with getting moderate amounts of exposure to direct sunlight, are usually enough to prevent vitamin D deficiency.

Children playing in the sunlight with sunscreen on is not an effective way for them to get vitamin D because the sunscreen inhibits its production in the skin.

D-The form of vitamin D that is measured in order to assess vitamin D deficiency.

Vitamin D deficiency is caused by the child not getting enough vitamin D through nutrition and exposure to sunshine.

Even after a case of vitamin D deficiency has successfully been resolved special care should be taken with the child's diet, as vitamin D deficiency can reoccur.

Foods rich in vitamin D include fish and plant-based sources.

The human body can manufacture vitamin D through sun exposure on the skin, but people rarely get enough sunlight to create all the vitamin D they need.

Today, however, just one cup of fortified milk supplies about 25% of the estimated vitamin D requirement.

Many people will meet their requirement for vitamin D through exposure to sunlight and the foods they eat.

If you are concerned about your vitamin D intake, ask your doctor if a supplement is necessary.

Ultraviolet (UV) rays trigger vitamin D synthesis in the skin, but factors such as the season, local air pollution, and the use of sunscreen affect how much vitamin D the body can create in this way.

You may include additional supplementation with doctor's recommendation, but it's wise to have a blood test done to determine your current vitamin D status and seek guidance to develop a supplement regimen.

You can indeed overdose on vitamin D supplements.

While it's rare, the National Institute of Health Office of Dietary Supplements indicates that high levels of vitamin D may be toxic.

If you decide to take additional vitamin D supplements, follow the label directions and have your D levels tested at the doctor's office to make sure you're still within safe limits for your gender, age and health status.

Because vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin, supplementation beyond the USRDA is not recommended.

It is best to try and get adequate vitamin D from a combination of sun exposure and a diet rich in foods with vitamin D in them.

Vitamin D is a unique fat-soluble vitamin, in that sources of vitamin D are a little surprising.

Meaning, if you're exposed to a decent amount of sunlight, you don't even need to take in any vitamin D via nutrients from food.

In basic terms, this compound is what starts the vitamin D creation process.

Visit the Office of Dietary Supplements to learn more in-depth vitamin D facts and to see a complete recommended vitamin D chart.

Individuals with some impairment or problems in their kidney or liver are usually watched for symptoms of vitamin D deficiency.

Because people are urged to wear sunscreen diligently and some people don't get outside much, it's easier now to have a vitamin D deficiency than in the past.

While sunscreen does help to prevent skin cancer, vitamin D can help to prevent many cancers as well.

One excellent article regarding research into sun vs. vitamin D notes that, "Vitamin D might help prevent 30 deaths for each one caused by skin cancer."

The same article notes that it's very hard to get all the vitamin D you need from food.

Also, because vitamin D supplements are sometimes associated with toxic vitamin D overdose, it can be safer to get vitamin D from sunlight.

However, you need to discuss both the pros and cons of sun exposure related to vitamin D with your health care provider, especially if you're darker skinned.

As noted above, vitamin D is found in few food items.

However, many foods are fortified with vitamin D, so while fortified foods can't provide all the vitamin D you need, it's still helpful.

The body's vitamin D requirement is relatively minimal and can sometimes be met with as little as ten minutes exposure to sunlight.

Vitamin D3 is the form of vitamin D found in animal product food sources and from the skin's exposure to sunlight, particularly to UV B radiation.

The study found significant differences in vitamin D content found in different fish species and even within the same species.

In particular, results showed wild salmon contain the largest amount of vitamin D per serving, at 988 IU in every 3.5oz serving.

Farmed salmon, in contrast contained 75 percent less vitamin D (245 IU) as the wild salmon.

In both US and Canada, fortified milk provides 100 IU of vitamin D per glass, while one tablespoon of fortified margarine provides about 60 IU.

Vitamin D is a unique nutrient among all essential nutrients, in that it can be obtained both from exposure to sunlight as well as from natural vitamin D food sources and supplements.

Depending on the amount of sunlight you get each day, supplementing your vitamin D intake through food sources is necessary to avoid Vitamin D deficiency and adverse effects on your health.

While fish oil is definitely a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, cod liver oil is much higher in vitamin A and vitamin D and therefore provides many additional health benefits.

Vitamin D is critical to our health and the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency are often subtle.

Not getting enough vitamin D can lead to soft and weak bones and teeth in children and adults, which is the cause of several serious conditions.

However, new research also shows that vitamin D is essential to normal cell growth and differentiation throughout the body, making it a key factor in maintaining hormonal balance and a healthy immune system.

You can't get vitamin D on your own - you must receive it through sun exposure, supplements or foods.

Here's a look at the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency, so you can tell if you may be missing this vital nutrient.

If a child or adult is severely lacking in vitamin D they will show some key symptoms.

However, adults can better handle a vitamin D deficiency than children, so their symptoms of osteomalacia may not seem as worrisome, acute or pressing.

Due to this expert doctors recommend that any adult experiencing persistent, nonspecific musculoskeletal pain should be screened for a vitamin D deficiency.

Scientists are just beginning to understand the importance of vitamin D to our bodies.

Unfortunately, many general practitioners do not check their patients for a vitamin D deficiency.

However, many Americans and doctors shy away from taking vitamin D for fear that they will cause toxicity.

The symptoms of vitamin D deficiency often go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed since they're subtle and unspecific.

The first thing you need to know about vitamin D toxicity is that it's harder to get than most people think.

Several years ago, scientists thought that any amount over the recommended levels of vitamin D would result in toxicity.

In 1999, Dr. Reinhold Vieth proved that the human body could tolerate and filter out much higher amounts of vitamin D than previously thought.

There are a few important aspects about toxicity and vitamin D that you need to know.

First, a toxicity of vitamin D cannot be caused by prolonged and unprotected sun exposure.

Sun exposure is one of the best ways to get vitamin D into your system and it cannot cause any sort of toxicity.

If you have a lot of sun exposure, your body actually converts the sunlight into just the right amount of vitamin D that you need.

The more serious effects of toxic levels of vitamin D occur only when you sustain these levels over a long period of time.

So if you're taking vitamin D supplements, watch your body for any symptoms of toxicity.

You will likely not experience any adverse effects if you quickly stop taking vitamin D when symptoms of toxicity first appear.

Toxicity is far more likely to occur from taking vitamin D supplements or large amounts of cod liver oil.

These fatty fish are a great source of many nutrients, such as vitamin A, vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids.

This dietary dose of vitamin D is necessary for those who do not get adequate exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays, and in turn helps to keep their immune, nervous and cardiovascular systems running strong.

There are a significant number of symptoms of low vitamin D that may be an indicator that a health problem may exist and may need to be addressed by a physician.

This study discusses that it has been determined that there is a significant link between low vitamin D and common respiratory infections.

In addition, people with asthma having the lowest vitamin D levels are 5 times more likely to have had some recent respiratory infection.

Although low levels of vitamin D have not found to be associated with having a more severe case of asthma.

In order to make a positive diagnosis of VDDS a number of tests are required in order to confirm symptoms of a low vitamin D deficiency.

This article will outline why vitamin D is necessary, and provide you with a list of foods that can help you get your recommended daily allowance of this important nutrient.

While a list of foods with vitamin D can tell you how to get your vitamin D dietetically, the best source of vitamin D is from the sun.

The widespread use of sunscreen has caused humans to block vitamin D absorption from the sun, and therefore dietary intake and often supplementation are necessary in order to absorb appropriate amounts of vitamin D into your body.

Do you need a list of foods with vitamin D?

If you are exhibiting any of the above symptoms, your doctor can do a simple serum blood test to check for vitamin D deficiency.

Inadequate vitamin D can lead to a number of health problems besides rickets, including increased risk of coronary disease and certain cancers.

The list is in order from the highest levels of vitamin D to the lowest.

Fish and cod liver oil - This is the food/supplement with the highest concentration of vitamin D available.

The US recommended daily allowance for vitamin D is 400 iu of vitamin D3 daily.

Because vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin, it can build up in your body and become toxic.

While there are many different schools of thought on how much D you need to maintain optimal health, doctors recommend that you get anywhere from 1,000 to 2,000 international units (IU) of vitamin D a day.

You also need vitamin D to absorb calcium correctly, which is why you often see it added to calcium supplements.

How do you know if you are at risk for being low in vitamin D?

If you do not leave the house very often, you may not be getting enough exposure to the sun to ensure optimal vitamin D levels.

If you have certain digestive ailments, such as celiac disease and Crohn's disease, then you might not be absorbing enough vitamin D in your gastrointestinal track.

Your kidneys are an important factor in turning vitamin D into a form that your body can use.

If you have kidney disease, your absorption of vitamin D may be impaired.

People with dark skin may have impaired rates of vitamin D absorption.

Medical News Today talks about how the recommended daily intake of vitamin D changes depending on who you talk to.

The Mayo Clinic discusses the many functions of vitamin D and how you can make sure you're getting enough.

Treatment for vitamin D deficiency includes additional vitamin D supplements and sun exposure.

Vitamin D deficiency occurs more commonly than once thought, and health experts are now recommending that individuals get an even greater amount of vitamin D than previously recommended.

Food sources of vitamin D include salt water fish and fish liver oil, such as cod liver oil.

The Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of vitamin D is 400 IU, but bear in mind that the RDA refers to the bare minimum scientists believe is needed to ward off deficiency diseases, not the optimal amount for health.

New research indicates that higher amounts if vitamin D may be beneficial.

The Vitamin Council recommends 5,000 IU of vitamin D year round.

Signs of vitamin D deficiency are often subtle.

Rickets is a severe bone disorder causes by persistent vitamin D deficiency.

The only way to tell for sure whether or not you have a vitamin D deficiency is to visit your doctor and get a simple blood test.

There are many choices of treatment for vitamin D deficiency.

A physician familiar with vitamin D deficiency treatments will based his or her recommendations on the severity of the vitamin D deficiency as well as any subsequent symptoms or conditions that coincide with the vitamin deficiency.

Although many people are concerned about sun exposure and skin cancer, slathering on sun block also screens out the beneficial sunlight that enhances natural vitamin D production.

To enhance vitamin D production, do not bathe afterwards but wait 24 hours to shower.

Natural oils on the skin are thought to enhance vitamin D production.

Depending on how much sun exposure you get and your own unique physical makeup, you may need more vitamin D than this.

Severe vitamin D deficiencies can be treated by oral doses of vitamin D, administered by a physician, of approximately 50,000 IU given once a week.

Consider getting a second opinion if your doctor recommends vitamin D injections.

A treatment for vitamin D deficiency is easy to administer, but you must be sure you have a deficiency first to determine the proper way to treat it.

In some cases, it is possible to build up vitamin D toxicity if you are taking high levels of fish liver oil, or combining fish liver oil supplementation with vitamin D supplementation.

Check with your doctor, and be aware of signs of vitamin D toxicity if you are taking a fish liver oil.

Vitamin D deficiency is fairly common, but many people are not aware of the symptoms of low vitamin D levels.

The widespread use of sun block in recent years has caused an increase in people suffering from vitamin D deficiency.

Many dairy products are also fortified with vitamin D in order to help your body enhance calcium absorption.

Perhaps the most important role of vitamin D in your body is the mineralization of bone.

This is why one of the classic diseases of vitamin D deficiency is rickets.

Inadequate intake and/or absorption of vitamin D can lead to vitamin D deficiency.

In recent years, there has been an upswing in vitamin D deficiency.

Some of this can be attributed to the use of sun block; however, many individuals simply can't absorb vitamin D well.

Instead, their bodies block absorption, so only a little vitamin D gets through.

This condition, known as vitamin D malabsorption, has a number of causes.

If you are experiencing symptoms of low vitamin D deficiency, have your vitamin D serum levels tested by your personal health care provider before self-prescribing supplementation.

While vitamin D toxicity is rare, all fat soluble vitamins have the potential to build up to toxic levels in your body.

In the case of vitamin D and the other fat soluble vitamins (vitamins A, D, E and K), there is such thing as too much of a good thing.

Your personal health care provider can help you to determine the appropriate level of vitamin D supplementation for your own unique situation.

Cod liver oil is also an excellent source of vitamin D; however, it is typically recommended that you don't take cod liver oil if you are also taking vitamin D supplements.

The amount of vitamin D needed varies greatly from person to person.

This is why seeking professional advice can help you to find the appropriate amount of vitamin D for you.

It's important to understand what vitamin D does for the body and what role it plays in maintaining overall health.

One of the most significant functions that vitamin D performs is that it helps regulate the amount of both calcium and phosphate in the body.

A deficiency in vitamin D can result in rickets.

This means that unlike some other vitamins, vitamin D does not need to be eaten every day as the body stores whatever vitamin D it does not require.

The body also obtains vitamin D from sunlight.

Most people can absorb an adequate amount of vitamin D from the sun from normal daily routines.

People who ask what does vitamin D do for the body also often want to know which foods they should be eating to ensure that they have the recommended daily amount.

Most people who eat a well rounded diet will consume as much vitamin D as is needed for a healthy body.

People also wonder what does vitamin D do if you take too much of it?

Too much vitamin D can actually weaken the bones and therefore have a reverse effect.

Before you take a vitamin D supplement it is important to talk to a qualified dietitian or nutritionist and make sure that a supplement plan is created that is specific to your own requirements.

If you want to learn more about vitamin D then there are plenty of excellent sources of information available on the Internet.

Dietary Supplements - this government website offers an extremely detailed fact sheet explaining how vitamin D supports the body and how much you should be taking.

A study published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases found links between low vitamin D levels in women and the sensation of chronic, widespread pain.

It is important for your health to receive enough vitamin D each day since it is only stored to a slight extent in your body.

Whether through a good diet or outdoor activity, adequate vitamin D will help prevent the issues caused by a deficiency.

Disorders of your digestive tract can impact how your body absorbs vitamin D and other nutrients.

Too little of these hormones in your bloodstream will result in high calcium and low vitamin D levels.What causes the low vitamin D levels?

It does this by converting vitamin D into another form.

Deficiencies in vitamin D can compromise the actions of other essential nutrients, including calcium the most abundant, positively charged element in your body.

In order to ensure strong bones and teeth, you need to get regular healthy doses of sunshine or your daily diet must include proper vitamin D dosage to meet your body's daily requirement.

Your body has a limited capacity for storing this vitamin, so when getting your vitamin D through diet, you need to get the proper vitamin D dosage each day.

In addition to strengthening your skeletal system, vitamin D provides an additional benefit.

Taking adequate vitamin D can help prevent osteoporosis.

Getting your daily vitamin D dosage is one way to ensure good health and that your body functions properly.

The amount of vitamin D you need varies with your age.

Other factors can affect the amount of vitamin D you receive when outdoors.

However, getting enough vitamin D does not require hours of sunshine, remember all you need is ten to 15 minutes three times a week.

In addition, if you are on medications such as birth control or diuretics, your doctor may advise against prolonged sun exposure, which can also affect how much vitamin D you receive.

In addition to osteoporosis, too little vitamin D can lead to muscle twitches and nervousness.

Children who receive too little vitamin D are at risk for developing rickets, a devastating condition which can cause bones to weaken and break.

Over time, excessive amounts of vitamin D can cause calcium to increase in your blood, putting you at risk for developing kidney stones.

As an added precaution, discuss taking vitamin D supplements with your doctor, especially if you take birth control pills or cholesterol-lowering drugs such as Lipitor to avoid any possible drug interactions.

The human body can manufacture vitamin D through sun exposure on the skin but people rarely get enough sunlight to create all the vitamin D they need.

Doctors can test vitamin D levels through a simple blood test and assess whether or not you have enough or if your levels are too low.

Symptoms of vitamin D deficiency include fatigue, joint and bone pain.

Some researchers speculate that low levels of vitamin D contribute to diseases such as multiple sclerosis.

Additional supplementation may be done upon a doctor's recommendation but it's wise to have a blood test done to determine your current vitamin D status, and seek guidance to develop a supplement regimen.

While it's rare, the National Institute of Health Office of Dietary Supplements indicates that high levels of vitamin D may be toxic.

Foods rich in vitamin D are plentiful and there are some for every diet.

You may not have heard of them, but the Vitamin D Council is a strong voice on the health front.

Their mission is to educate the public about the need for adequate vitamin D intake and the consequences of vitamin D deficiencies.

Its members include both citizens and scientists who have been increasing vitamin D awareness since 2003.

The primary interest of the council is vitamin D deficiencies.

The council recognizes vitamin D deficiencies may have more far-reaching effects.

One of the areas of focus with the council is the link between vitamin D deficiencies and autism in children.

Deficiencies in vitamin D can affect your calcium levels.

The Vitamin D Council has looked at links between vitamin D and cancer.

The evidence is compelling.A 2010 study in the journal Nutrition found vitamin D can improve the quality of life of breast cancer survivors by supporting normal cell activity.

A 2009 study in the Annals of Epidemiology went so far as to say vitamin D supplementation can prevent over 50,000 cases of breast cancer and 49,000 cases of colorectal cancer each year.

The information gathered by the council clearly shows a need for more research into vitamin D supplementation and its role in human health.

This fact drives another focus of the council, namely its goal to educate you about your own vitamin D needs.

Some amount of vitamin D is stored in your body.

Other factors such as sun exposure and the quality of exposure can affect your vitamin D levels.

Yet, in order to know what your needs are, you must know your vitamin D levels.

The council offers a home test kit for vitamin D so you can find out for yourself if you have a deficiency.

If you have concerns regarding your vitamin D levels, the council maintains a list of doctors who regularly use vitamin D testing and supplementation.

Likewise, the council also provides information regarding scientists who are active in vitamin D research, with links to online articles published by these prominent researchers.

In this regard, the role of the Vitamin D Council is essential.

Blood tests can detect vitamin and mineral deficiencies such as anemia (iron deficiency), B12 and vitamin D deficiencies.

In order to avoid conditions arising from low levels of vitamin D, it is important to know the causes of vitamin D deficiency.

Learning what they are can help you to avoid becoming deficient in vitamin D or to correct the problem if you already are deficient.

It is for this reason one of the symptoms of [ins.lovetoknow.com/What_Causes_Vitamin_D_Deficiency vitamin D deficiency] is rickets, which is a softening of the bones.

Vitamin D is commonly known as "the sunshine vitamin" because the primary source of vitamin D isn't dietary - it is absorbed through our skin from the sun.

Other sources of vitamin D include cod liver oil, seafood and fortified dairy products.

There are several things that can be causes of vitamin D deficiency.

Some people are prone to vitamin D malabsorption disorders.

People who get inadequate sunlight or have malabsorption can still receive adequate vitamin D through food sources and supplementation.

Not eating enough foods high in vitamin D can also lead to vitamin D deficiencies, especially in people with the above listed risk factors.

Foods high in vitamin D include fortified dairy products, salmon, mackeral, sardines, tuna, eggs, mushrooms and fish liver oils.

If you fit into any of the above populations or suspect you may be deficient in vitamin D, it is possible to get your vitamin D levels tested through a simple blood test.

Ask your primary care provider how to have your vitamin D levels tested.

Since vitamin D is fat soluble and can build up to toxic levels in your body, it is important to follow your doctor's recommendations carefully and follow up with blood tests to ensure your vitamin D is at a healthy level.

Unfortunately, vitamin D deficiency is all too common.

From trying to get more sunlight to having blood tests and making dietary changes, you can positively affect your health by increasing the levels of vitamin D in your body.

Malnourished infants and children may develop rickets, a severe vitamin D deficiency that results in bone pain, malformed bones, and poor dental health.

Rickets results from a lack of vitamin D rich foods in a child's diet, insufficient sunlight exposure, or digestive system problems that result in poor vitamin D absorption.

Yet doctors now realize that vitamin D is not only essential during childhood when bones develop rapidly, but throughout a person's life.

Vitamin D was once thought necessary only for healthy bones and teeth, but now, according to renowned health expert Dr. Joseph Mercola M.D., vitamin D may impact as many as 3,000 genes in the human body that express different illnesses.

There are to date over 800 studies along demonstrating the effectiveness of vitamin D against cancer.

Clearly, vitamin D is critical to good health.

How can you tell if you are deficient in vitamin D?

Children with rickets often cry because their bones ache and hurt, but adults may be walking around with insufficient amounts of vitamin D and not feel a thing.

African Americans and people with certain gastrointestinal diseases are also at higher risk and should consider a vitamin D test to ascertain whether or not they are deficient.

In ages past when our agrarian ancestors toiled in the fields all day, sunlight exposure provided sufficient time for vitamin D manufacture.

Most people work in offices lit by fluorescent bulbs and get almost no natural sunlight, which also decreases vitamin D production.

Not only will it give you roses in your cheeks but it should help your body build sufficient vitamin D levels to stay healthy.

Elderly and individuals who stay primarily indoors may be at risk for vitamin D deficiencies.

Supplementation is also a good idea if you are concerned about your vitamin D levels.Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin that can build up to toxic levels, so caution in dosing is suggested.

Nature intended for humans to meet their needs for vitamin D by spending time in the sun.

Kids and adults need exposure to the sun in order to access vitamin D during the summer months.

During the winter months, a supplement can help you and your family to meet your vitamin D requirements.

It is possible to take too much vitamin D, so, it is very important that you speak to your doctor or a registered dietitian before taking a vitamin D supplement.

Liquid calcium is often combined with vitamin D and other vitamins for a multivitamin or a purpose-specific vitamin.

For example, a calcium and vitamin D liquid supplement may be more useful for osteoporosis than calcium on its own, since the vitamin D aids in calcium absorption.

In addition to calcium and vitamin D supplements, regular exercise and proper nutrition can help to prevent this debilitating disease.

The body requires vitamin D in order to properly absorb calcium.

Many vitamin makers have recognized this need and now supplement calcium with vitamin D in their tablets.

Having a low vitamin D level can be deleterious to your health.

Also known as the sunshine vitamin, vitamin D plays key roles in your body.

Unfortunately, vitamin D deficiency is a common problem.

Human beings obtain vitamin D from the sun.

You can also obtain vitamin D from oily fish, such as tuna and salmon, cod liver oil, in fortified dairy products, and from vitamin D supplements.

The recommended daily allowance for vitamin D is 600 international units, with an upper limit of 4,000 international units per day.

More study is needed to determine exactly how much vitamin D humans need for optimal health.

According to MayoClinic.com, vitamin D performs several important functions in the body.

Having a low vitamin D level can lead to a number of health problems.

The most severe form of vitamin D deficiency is rickets, a softening and weakening of the bones that occurs in children.

In adults, severe vitamin D deficiency results in osteomalacia, which confers both weakness of bones and of the muscles.

There are a number of potential causes of vitamin D deficiency.

Excessive sunscreen usage can cause vitamin D deficiency, as can lack of exposure to sunlight, such as in people living in Northern climates.

Dark skin can also block vitamin D absorption from the sun.

Malabsorption disorders can cause vitamin D deficiency.

If the primary source of vitamin D is supplementation or food, then a vitamin D deficiency can result.

As adults age, their kidneys are less able to convert vitamin D to an active, usable form.

Anything lower than 30.0 indicates vitamin D deficiency.

If you are currently taking fish oil or cod liver oil, check with your doctor before adding vitamin D supplements into the mix, or toxicity could result.

If your blood levels of vitamin D are low, it is important to diagnose and treat the deficiency before long-term health consequences result.

A normal vitamin D level doesn't vary widely by gender or age.

In fact, the majority of people need to keep their vitamin D levels to a fairly consistent amount throughout their whole lives.

Another way that vitamin D is different from other vitamins is that the body can make it naturally through the use of sunlight.

Sunscreen, windows, and other things through which sun can pass prevent the ultraviolet rays from being properly absorbed in the skin and will not allow the body to produce a normal vitamin D level.

A normal vitamin D level is necessary for the body to perform a variety of very important functions.

It's crucial to know what vitamin D does and why having too much or too little can have negative health consequences.

Sufficient levels of vitamin D are necessary for the body to absorb calcium.

Not enough vitamin D in the body can cause thin and brittle bones, which leads to rickets in children and a very common disease in adults called osteoporosis.

Low vitamin D levels have even been linked to depression and a variety of other diseases.

Too much vitamin D through toxicity or an overdose can cause the body to experience high levels of blood calcium, which can then be deposited in the heart and lungs, reducing their functioning and endangering an individual's health.

Some studies suggest inadequate vitamin D levels can influence obesity.

Though it only takes about fifteen minutes three times weekly to get in an individual's recommended dose of vitamin D from the sun, a large portion of those in the United States are deficient in the vitamin.

As with any vitamin or mineral, vitamin D is vital for good health and overall wellness.

While it's possible to get vitamin D through foods, fortified foods, and through supplements, the easiest and least expensive way is to get it through sunlight in moderation.

Though it is possible to get vitamin D through the use of tanning beds, there are so many health risks involved with the use of tanning beds that sunlight is generally preferred.

Taking a daily calcium vitamin D tablet provides a synergistic combination between the vitamin and mineral that may contribute to better health.

Your body absorbs vitamin D from sunlight, and it is present in fish, eggs, and fortified dairy products.

Along with strengthening bones, vitamin D helps regulate brain and nerve function.

Vitamin D and calcium work together to make your bones stronger, because vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium from the gastrointestinal tract.