The VDC was founded in 2003 by John J. Cannell, MD, who observed that many patients in a maximum-security psychiatric hospital were vitamin D deficient. The Council grew to become a trusted global resource for evidence-based research, education, and guidance about vitamin D's role in health.
November 2. Every year. It's Vitamin D Day. The hormone precursor is finally getting attention. And it needs it. The discovery is credited to multiple scientists. Their work formed the foundation of what we understand today.
You've probably heard vitamin D called the "sunshine vitamin," and there's a good reason for that. Unlike pretty much every other vitamin, your body can actually make it when you're out in the sun. Pretty cool, right?
When vitamin D comes into your body, it goes through all sorts of processes and is turned into different forms to be effective. In this article, we’ll teach you a little about this process, and how vitamin D works in the body.
What if the key to slowing down the aging process was as simple as getting enough vitamin D? A landmark study published this year in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests that vitamin D supplementation may do exactly that—by protecting the very structures that keep our cells young.
The two main ways to get vitamin D are by exposing your bare skin to sunlight and by taking vitamin D supplements. You can’t get the right amount of vitamin D your body needs from food.
Nearly every cell in the body contains a vitamin D receptor. Research shows vitamin D plays an important role in skeletal, immune, developmental and cardiovascular health. Thus, maintaining optimal vitamin D levels is vital for overall health.
Having blood tests to measure the amount of vitamin D in your blood is the only way to know if you’re getting enough vitamin D or not. The blood test you need is called a 25(OH)D blood test.
The way that vitamins and minerals work in your body is interconnected. How well vitamin D works depends on the amount of other vitamins and minerals that are present in your body. The other vitamins and minerals needed to help vitamin D work well are called cofactors.
Respiratory Infections
Respiratory infections are any infection in the throat, sinuses, airways, or lungs. The respiratory tract is the part of the body that is involved with breathing. The most
Vitamin D during pregnancy and breastfeeding
Getting the right nutrients and eating well when you’re pregnant or breastfeeding is important for your baby’s growth and development. Vitamin D
Pharmacology is the branch of medicine that is focused on the use and study of drugs and their actions. This page discusses vitamin D in pharmacology, its different forms and
Acne
Acne is a disorder of the glands which lubricate the skin, called sebaceous glands. When these glands become blocked, bacteria overgrow and causes skin lesions. It is one of
Ovarian cancer
Ovarian cancer is cancer that starts in the ovaries. As it has few symptoms at first, it is often diagnosed at more advanced stages. Each year, ovarian cancer
What is asthma?
Asthma is a lifelong lung disease that makes it difficult to breathe. There are tubes or airways, which carry air to and from the lungs to the
Leukemia
Leukemia is a cancer of the blood or bone marrow. The disease causes an abnormal increase of white blood cells. There are many types of leukemia. Each year, leukemia
Parathyroid glands
When most people think of calcium, they think it’s most important for bone health. But actually, calcium is most important for your nervous and muscular system. Your
Although most people take vitamin D supplements without any problems, it’s possible to take too much. This is called vitamin D toxicity.
Am I getting too much vitamin D?
Melanoma
Melanoma is a type of cancer originating in the melanocytes. Melanocytes are cells that produce melanin, which gives skin its pigment (color). Each year in the United States, melanoma
Hypersensitivity
For most people, supplementing with vitamin D is a safe and healthy practice. Getting too much vitamin D is rare and hard to achieve, usually requiring you to take
Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal cancer is a malignant tumor, which is caused by a group of cancerous cells growing in either the colon or rectum. Colon cancer starts in the cells
What is vitamin K?
Vitamin K describes a family of compounds with a common chemical structure. These compounds include vitamin K1 (phylloquinone) and multiple forms of vitamin K2 (menoquinones/MK)
Congestive heart failure
Heart failure is also called congestive heart failure (CHF). CHF occurs when the heart can no longer pump enough blood to the rest of the body. Nearly
Coronary heart disease
Coronary heart disease (CHD) is one of several cardiovascular diseases. The others include stroke, congestive heart failure, and peripheral artery disease. CHD occurs when the blood supply
Tuberculosis is a respiratory illness that usually affects the lungs, but can also infect the kidney, spine, or brain. Tuberculosis can be either dormant or active. Dormant tuberculosis is when
Gastric cancer
Stomach (gastric) cancer is a moderately important cause of disease and death. In the United States each year, it affects about 21 thousand people and kills approximately 11
Renal Cancer
Each year, kidney (renal) cancer affects approximately 61,000 Americans and kills about 13,000.
Risk factors
Risk factors for kidney cancer include:
* Diet high in animal products
I have breast cancer. Should I take vitamin D?
The answer is a resounding YES, not only because there are positive clinical trials showing that vitamin D prolongs life, but
Preeclampsia
Preeclampsia is a condition which occurs only during pregnancy and a short post-pregnancy period. It causes increased blood pressure and protein in the urine. If left undiagnosed, preeclampsia can
Vitamin D is important for good overall health and strong and healthy bones. It’s also an important factor in making sure your muscles, heart, lungs and brain work well
Hypertension
Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is a medical condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries is elevated. High blood pressure causes your arteries to stretch
As the reader will see below, there is compelling evidence that low vitamin D status during pregnancy is a major cause of autism, and that high dose vitamin D supplementation
Periodontal disease
Periodontal disease (PD) is a chronic gum condition. Bacteria cause the gums to swell, redden, and bleed. Connective tissue holding the teeth into the jaw bone may become
Multiple myeloma
Multiple myeloma (MM) is a cancer of the plasma cells. They are white blood cells that normally produce antibodies. Multiple myeloma affects about 20,000 in the United
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a cancer starting in the lungs. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Annually, it affects approximately 220,000
Prostate cancer
The prostate is a small gland found in men. It is about the size of a walnut and is part of the reproductive system. Prostate cancer occurs when
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a chronic syndrome of body-wide pain. Tender points are the joints, muscles, tendons, and other soft tissues. People with fibromyalgia also have persistent fatigue, memory and mood
Endometrial cancer
Endometrial cancer is cancer that starts in the endometrium, the lining of the uterus (womb). Each year, endometrial cancer affects approximately 46,000 U.S. women and kills
Parkinson’s disease
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic progressive neurological disease. It is linked to decreased production of dopamine, a nerve transmitter. PD is marked by tremor of
Eczema
Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a chronic skin disorder that causes inflammation and red, dry, rough, and itchy skin. Eczema is most common in infants and young
Cognitive impairment
Cognitive dysfunction is defined as unusually poor mental function. This causes confusion, forgetfulness and difficulty concentrating.
Risk factors
Risk factors for cognitive impairment include:
* Old age
* Smoking
* Lack
Cervical cancer
Cervical cancer starts on the surface of the cervix. This is the lower part of the uterus (womb), which opens at the top of the vagina. Cervical cancer
Dental Caries
Dental caries, also known as tooth decay, is a tooth infection caused by bacteria that leads to a loss of the hard tissues of your teeth. It is
What is Alzheimer’s disease?
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a condition that causes memory problems and other cognitive functions that cause unpredictable changes in behavior. Usually, it’s progressive,
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most common lung diseases. There are two main forms of COPD:
* Chronic bronchitis is identified by a
Sepsis and septicemia
Sepsis is a severe illness. It is caused by a bacterial infection that begins anywhere in the body and moves to the blood. The bloodstream is soon
Anemia
Anemia occurs when the body has a low number of red blood cells (RBCs). These cells carry oxygen throughout the body. Fewer RBCs limit the body’s oxygen level.
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is a lower respiratory infection that affects the lungs. Pneumonia can usually be treated at home in a few weeks. However, pneumonia can be more serious in someone
Type II Diabetes
Type II diabetes is a condition in which the body has a hard time managing sugar the right way. Usually you develop type II diabetes in adulthood,
Rickets
Rickets is a condition that affects the development of bones in children. It causes soft weak bones, which can become bowed or curved. It’s a condition that only
Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis is a very severe hypersensitivity to an allergen. Allergens are any substances that cause allergies. This condition affects many systems of the body at the same time.
* Skin:
Esophageal cancer
Esophageal cancer is a moderately important cause of disease and death. In the United States each year, it affects about 17 thousand people and kills approximately 15 thousand.
The marker for vitamin D status is 25-hydroxyvitamin-D [25(OH)D], a metabolite of vitamin D3. A 25(OH)D level determines whether a person is deficient, sufficient, or toxic
HIV and AIDS
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The immune system begins to fail. This leads to life-threatening infections. Approximately 33 million people in the world
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a condition where you lose too much bone or don’t make enough bone to replace the bone that you normally lose. If you lose too much
What is lupus?
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), or lupus, is a chronic disease that affects many systems in the body, such as the skin, heart and muscles. Lupus develops when
Inflammatory bowel disease
Inflammatory bowel disease is a chronic disease that causes inflammation in all or part of the digestive tract. The two main types of inflammatory bowel disease are
Pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer is cancer of the pancreas, the organ that produces insulin. Approximately 44,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with cancer of the pancreas each
Type I Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. It is a condition where your own immune system attacks certain cells called beta-cells. Beta-cells help you produce a hormone
Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is a condition where the body’s immune system attacks the nerves in the brain and spinal cord. Because these nerves provide messages to so many
Should I take vitamin D to reduce the risk of colds and flu (URI)?
Yes, you should because so many studies show that vitamin D helps reduce the risk of
