Roles of Vitamin D In The Prevention of Diseases
VITAMIN D is one of the fat-soluble vitamins well known for being essential for skeletal health. Osteoporosis and oste-oporotic fractures are the consequences of poor skeletal health.
Vitamin D affects fracture risk in two ways: by decreasing falls and increasing bone density.
Low vitamin D levels have been associated with lower bone density in adolescents and adults, as well as an increased risk of fracture. This increased risk of fracture may be linked with the fact that vitamin D has direct effects on muscle strength modulated by vitamin D receptors in human muscle tissue.
Lack of vitamin D leads to muscle weakness and pain, which can then cause a person to fall, and thus increase the risk of fracture.
Studies have shown that supplementation of the older population with 700-1000IU of vitamin D daily can reduce the incidence of falls.
In addition to vitamin D’s well-known effects on bone health, its deficiency has also been implicated in increasing the risk of coronary heart disease, hypertension, heart failure, autoimmune diseases such as diabetes mellitus. and certain cancers.
Vitamin D binds to vitamin D receptors (VDR), which are present in many cells in the body, not just bone cells.
Through this mechanism, adequate levels of vitamin D can lower systolic blood pressure, lower levels of LDL (“bad” cholestoral) and triglycerides, affect how well the heart muscle contracts, and increase insulin secretion and sensitivity, all of which can affect general cardiovascular health.
Some, but not all. epidemiological studies (studies that look at patterns of health and illness in the population) have suggested that higher levels of vitamin D intake may reduce the risk of certain cancers such as colon or breast cancer.