We have known for a long time that Vitamin D It is a fat-soluble vitamin. Its main function is to help the body absorb the minerals calcium and phosphorus from food. Helps maintain calcium balance in the blood and helps store calcium into the bones To maintain bone mass Increase the strength of bones and teeth Vitamin D deficiency It is the cause of rickets. (Osteomalacia) in children and osteoporosis (Osteoporosis) in the elderly
This is because people primarily get vitamin D from sunlight. In the past, Thai people rarely encountered shortages. Vitamin D How much? Because Thailand is a hot country. Located near the equator. But from current research, it has been found that Thai people, especiallyMore than half of Bangkok's people Have a vitamin D deficiency Part of this may be because The construction of tall buildings has increased, together withBehavior to avoid exposure to sunlight and the lifestyle of most urban people spendsworking in officeincrease more
“Currently, studies have found that vitamin D is no longer just a vitamin, but it is a hormone that is more important to our health than just our bones.”
It was found that vitamin D It has a structure similar to sex hormones. Vitamin D receptors (VDRs) are found on almost every cell in the body. We are finding more and more new mechanisms of vitamin D, such as mechanisms for reducing pain. anti-inflammatory Antioxidants Helps control blood sugar levels control blood pressure Helps with the creation and function of white blood cells. Helps prevent infection Helps create neurotransmitters, reduces stress, controls gene expression, controls cell division. and anti-cancer
For many years, the importance of vitamin D has been studied. It began to expand widely at the research level. Many studies have discovered the relationship between vitamin D and with many disease mechanisms such as chronic muscle pain, allergies, autoimmune diseases in various systems (Autoimmune disorders), rheumatoid arthritis Irritable bowel disease, diabetes, childhood obesity High blood pressure Coronary artery disease, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, depression Alzheimer's disease Including various cancers such as breast cancer, prostate cancer, colon cancer and more than 18 other types of cancer.
Vitamin D Screening Therefore, it is more important in today's era. For in Thailand Endocrine Association of Thailand Recommended for people at high risk, such as patients with kidney disease and osteoporosis. Vitamin D levels should be checked. If there is a low level Should receive vitamin D supplementation instead.
For the general public which is not a risk group defensively If you have chronic symptoms in multiple systems The cause cannot be clearly found. Especially symptoms related to the immune system. Chronic gastrointestinal symptoms or neurological symptoms May consult a doctor To consider further testing of vitamin D levels.
Read more articles about vitamin D.
- Vitamin D and obesity Is it really related??
- 5 food sources containing (Vitamin) D
- Vitamin D and depression
- VitaminD and the immune system
Articles in various media Talking about vitamin D
References
- VitaminD deficiency in Thailand, Journal of Clinical & Translational Endocrinology, 2015
- VitaminD Metabolism, Mechanism of Action, and Clinical Applications, Chem Biol, 2014
- VitaminD in Health and Disease; Current Perspective, Nutrition Journal, 2010
- VitaminD and Immune System, J Investig Med, 2011
- VitaminD and Cancer Prevention, National Cancer Institute (NIH)
- VitaminD and Rheumatiod Artheitis, The Adv Endocrinol Metab, 2012
- Depression and Vitamin D deficiency, Neuropsychiatry, 2017
- VitaminD and Alzheimer's Disease, Int J Alzheimers Dis. 2015