Page 26 - The Regent Digest Volume 12 Issue 26

Medical Corner
vitamin,” is produced by your skin when Vitamin D
Vitamin D, also known as the “sunshine
V exposed to sunlight. It can also be ob-
tained from foods such as egg yolk, shrimp,
salmon, sardines, and fortified products like
yoghurt, milk, orange juice, and cereal.
Ensuring you maintain a sufficient level of vi-
tamin D in your body is important for overall
health and well-being.
WHAT ARE THE
ROLES OF VITAMIN D
IN THE BODY?
Vitamin D offers multiple health benefits. Ade-
quate vitamin D intake plays a key role in:
THE REGENT SECONDARY SCHOOL
• Assist In Boosting The Immune Sys-
The Important
Roles Of
• Enhancing Bone Health : Vitamin
D aids in the absorption of calcium,
which is essential for bone strength
and density. This combination of vi-
tamin D and calcium can safeguard
against osteoporosis and maintain
bone integrity.
• Improve Oral Health: The impact
of vitamin D on the process of bone
metabolism is advantageous for oral
health, just like its ability to reduce in-
flammation and promote the creation
of antimicrobial peptides that play a
role in the immune system’s defence
mechanism.
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tem Vitamin D plays a crucial role in
enhancing your body’s immune re-
sponse. For instance, studies suggest
that consuming a vitamin D supple-
ment can decrease the likelihood of
developing acute respiratory infec-
tions in individuals.
• Enhances Muscle Strength: Vita-
min D plays a role in the growth and
maintenance of muscles, which is
crucial for individuals of all ages, but
particularly for older adults, as weak
muscles can heighten the chances
of experiencing falls.
• Assist In Prevention Of Hypertension
Research indicates that vitamin D is
crucial for maintaining healthy blood
pressure levels, and even a temporary
deficiency can directly increase blood
pressure.
• Helps Prevent Rickets In Children:
vitamin D plays a crucial role in main-
taining strong bones. Insufficient in-
take of vitamin D can lead to the de-
velopment of rickets, a condition that
weakens bones and predominantly
affects children under the age of two.
Written by:
Nurse Ajetunmobi Tayo Mercy
Oduduwa Hostel Nurse/ Matron
THE REGENT SECONDARY SCHOOL
Effective methods to boost your daily in-
take of vitamin D if you discover that you
have a deficiency or inadequate levels
include:
• Consuming foods that are high in
vitamin D: Natural sources of vitamin
D include fatty fish such as salmon,
tuna, mackerel, and sardines, as well
as mushrooms. Additionally, you can
opt for fortified milk, juices, yoghurts,
and breakfast cereals.
• When you spend a short amount of
time under the sun, your body pro-
duces vitamin D. It is important to pro-
tect yourself from the sun by wearing
sunscreen, hats, and sunglasses.
• If a healthcare professional deems it
necessary, you have the option to take
supplements like vitamin D3. Howev-
er, it is important to be cautious and
make sure that your intake of vita-
min D through supplements does not
exceed the safe upper daily limit of
4,000 IU or 100 mcg
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