Vitamin D
Vitamin D
Vitamin D
SCIENTIFIC NAME
Cholecalciferol
About
Vitamin D is sometimes called the “sunshine vitamin” because it’s produced in your skin in response to sunlight. It’s a fat-soluble vitamin in a family of compounds that includes vitamins D-1, D-2, and D-3. You can also get it through certain foods and supplements to ensure adequate levels of the vitamin in your blood.
Dosage & Duration
The current recommendations suggest consuming 400–800 IU (10–20 mcg) of vitamin D per day. However, people who need more vitamin D can safely consume 1,000–4,000 IU (25–100 mcg) daily.
Benefits
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Often called the 'sunshine vitamin', Vitamin D plays an integral role in skin protection and rejuvenation. In its active form as calcitriol, vitamin D contributes to skin cell growth, repair, and metabolism. It enhances the skin's immune system and helps to destroy free radicals that can cause premature ageing.
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Vitamin D stimulates hair follicles to grow, and so when the body does not have enough, the hair may be affected. A Vitamin D deficiency may also be linked to alopecia areata, an autoimmune condition that causes patchy hair loss.
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Vitamin D helps your body produce hormones that regulate your blood sugar. Without it, your blood sugar is more likely to fluctuate and spiral out of control.
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Vitamin D3 may also help with weight loss. Research shows that low calcium levels may increase appetite and raise the risk of an overactive appetite. Because it helps the body absorb calcium, vitamin D3 may help with appetite control and weight loss.
