Table of Contents
Vitamin D: what it is and functions
Vitamin D is a hormone produced by the skin following exposure to the sun, in quantities strictly related to the surface of the skin exposed, the time of exposure, age, but also the inclination of the sun’s rays. On the Italian territory, in particular, the radiations capable of stimulating the synthesis of vitamin D arrive mainly in the spring and summer season.
The food contribution, on the other hand, only accounts for 20% of the total income of vitamin D: in fact, there are few foods that contain significant quantities and they are not foods that are recommended to be taken daily, being almost exclusively animal fats. Among these we remember above all the blue fish.
The main action of this hormone is to promote a adequate intestinal absorption of calcium introduced with food, ultimately contributing to the maintenance of good skeletal health and the prevention of osteoporosis.
When to integrate it
Despite recent studies hypothesize a potential favorable effect of vitamin D in the prevention and treatment of a multitude of diseases, the scientific evidence available to date limits the use of vitamin D supplements to a narrow set of specific conditions. A clear indication concerns the subjects suffering from osteoporosis, an increasingly frequent pathology, particularly in postmenopausal woman, especially as a consequence of the aging of the population, and which predisposes to an increased risk of incurring fractures even for minor trauma.
Another category at risk, in which integration is indicated, are institutionalized subjects, that is those who live in nursing homes: poor sun exposure and advanced age are associated with a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and justify the need for therapeutic intervention. A third category of subjects in which vitamin D supplementation may be indicated are the pregnant women.
How to take it
Vitamin D supplements are available in liquid or tablet solutions, which are taken orally during a meal in order to promote better intestinal absorption. For subjects presenting a concomitant reduced dietary intake of calcium, tablets containing a combination of vitamin D and calcium are also available.
The frequency of intake can be daily, weekly or monthly and the dosages administered can be extremely variable from subject to subject according to the severity of the deficiency, body weight, intestinal absorption and any other interfering therapies.
In some cases it may be useful to use the determination of vitamin D levels by blood sampling, which allows the specialist to calculate the most appropriate dosage according to the degree of severity of the deficiency. Finally, in selected subjects, it may be necessary to resort to injection administration of vitamin D by intramuscular puncture.
Benefits of integration
Maintaining adequate levels of vitamin D is a key requirement in prevention and treatment of osteoporosis and its complications. In fact, scientific studies have amply demonstrated how vitamin D supplementation, associated with an adequate dietary intake of calcium, is in itself capable of determining a reduction in risk of incurring fractures osteoporotic. Even more important is the additional subjects they are already in drug treatment specific for osteoporosis, since the efficacy of these drugs has been demonstrated only in association with adequate supplementation of vitamin D.
In subjects residing in nursing homes, however, the integration of vitamin D is justified by the finding of a preventive effect on risk of accidental falls, probably related to a beneficial effect on muscle health. The use in pregnancy is instead supported by recent studies that have observed that vitamin D supplementation is probably able to reduce the risk of gestational complications both in the mother and in the child.
Side effects
A correct supplementation of vitamin D can determine important benefits, compared to very low risks. Cases of intoxication are in fact very rare and can be easily avoided if the correct formulations and respect i recommended dosages. However, with the spread of many homeopathic preparations, often not subjected to medical attention, they have been found cases of overdose.
It is therefore important not to trivialize the integration of vitamin D e don’t do self-management, but always rely on your own doctor or specialist, who will be able to provide the correct indications for the treatment.
In collaboration with Dr. Marco Barale and Dr. Massimo Procopio
