Highlights
- Vitamin D promotes calcium absorption and lowers bone disorders, falls, and cardiovascular diseases.
- High doses of Vitamin D lowers the risk of respiratory illness.
- Acute respiratory illness has been lowered by 40% with supplementation of Vitamin D.
The clinical trial was carried out over a period of one year. A total of 107 patients with an average age of 84 have been selected and divided into two groups.
Sunlight: An Important Source of Vitamin D
Vitamin D is an essential vitamin necessary for the development of bones. Sunlight helps the body to produce vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiency results in rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults.
Vitamin D is an essential vitamin necessary for the development of bones. Sunlight helps the body to produce vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiency results in rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults.
‘Vitamin D supplementation can help prevent acute respiratory illness (ARI) in the elderly.’
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The first group (55 patients) were given high dosages of about 3,300-4,300 units of vitamin D daily,whereas, the second group (52 patients) received low dosages of about 400 -1,000 units of vitamin D. Prof.Ginde said, "After studying these patients for a year, we found a 40 percent reduction in acute respiratory illness among those who took higher doses of vitamin D." Simultaneously, high doses of vitamin D increased the rate of falls in the elderly. But lowering the levels of vitamin D reduced the falls.
Functions of Vitamin D
Vitamin D Deficiency - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment
Vitamin D the sunshine vitamin is essential for strong bones. Vitamin D deficiency is reportedly increasing worldwide and cause bone pain and muscle weakness.
Vitamin D the sunshine vitamin is essential for strong bones. Vitamin D deficiency is reportedly increasing worldwide and cause bone pain and muscle weakness.
Vitamin D improves the amounts of calcium absorption in the small intestine to help in the formation and maintenance of bones.
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Vitamin D Insufficiency may Fast-Track Cognitive Decline In Older Individuals
Vitamin D insufficiency iss associated with significantly faster declines in both episodic memory and executive function performance, like dementia.
Vitamin D insufficiency iss associated with significantly faster declines in both episodic memory and executive function performance, like dementia.
Children especially need adequate amounts of vitamin D to develop strong bones and healthy teeth.
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- Muscle function
- Brain development
- Anti-cancer effects
- Helps fight infection
- Keeps the lungs and airways healthy
- Improves circulation
"Vitamin D can improve the immune system's ability to fight infections because it bolsters the first line of defense of the immune system," said Prof.Ginde.
Pneumonia, influenza, bronchitis and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) like emphysema can be prevented with supplementation of vitamin D. Other respiratory illnesses in elderly are sinusitis and asthma.
"This finding requires a confirmatory trial, including whether high daily doses of vitamin D, rather than high monthly doses, makes patients less likely to fall," Ginde said, published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Vitamin D Requirements
An adequate intake of vitamin D for the age groups of both men and women are:
Below <50 years= 200 IU
50-70 years= 400 IU
Above >70 years = 600 IU
Sources That Provide Vitamin D
- Sunlight
- Egg yolks
- Cheese
- Cereals
- Soy milk
- Dairy products
- Fatty fish like tuna, mackerel and salmon
Source-Medindia
