Friday, January 9, 2009
Vitamin D is a very important vitamin—it aids in the absorption of calcium, helping to form and maintain strong bones. Vitamin D, also called calciferol, is a vitamin that dissolves in the body’s fat. Vitamin D is found in food, but also can be made in your body after exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun. There are several different forms of vitamin D. The major biologic function of vitamin D is to maintain normal blood levels of calcium and phosphorus. Taking Vitamin D will help maintain strong bones and help protect against Osteoporosis later in life. I recently read about a survey conducted by researchers from the Joslin Diabetes Center and Harvard Medical School to see how Vitamin D plays a role in juvenile type-1 Diabetes. The survey found that:
• 61 percent had insufficient levels of Vitamins D
• 15 percent were clinically deficient in Vitamin D
Childhood deficiency in Vitamin D as a child put the individual even more at risk for decreased bone strength both now and as the body ages. Bone health is one of the more important areas to cover when taking supplements—our bones protect our organs and help us to move and function each day. Young children may also suffer from bone deformation, and never reach the correct amount of bone mass in their lives. This study proves the importance of Vitamin D for both young and old Diabetics. Vitamin D is continuing to be studied in relation to Diabetes because it is believed to play a role in the occurrence of the disease.
Click here to learn more about Vitamin D.
