What Are the Benefits and Uses of Vitamin D3?

Vitamin D3 or cholecalciferol, which is primarily activated by the sun, is essential to the human body. This type of vitamin D is bioavailable, and it’s the most common form. Fortified foods supply only trace amounts of vitamin D3, that’s why you might need supplements, most especially during winter.

In this post, you’ll learn the important benefits of vitamin D3.

Promotes Cardiovascular Health

Vitamin D3 protects the heart. It helps in regulating blood sugar levels and supports long-term cardiovascular health. The Food and Drug Administration or FDA recommends 600 to 4,000 IU of vitamin D3 per day for both children and adults.

Here are the food sources of vitamin D3:

1. Salmon fillets
2. Tuna
3. Sardines
4. Cereals
5. Grains
6. Grilled salmon
7. Dairy products, like cheese, eggs, and yogurt

Strengthens Your Bones

Vitamin D3 plays a crucial role in the regulation of calcium and phosphorus for bone formation and growth. That’s why this vitamin is essential for strong and healthy bones. If the body lacks vitamin D3, it may lead to a deficiency, increasing your risk of osteoporosis and bone fractures.

Here are the signs and symptoms of vitamin D3 deficiency:

1. Fatigue and tiredness
2. Bone and back pains
3. Depression
4. Hair loss
5. Muscle Pain
6. Impaired Wound healing
7. Bone loss, leading to osteoporosis

Mood Booster

The nervous system has vitamin D3 receptors, particularly the brain. Mood swings or issues may arise because of low vitamin D3 levels. You need this vitamin to regulate the neurotransmitters or chemical messengers in the brain to help regulate your mood.

Prevents Cancer

Vitamin D3 is essential in proper cell growth, preventing the formation of abnormal, immature, or cancer cells. It prevents cancer, like colon cancer, prostate cancer, and breast cancer.

Promotes Digestive Health

Vitamin D3 modulates the inflammatory processes of the digestive system. It reduces your risk of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Low vitamin D3 levels may result in an increased risk of inflammation in your digestive tract.

Here are the other digestive problems that can be prevented by vitamin D3:

1. Celiac Disease: It is a disorder wherein gluten triggers the body’s immune response. It causes inflammation of the small intestine.
2. Chronic Pancreatitis: It’s an inflammation of the pancreas as characterized by abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, rapid pulse, and fever.
3. Crohn’s Disease: It’s a chronic inflammatory condition of the digestive system characterized by abdominal pain, bleeding, fever, fatigue, and frequent diarrhea.
4. Cystic Fibrosis: It’s a hereditary disease affecting the digestive system and the lungs. The body produces sticky and thick mucus, clogging the lungs and obstructing the pancreas. This medical condition can be life-threatening.

Immunity Booster

Vitamin D3 is essential in the reparative process of cells, most especially the immune cells, such as the white blood cells. You need this vitamin to fight pathogens, like viruses and bacteria. It also helps fight infection. Also, patients with HIV or AIDS have low levels of vitamin D, so supplementation is required for cell and tissue repair.

Here are the benefits of a stronger immune system:

1. Prevent sickness that compromise the immune system
2. Increased work productivity
3. Avoid risks of inflammation of different organs of the body, most especially the lymphatic glands, which are responsible for stronger immunity

Improves Muscle Strength

If you want to gain better gym results, you have to make sure you get the right amount of vitamin D3. It helps improve muscle strength, muscle tone, balance, and physical performance. It also enhances muscle metabolism.

Here are the benefits of improved muscle strength caused by vitamin D3 supplementation:

1. Achieve your gym goals as soon as possible
2. Grow strong and healthy muscles
3. Avoid muscle wasting
4. Helps increase your muscle mass, most especially for bodybuilders

Improves Your Memory

Dementia may be caused by the lack of vitamin D3, putting you at risk of cognitive impairment. Vitamin D3 insufficiency is associated with faster declines in executive function and episodic memory, corresponding to the elevated risk for Alzheimer’s disease.

Regulate Your Blood Glucose

If you have diabetes, vitamin D3 helps in regulating the insulin levels and blood sugar in the body. Taking vitamin D supplements helps in diabetes management.

Here are the ways vitamin D3 help patients with diabetes:

1. It contributes to blood sugar balance because it supports the actions of insulin.
2. It promotes the proper functioning of pancreatic cells.
3. Vitamin D3 helps in stabilizing your blood sugar levels.

Conclusion

It’s essential to have enough vitamin D3 in the body for cellular and tissue repair. Sunlight exposure is vital to activate vitamin D3. While you can obtain vitamin D3 from food sources, you need to take supplements to ensure you’re getting the right amount, most especially during winter when there is low sunlight.

This article does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or management of EconoTimes.