Introduction
Vitamin D is an important ingredient that helps keep human body fit and healthy. It serves multiple functions in a human body and its deficiency can cause significant discomforts to humans. According to Lee et.al. (2008), deficiency of Vitamin D is common and prevalent in about 30% to 50% of population. The study aims at understanding the normal physiology of Vitamin D and its functions in a human body. The paper is divided into three sections. The first section describes the normal physiology of Vitamin D. The second section discusses its function. The third section concludes the paper.
Physiology of Vitamin D
Vitamin D are of two main types: Vitamin D3, of animal original; and Vitamin D2, of plant origin (Pierrot-Deseillingly and Souberbielle, 2010). Both the forms of Vitamin D can be obtained through food sources, but Vitamin D3 is also produced in human body. When sun rays falls on skin, it interacts with receptors in cells and activates Vitamin D3 in human beings. Vitamin D3 activated in this form is usable by the body for various purposes. The functions of Vitamin D are being discussed in the next section.
Functions of Vitamin D
Vitamin D helps in absorption of other minerals that help in building human bone structure. Most important of these minerals are Calcium and Phosphorus. Both these nutrients are readily available in dairy food sources, but their absorption in body is primarily facilitated by Vitamin D. Hence, Vitamin D helps strengthen the skeletal system of human beings. Apart from this, Vitamin D is also has assists proper functioning of cardiovascular system and renal system. It helps smooth flow of blood through arteries, thus reduces incidences of heart failure.
Conclusion
Vitamin D deficiency is common in human beings. But, it serves a lot of purposes in human body. Sun light helps activate Vitamin D in human body. Once active, it supports proper functioning of the skeletal, renal and cardiac systems in human beings. Thus, its deficiency should be consciously avoided.
References
Lee, J.H., O’Keefe, J.H., Bell, D., Hensrud, D.D. and Holick, M.F. (2008). Vitamin D Deficiency: An Important, Common, and Easily Treatable Cardiovascular Risk Factor? Retrieved from http://content.onlinejacc.org/article.aspx?articleid=1188049
Pierrot-Deseillingly, C. and Souberbielle, J. (2010). Is Hypovitaminosis D one of the Environmental Risk Factors for Multiple Sclerosis? Retrieved from http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/725412_3
