Did you know that Vitamin D is considered a hormone?
Hormones are known as chemical messengers in our body. Hormones send signals to tell our cells and tissues to do certain functions like digestion, growth, and even our mood regulation.
Why is vitamin D considered a hormone?
Vitamin D is considered a hormone because it can be synthesized by our body when we obtain sunlight. Vitamins are considered to be a nutrient that must be obtained from a food source and unable to be synthesized by the body. Therefore, Vitamin D can be synthesized by sunlight and obtained from food sources.
Did you know that lifestyle factors can deplete vitamin D?
Smoking depletes vitamin D. “Cigarette smoke decreases the production of the active form of vitamin D (1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D) in lung epithelial cells (20), which may be overcome with higher serum levels of the substrate (25-hydroxyvitamin D). Additionally, cigarette smoke may affect expression levels of the vitamin D receptor (21).”
Many types of medications can deplete vitamin D and block vitamin D receptors. Some drugs in classes of antiepileptics, antibiotics, antihypertensives, and anti-inflammatory drugs have been found to interfere with Vitamin D, and this study suggests vitamin D supplementation should be considered.
Healthy sources of vitamin D in foods include egg yolks, salmon and liver. Direct sunshine is another healthy source of vitamin D but oftentimes food and sunshine aren’t adequate sources of vitamin D, so supplement form is added. It has been found that people who live above the 37th parallel North of the equator are at greater risk of Vitamin D deficiency.
At the NHCAA, we carry many great forms of Vitamin D and K2 with D3 blends for improved absorption. We carry 1,000-50,000 IU of Vitamin D supplements. Ask at your next visit which might be the best for your health.
Yours in health and longevity,
Kristen Clore OTRL, I-MD & PhD Student in Integrative Medicine
