People in many parts of the world, including Pakistan, suffer from vitamin D deficiency, but the problem is exacerbated by the lack of sunlight in the northern hemisphere, which has led many people to use supplements.
Vitamin D2 and D3 supplements are available at drugstore counters and do not require a doctor's prescription. It is used to boost immunity, alleviate nervous weakness, strengthen nerves and relieve bone pain. They are also used to fight and prevent cancer and ageing.
But there is still controversy over whether all young men should take vitamin D supplements. Despite its name, vitamin D is not a vitamin; it is actually a hormone that increases the body's ability to absorb calcium. The challenge is that there are very few foods that contain it, such as fish-oil. The human body usually makes vitamin D when exposed to sunlight. There are two kinds of vitamin D. Vitamin D3, which is found in animal foods, that includes fish.
Vitamin D2 is the second, which is found in plant foods and also includes mushrooms.
Research has shown that D3 is more effective, and an analysis conducted in 2012 stated that D3 is a much better supplement.
Public Health England recommends that every adult should take a 10 microgram supplement in winter and autumn, the seasons when the sun's rays do not reach the earth completely.
The government agency has asked people of all colours to use this supplement throughout the year if they are deficient in vitamin D. Some other countries observe the same principles. Vitamin D deficiency can lead to fatigue and affect the mitochondria, the centre of energy in the cells of the human body.
Similarly, vitamin D improves the immune system and eliminates bacteria in cancer patients. One of the reasons for using vitamin D supplements is to keep bones growing and healthy.
Research into how much vitamin D is needed is based on recent guidelines, and it is said that older people who do not get much exposure to sunlight are at higher risk of fractures and bone fractures.
YakinTim Specter, a professor at King's College London, believes the investigation may not be accurate.
It is true that no evidence is clear yet. An analysis it is found that raising vitamin D levels reduced the risk of bone fractures in healthy people, while an analysis of 81 cases found that supplements did nothing to help.
But nurse Sarah Leyland, says vitamin D supplements are great for a group of people who are not exposed to sunlight at all. Soma Adhe, who is involved in the research, says the decline is due to the lack of better monitoring of vitamin D supplements for children in the UK.
But medical experts are divided regarding the usage of vitamin D supplements. Some of them are of the view that the multimillion-dollar vitamin industry has its own interests.
It is hoped that these results will be available by the end of this year. They are trying to see if vitamin D and omega-3s have an effect on cancer, stroke and heart disease. In this regard, 25,000 adults have been included in the research.
You must be logged in to post a comment.