Vitamin D (ergocalciferol-D2, cholecalciferol-D3, alfacalcidol) is a fat-soluble vitamin that helps your body absorb calcium and phosphorus. Having the right amount of vitamin D, calcium, and phosphorus is important for building and keeping strong bones. Vitamin D is used to treat and prevent bone disorders (such as rickets, osteomalacia). Vitamin D is made by the body when skin is exposed to sunlight. Sunscreen, protective clothing, limited exposure to sunlight, dark skin, and age may prevent getting enough vitamin D from the sun.
Vitamin D2 and vitamin D3 are colorless or white crystals, no odor, melting point of 115 ~ 118℃ and 84 ~ 85℃, respectively, insoluble in water, soluble in ethanol, ethyl ether, acetone, etc., slightly soluble in vegetable oil. Unstable in both air and sunlight, it is easy to be inactivated by Chemicalbook in moist air, but vitamin D3 is more stable than vitamin D2. Both have the same physiological effects in the human body; Its main function is to maintain the normal metabolism of calcium and phosphorus, promote the deposition of calcium and phosphorus to bones and tissues, so this product can be used to prevent and treat metabolic bone diseases such as rickets and osteomalacia.
Vitamin D with calcium is used to treat or prevent bone loss (osteoporosis). Vitamin D is also used with other medications to treat low levels of calcium or phosphate caused by certain disorders (such as hypoparathyroidism, pseudohypoparathyroidism, familial hypophosphatemia). It may be used in kidney disease to keep calcium levels normal and allow normal bone growth. Vitamin D drops (or other supplements) are given to breast-fed infants because breast milk usually has low levels of vitamin D.
Vitamin D is generally one of the nutrients that can be stored in fats and in the liver and used in cases of deficiency. Vitamin D deficiency in infants leads to rachitis, or slow growth and motor development, poor bone constitution and insomnia. In adults, this lack results in the appearance of osteomalacia, or bone demineralization accompanied by great nervousness.
Vitamin D deficiency is currently a major problem in many European countries. With each age group, the risk of developing a deficiency increases. And this is explained by the fact that people eat less food rich in D3 or D2 and rarely expose themselves to the sun’s rays. And the older you get, the more the skin becomes less and less able to produce vitamin D under the effect of the sun.
The vitamin is so important for immune system function that low levels are associated with an increased susceptibility to infections and diseases. For example, low vitamin D levels are associated with an increased risk of respiratory diseases such as tuberculosis, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) as well as viral and bacterial respiratory infections. In addition, vitamin D deficiency causes decreased lung function. This can affect your body’s ability to fight respiratory infections.