Vitamin D (Calciferol)

Vitamin D is known as a Sunshine Vitamin.Ten to fifteen minutes of good sunshine three times weekly is adequate to produce the body's requirement of vitamin D. It is a Fat soluble Vitamin.

In 1922, Edward Mellanby discovered Vitamin D while researching a disease called rickets. Vitamin D plays a role in maintaining normal blood levels of calcium. As a result, vitamin D impacts the absorption and storage of calcium. Vitamin D also stimulates the absorption of phosphorus.

Health Benefits 

It cures Rickets and Osteomalacia, Protects against Peripheral Arterial Disease, Cuts the risk of Cancer, Reduces bone fractures, helps in the treatment of Rachitic rosary.

Amounts per Day

Infants 0-6 months: 10 micrograms (400 IU) per day
Infants 6-12 months: 10 micrograms (400 IU) per day
Children 1-13 years: 15 micrograms (600 IU)
Teenagers 14-18 years: 15 micrograms (600 IU)
Adults 19-70 years: 15 micrograms (600 IU)
Adults above 70 years: 20 micrograms (800 IU)
Pregnant and lactating women: 15 micrograms (600 IU)

The National Academy of Sciences set Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (ULs) for vitamin D as follows:

infants, 0-6 months: 25 micrograms (1,000 IU) per day
infants, 6-12 months: 38 micrograms (1,500 IU) per day
children, 1-3 years: 63 micrograms (2,500 IU) per day
children, 4-8 year: 75 micrograms (3,000 IU)per day
children and adolescents, 9-18 years: 100 micrograms (4,000 IU) per day
adults, 19 years and older: 100 micrograms (4,000 IU) per day
pregnant and lactating women, 100 micrograms (4,000 IU) per day.

Vitamin D Deficiencies

Bone pain, frequent bone fractures, and softening of the bones can all be symptoms of vitamin D deficiency. So can muscle aches and muscle weakness since vitamin D helps to regulate muscle composition and prevent too much fat accumulation alongside of muscle tissue.The key role of vitamin D in regulation of immune response means that lowered immunity can be a symptom of vitamin D deficiency, as can the presence of any autoimmune disorder. In older persons, cognitive problems (disturbances in thought processes) and depression can be symptomatic of vitamin D deficiency, and in children, stunted growth and severe asthma have also been shown to have vitamin D deficiency as potential causes.

Vitamin D Toxicities

Symptoms of toxicity include loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, high blood pressure, kidney malfunction, and failure to thrive.

Good Natural-Vegetable Sources

Sunlight & Mushrooms