Vitamin D3 -- Vitamins D

Most people are familiar with vitamin D, but may not have heard of Vitamin D3. There are actually 5 known forms of vitamin D known to occur in the human body and the D3 form is now thought to be the most important for human health.

Recent studies have found that Vitamin D3 dramatically decreases the risk of heart disease, prevents cancer, and fights the flu and other infectious diseases. Dr. Mehmet Oz of Oprah fame himself takes D3 daily to prevent heart disease and cancer. Further down in this hub you will find a video of Dr. Oz discussing the supplements he takes.

However, as important as Vitamin D is becoming to human health, obtaining therapeutic levels of D3 naturally is difficult. Unless you live in a tropical region and regularly expose your skin to the sun, you are likely deficient. In the Spring and Summer, people in more temperate regions will only be able to get enough sunlight for natural vitamin D production on days when the UV index is above 3 and by exposing skin for 15 minutes twice a week. This means that the rest of the year, people are not receiving enough sunlight to ensure adequate levels of the vitamin.

Now Vitamin D isn't generally found in food. Fish is probably the best source of natural Vitamin D. Otherwise, the only other source is food like milk to which vitamin D has added. Although studies have not found that to be an effective way to boost D levels because the additive is either a) poor quality or b) in too small amount to be effective. So unless you eat a lot of fish, a nutritional supplement is ideal if you want to reap the benefits of vitamin D3.

Vitamins D fight the flu and other infectious diseases by boosting the immune system. More specifically, vitamin D3 increases the amount of anti-microbial agents in the body that destroy infection before it can spread throughout the body.

In August of 2009, a paper reviewing medical science and previous studies on vitamin D was published in the Journal of Endocrine Practice. The paper noted the following regarding vitamins D:

1. It is effective in fighting infection, particularly influenza and upper respiratory diseases. This is important to note because with the current swine flu bug, the fatalities mostly occur from swine flu pneumonia. Meaning even should someone contract the swine flu, they may still be protected from developing pneumonia.

2. The less sun, the more infection. The fact that flus and colds have a 'season' is no coincidence. Sunlight does more than lift our moods, it helps us fight and avoid illness.

Keep reading this hub for information, links, and videos on how vitamin D3 fights cancer and prevents heart disease.

Vitamin D also prevents various forms of cancer including:

1. Breast Cancer. Low serum levels of vitamin D are actually associated with the development of breast cancer.

2.Pancreatic Cancer. Just 400 iu a day of vitamins D can reduce pancreatic cancer risk by 43%.

3.Colon Cancer.

4.Prostrate Cancer. Vitamin D3 can also help in treating prostrate cancer as studies have found high levels to be beneficial during treatment. (Although ask your physician before taking any supplement.)

In 2006 researchers reviewed the data on more than 4 million cancer patients from 13 countries and found reduced cancer rates in countries with higher levels of natural sunlight. Medical research has also found that patients who undergo chemotherapy or cancer surgery during summer have higher survival rates than their counterparts undergoing similar treatment in the winter.

In addition, 1200 women who took 1100 iu of vitamin D a day reduced the occurrence of cancer by 60% over the next four years.

Vitamin D is a potent way to fight heart disease. Medical researchers have found that people with vitamin D deficiencies are more likely to have high blood pressure and are at increased risk for heart disease. Scientists followed a group of 1729 patients for 5 years and discovered that low vitamin D levels correlated with a 62% increase in heart disease risk. In addition, low vitamin D levels can cause high cholesterol which is another factor known to contribute to heart disease.

It is also interesting to note that heart attacks are less common in the summer when sunlight is available to synthesize vitamin D and more common in the winter.

Another study conducted by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey followed 5000 patients and found that low levels of vitamin D resulted in a massive increase in the occurrence of Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD). PAD was 80% more common in people with low D levels. PAD is a disease where the major arteries of the legs and arms become blocked by blood clots. If a clot gets loose it can cause a heart attack or stroke depending on where it travels in the body.