January 2nd, 2012 
JasonH As a chiropractor in Columbia, MO, I am always on the lookout for information on potentially beneficial vitamins and supplements that may help our patients feel better and be more healthy. Well, Vitamin D has caught my attention again lately, and I think you’ll find, after reading this, that you should be taking a Vitamin D supplement.
Vitamin D has gained notoriety and most people have now heard of vitamin D, but most still don’t know much about the substance and how it’s essential to our bodies.
Vitamin D is a lipid (fat) soluble vitamin. Vitamin D plays a vital part in proper bone formation and maintenance processes. In addition, Vitamin D plays a part in immune function, effects insulin levels, and recent studies suggest Vitamin D may be involved in cancer prevention.
By definition, a vitamin is something that is “vital” to our body which is to say it’s something our body much get from outside sources. There are three primary ways that our bodies’ get/make vitamin D. 1) Sunlight 2) Food 3) Supplements.
First, most people have heard that sunlight and vitamin D go together. That’s true, but what most don’t know is why this is the case. Ultraviolet light converts a compound into vitamin D in the liver and kidneys. Most experts suggest 10-15 minutes of direct sun exposure for proper formation of Vitamin D.
We also get vitamin D from certain foods. Naturally, eggs, sardines, and salmon have lots of vitamin D. Other foods we can purchase are fortified with vitamin D which means vitamin D is added during their manufacturing process.
Lastly, we can get vitamin D in supplement forms. These usually are coupled with calcium, but they do not have to be. The doses vary for products based on the manufacturer and recommended use of the product.
One fact that is surprising to most is that recent studies suggest that upwards of 90% of the overall population in the United States is not getting enough Vitamin D. That’s a staggering amount! The fact is that most people’s diets are not providing enough Vitamin D, and sunlight is something an increasing number of people are avoiding. With all of this in mind, it becomes clear that supplementation is generally (but not always) essential to getting enough Vitamin D.
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