Vitamin D is most popularly known as the sunshine vitamin. However, there has been a widespread debate on the ‘vitamin’ part of it, until it was finally determined that it is a hormone and a vitamin! Do not get confused – here is the actual break-up. Vitamin D can be divided into 2 categories – D2 and D3. While D2 is a vitamin, D3 is the hormone.
Myths and facts about Vitamin D2 and D3
Before coming to the myths or facts, let the difference between the two ‘parts’ of the sunshine vitamin be known . Starting with the Vitamin D2, it is synthesized by plants, yeast and fungi; it is technically known as ergocalciferol. While Vitamin D3 is called cholecalciferol. Both have calcium and iron ions in their composition and hence this name. Vitamin D2 can be fortified in our foods but Vitamin D3 cannot be. Interestingly, Vitamin D3 is the more important of the two. Vitamin D is also a fat soluble vitamin and hence is stored in the body’s reserve fat (Vitamin D3).
Vitamin D3
Vitamin D3 is the hormone that is synthesized by the human body upon exposure to sunlight. It is the sun’s electromagnetic energy that activates the vitamin within our body and helps regulate the body balance. Because foods are fortified with Vitamin D2 which is not useable by our bodies, the only sources of the important Vitamin D3 are natural sunlight, and supplements.
The actual action and reaction that goes on within the human body is that when sunlight falls on our skin, Vitamin D synthesizes to form Vitamin D3. Vitamin D3 has many important functions in the human body. The most important of which is the regulation of calcium and phosphorous in our body. This directly impacts the maintenance of our bones and teeth. Milk is one well known food that stimulates the fast synthesis of Vitamin D3 in the body, once the skin exposed to the sun.
The benefits of the vitamin are many and it is important for bone growth and development . This is also one of the several reasons why doctors suggest mothers to have their children play in the sun for some time , everyday – that increases their bone density and bone growth is also promoted . Even during pregnancy, Vitamin D3 helps reduce depression and emotional disorders in pregnant women. This is a multi-faceted Vitamin with many target areas.
Researchers have also found out that bone cancer or even problems associated with the bone marrow can be certainly avoided and prevented in case an individual has sufficient exposure to sun; however, one must be aware of the fact that excessive exposure to the sun can be harmful for the skin and can lead to skin complications.
