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MORE ABOUT COMMON VITAMINS: VITAMIN D
Ergosterol. Viosterol, Calciferol. Known as the \"Sunshine Vitamin.\" Measured in USP Units.
Function
Assists in assimilation of calcium, phosphorus and other minerals from the digestive tract. Necessary for the healthy function of parathyroid glands, which regulate the calcium level in the blood. Essential for the health of thyroid gland. Very important in infancy and adolescence for the proper formation of teeth and bones. Prevents rickets. Helps prevent tooth decay and pyorrhea. Some scientists feel that vitamin D is a hormone rather than a vitamin, as its functions parallel those of hormones.
Deficiency symptoms
Prolonged deficiency may lead to rickets, tooth decay, pyorrhea, osteomalacia, osteoporosis, retarded growth and poor bone formation in children, muscular weakness, lack of vigor, deficient assimilation of minerals and premature aging.
Natural sources
Fish liver oils, egg yolks, milk, butter, sprouted seeds, mushrooms, sunflower seeds. Vitamin D is produced by sunlight on the oily skin and absorbed by the body through the skin.
MDR (minimum daily requirement):
400 USP units. Therapeutically, up to 4,000 to 5,000 units a day for adults, or half of this for children, is a safe dose, if taken for not longer than one month. Can be toxic, if taken in excessive doses, especially by infants.
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GENERAL HEALTH
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