A practical guide to taking vitamin D following the advice of the Italian Medicines Agency. Let’s dispel any doubts.
Vitamin D is a hormone produced in the skin in case of sun exposure. When it is missing it is possible to supplement the levels with the diet by taking particular foods such as salmon, oily fish, egg yolk, dairy products.
Vitamins are nutrients in the body. Some are produced independently by the body – such as vitamin D – while in most cases they need to be introduced through food. There are currently thirteen known vitamins. They differ in chemical structure, functions, properties and are divided into water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins. The function of vitamin D is to regulate the intestinal absorption of calcium and phosphorus in such a way as to promote normal bone formation and mineralization, to contribute to normal muscle contractility and to act on the immune system.
Vitamin D levels rise when we expose ourselves to the sun. This is the natural and effective way to guarantee the body the right amount of the vitamin. The diet, in fact, has limited quantities of vitamin D and, according to AIFA, is not an adequate source. The advice, therefore, is to take advantage of the beautiful days to soak up the sun while adequately protecting your skin.
When you need to measure the level of vitamin D in the body
In the presence of specific risk conditions, the doctor will suggest checking the dosage of vitamin D by undergoing a common blood test (in the 25(OH)D form). Healthy people have no reason to supplement vitamin D. Therapy is recommended only if the dosage indicates a level of 10-12 ng/mL (or 25.30 nnmol/L).
AIFA adds, however, that pharmacological supplementation of vitamin D is indicated regardless of dosage for guests of healthcare residences, for people with serious motor deficits or bedridden people who spend their days at home and for people with osteoporosis who do not follow a remineralizing therapy. Having carried out the dosage, it will be necessary to supplement vitamin D with levels below 12 ng/mL with symptoms of hypovitaminosis i.e. myalgias, widespread pain, frequent falls for no reason, asthenia or without symptoms in case of occasional findings.
Levels below 20 ng/mL, instead, they involve therapy for people who take drugs that interfere with vitamin D metabolism such as antiepileptics and antiretrovirals or for people with diseases that cause malabsorption in adults such as celiac disease or Crohn’s disease. Finally, with doses below 30 ng/mL the therapy is recommended for people with primary or secondary hyperparathyroidism and for people with osteoporosis.
