NN+Vitamin+D

What is Vitamin D?
([|D3 molecule])
 * A vitamin that also serves as a prohormone ([|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_D)]
 * "A prohormone is a substance that is a precursor to a hormone, usually having minimal hormonal effect by itself" ([|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_D)]
 * Vitamin D has two major types:
 * D2, or ergocalciferol,
 * D3, or cholecalciferol
 * generated when the skin is exposed to the sun, especially ultraviolet rays
 * promotes bone health
 * promotes immunosupression and anti-tumor activity in the immune system

Vitamin D and Cancer

 * Vitamin D can help to prevent cancers such as breast cancer and colon cancer because "the vitamin metabolite 1, 25 dihydroxyvitamin D 3 can inhibit cell proliferation in cancer cells as well as influence cell differentiation" ([|http://www.cdc.gov/genomics/hugenet/ejournal/vitDcanc.htm)]

Effects on the Skeletal System

 * Vitamin D encourages the absorption of calcium

How does Vitamin D Effect the Immune System?

 * The Vitamin D Receptor (VDR) is associated with promoting Programmed Cell Death.

Vitamin D Deficiency

 * Deficiency of Vitamin D can lead to diseases such as:
 * Osteoporosis: a disease where the bones become frail from decreased bone density
 * Rickets: a childhood disease where the long bones are deformed and don't grow properly
 * Osteomalacia: where the bones become fragile and muscles are weak
 * The production of Vitamin D decreases with age, so the elderly are at a greater for Vitamin D deficiency
 * The American Pediatric Association suggests that people should be taking Vitamin D supplements of 200 IU every day

How do You Get More Vitamin D?

 * Vitamin D can be found in foods such as:
 * many kinds of fish
 * eggs
 * mushrooms
 * yeast
 * milk
 * Exposure to the sun can also increase the natural production of Vitamin D because

Sources:
 * Wikipedia
 * CDC
 * American Cancer Society