Physicians say a human body produces vitamin D as a response to sun exposure; while people can also boost their vitamin D intake through certain foods or supplements.

Vitamin D is essential for several reasons, including maintaining healthy bones and teeth. It may also protect against a range of diseases and conditions, such as type 1 diabetes.

Despite its name, experts say, vitamin D is not a vitamin, but a prohormone, or precursor of a hormone. Vitamins are nutrients that the body cannot create, and so a person must consume them in the diet. However, the body can produce vitamin D.

According to online platform, Medical News Today, although the body can create vitamin D, a deficiency can occur for many reasons.

Reasons for insufficient vitamin D levels include spending more time indoors, wearing a lot of sunscreen, and not eating foods packed with the nutrient, the researchers add.

Other reasons are as follow:

Skin type: Darker skin, for example, and sunscreen, reduce the body’s ability to absorb the ultraviolet radiation B (UVB) rays from the sun. Absorbing sunlight is essential for the skin to produce vitamin D.

Sunscreen: A sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 can reduce the body’s ability to synthesize the vitamin by 95% or more. Covering the skin with clothing can inhibit vitamin D production also.

Geographical location: People who live in northern latitudes or areas of high pollution, work night shifts, or are homebound should aim to consume vitamin D from food sources whenever possible.

Breastfeeding: Infants who exclusively breastfeed need a vitamin D supplement, especially if they have dark skin or have minimal sun exposure. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that all breastfed infants receive 400 international units (IU) per day of oral vitamin D.

Research shows that a lack of vitamin D in your body can lead to hair loss. One role vitamin D plays is stimulating new and old hair follicles. When there isn’t enough vitamin D in your system, new hair growth can be stunted.

Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to alopecia, the autoimmune condition that causes bald patches on the scalp and other areas of the body. Both men and women can experience alopecia.

Vitamin D-rich foods: Few foods naturally contain vitamin D. For instance, the flesh of fatty fish (such as trout, salmon, tuna, and mackerel) and fish liver oils are among the best sources, nutritionists say.

Beef liver, cheese, and egg yolks have small amounts of vitamin D, primarily in the form of vitamin D3.

Mushrooms provide variable amounts of vitamin D2, and some mushrooms available on the market have been treated with ultraviolet light to increase their levels of vitamin D2.

In addition, the Food and Drug Administration has approved UV-treated mushroom powder as a food additive for use as a source of vitamin D2 in food products.

Animal-based foods typically provide some vitamin D. One study found that when the nutritional content of beef, pork, chicken, turkey, and eggs is taken into account, the total amount of vitamin D in the food is two to 18 times higher than the amount in the parent vitamin alone, depending on the food.

Fortified milk and other dairy products made from milk, such as cheese and ice cream, are also rich in Vitamin D, as do ready-to-eat breakfast cereals which often contain added vitamin D, as do some brands of orange juice, yogurt, margarine, and other food products.

source: Punch