Vitamin D

Vitamin D…

Vitamin D is an essential fat-soluble vitamin for our body, as it performs many important functions in the body. One of the main functions of vitamin D is to help the body absorb calcium and phosphorus, minerals essential for healthy bones and teeth. It also plays a critical role in immune system health, muscle function, and cardiovascular health.

Vitamin D is obtained mainly through sun exposure, since when the skin comes into contact with sunlight, the body is able to produce vitamin D naturally. It can also be obtained through certain foods, such as fatty fish (salmon, tuna, mackerel), eggs, calf liver, cheese, and milk fortified with vitamin D.

Vitamin D deficiency is quite common in the population, especially in people who live in regions with little sun exposure, in people with dark skin, in older people, or in people with certain diseases that affect the absorption of vitamin D in the body. Vitamin D deficiency can cause a number of health problems, such as muscle weakness, bone pain, increased risk of fractures, immune and cardiovascular problems, among others.

It is important to note that vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, meaning it is stored in our body’s fatty tissue and released gradually, so it is important to maintain adequate levels to ensure good health. It is recommended to consult a doctor before starting vitamin D supplements, as too much vitamin D can also cause health problems.

A curious fact about vitamin D is the story of the discovery of this vitamin by a doctor named Kurt Huldschinsky in the 1910s. Huldschinsky was researching the incidence of rickets in children in Germany at the time, and noticed that those Those who sunbathed regularly had a lower prevalence of the disease.

Later, Huldschinsky performed experiments with mice in which he exposed them to sunlight and observed that those who received ultraviolet light developed stronger bones. From these findings, the doctor concluded that sun exposure was beneficial for bone health and that sunlight allowed the body to produce a substance vital for bone development, which he called «vitamin D.»

Thanks to this discovery, more detailed research on vitamin D and its importance for bone health was initiated, which led to the development of vitamin D supplements and recommendations on sun exposure to prevent vitamin D deficiency in the population. This discovery marked a milestone in the history of medicine and nutrition, and has had a significant impact on the prevention and treatment of diseases such as rickets and osteoporosis.