Importance of Vitamin D and Medical Facts surrounding it in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Vitamin D is one of the nutrients that your body needs to build and maintain healthy bones. This is because your body can only absorb calcium - the main component of bones - when vitamin D is present. Vitamin D also regulates many other functions in your body's cells. Its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective properties also support immune system health, muscle function, and brain cell activity.
Vitamin D is not found naturally in many foods, but it can be found in fortified milk, fortified breakfast cereals, and fatty fish, such as salmon, mackerel, and sardines. Your body also produces vitamin D when direct sunlight converts a chemical in your skin into an active form of the vitamin (calciferol).
The amount of vitamin D your skin produces depends on many factors, including the time of day, season, where you live and your skin tone. Depending on where you live and your lifestyle, vitamin D production may be reduced or completely absent during the winter months. While sunscreen is important, it can also reduce vitamin D production.
Many older people don't get regular sun exposure and have trouble absorbing vitamin D. If your doctor suspects you're not getting enough vitamin D, a simple blood test can check the levels of this vitamin in your blood.
Taking a multivitamin supplement that contains vitamin D may also help to improve bone health. The recommended daily amount of vitamin D is 400 international units (IU) for children up to 12 months of age, 600 IU for those ages 1 to 70, and 800 IU for people over 70.
Scientific researches on the use of vitamin D for specific diseases shows that:
- Cancer. Results regarding the benefits of vitamin D in preventing cancer are mixed. Therefore, more studies are needed to prove that vitamin D supplementation can reduce the risk of some types of cancer.
- Genetic bone disorders. Vitamin D may be used to help treat genetic disorders of body function caused by an inability to absorb or process vitamin D, such as familial hypophosphatemia.
- Multiple Sclerosis. Studies show that long-term reliance on vitamin D supplements reduces the risk of developing multiple sclerosis.
- Osteomalacia, Dietary supplements containing vitamin D are used to treat adults who have a severe vitamin D deficiency, which results in loss of bone mineral, bone pain, muscle weakness, and soft bones (osteomalacia).
- Osteoporosis. Studies show that people who get enough vitamin D and calcium in their diet may not lose bone mineral density quickly, this helps in preventing osteoporosis, and have a lower chance of bone fracture. Talk to your doctor if you need a calcium and vitamin D supplement to prevent or treat osteoporosis.
- Psoriasis. Applying vitamin D or a topical preparation containing a vitamin D complex called calcipotriene to the skin can treat plaque psoriasis in some patients.
- Rickets. Children develop this disease because of a lack of vitamin D. Using a vitamin D supplement can prevent and treat this problem.
Without Vitamin D, your bones can become thin, thin and brittle. Vitamin D deficiency is also associated with osteoporosis. If you don't get enough vitamin D through sunlight or dietary sources, you may need a vitamin D supplement.
Side Effects
Vitamin D is generally safe when taken in appropriate doses.
It is worth mentioning that we at Capital offer you a set of special packages that help you in the early detection of vitamin D deficiency. We also offer a package of laboratory investigations for vitamins and minerals and a package for monitoring the bone health.
Requesting Home Health Care Services in Saudi Arabia
Requesting Home Health Care Services in Jeddah - Saudi Arabia from Capital Home Care is a straightforward and easy process.
- Phone: Reach out to Capital Home Care directly at +966 12 227 6270 (Office) or +966 9200 10 689 (Toll-Free)
- Website: You can submit a request by clicking HERE
- Email: Send an email detailing your needs to info@capitalambulance.sa
- Visit in Branch: Alternatively, you can also visit Capital Home Care's office at 7846 Hira - 2488 An Nahda District - Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Office hours are from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Saturday through Thursday.
Once your request is received, a member of the Capital HomeCare team will conduct an initial consultation to determine the specific needs of the patient. Following a comprehensive assessment, a tailored care plan is designed and implemented, ensuring the highest standard of home healthcare delivery.
