Vitamina D3 50mcg

Yamamoto® Research’s Vitamin D3 is a dietary supplement that provides 50 mcg of vitamin D3 per capsule, equivalent to 2000 IU of cholecalciferol (D3 form of vitamin D), and can be used in all cases of increased need or decreased intake of this vitamin. Vitamin D3 is essential for promoting the health of bones and teeth, supporting the immune system and preventing the onset of cardiovascular disease.

This vitamin is normally produced by the body as a result of exposure to sunlight and although we synthesise about 80% of the vitamin D we need through skin exposed to the sun, it is often not possible to get enough exposure. Not only do we spend most of our time indoors (office, school or home) but also food sources of vitamin D do not guarantee optimal values. Foods naturally rich in vitamin D are typically of animal origin (such as fish, meat, eggs and dairy products), while in plants it is present only in negligible traces, with the exception of mushrooms. However, using monounsaturated fatty acids, such as those found in extra virgin olive oil, when cooking can improve the absorption of vitamin D, since this vitamin is fat-soluble. Despite these measures, we tend to cover just 20 per cent of all our needs. For these reasons, it is becoming increasingly common to use vitamin D food supplements, and not just for osteoporosis, menopause, the elderly, children and infants.

Although we tend to consider Vitamin D only for bone health, in actual fact this vitamin is important for many aspects of health. It is a ‘para-hormone‘ that acts on organs and systems just like a hormone. Vitamin D is essential for the skeletal system, stimulates the absorption of calcium and phosphorus and is essential for keeping bones and teeth healthy. Found in almost 3,000 genes in the body and with receptors distributed throughout the body, it goes without saying that Vitamin D is involved in a great many processes that affect our well-being.

Given its fundamental role in skeletal health, Vitamin D intake is essential for children throughout the growth phase, and also throughout adult life for maintaining normal bones and teeth. Those who struggle most to meet their vitamin D requirements are the elderly, whose skin is less efficient at converting the sun’s rays, those who are overweight, as this vitamin is fat-soluble, and of course those who lead a sedentary life and make excessive use of sunscreens in the summer, as they prevent the skin from producing vitamin D.

What are the symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency?

Vitamin D deficiency can cause a number of symptoms and health problems, including:

• Muscle weakness;
• Muscle and joint pain;
• Tiredness and fatigue;
• Reduced wound healing capacity;
• Depression;
• Loss of bone density and osteoporosis;
• Increased risk of bone fractures;
• Decrease in the immune system’s capacity to fight infections.

Vitamin D deficiency can also be associated with an increased risk of certain chronic diseases.

For whom is Vitamin D3 50 mcg recommended?

Use of Vitamin D3 50 mcg can be recommended for several categories of people who may have deficiencies of this vitamin, such as:

• People who live in areas with low sun exposure or who are forced to spend most of the day indoors;
• Elderly people whose absorption of vitamin D is reduced as a result of ageing;
• People with diseases that affect vitamin D absorption, such as coeliac disease, Crohn’s disease or cystic fibrosis;
• People with dark skin, as melanin reduces vitamin D production in the skin.

However, it is always advisable to seek the advice of a doctor or dietician before taking vitamin D supplements, in order to assess whether it is really necessary and establish the right dose for meeting individual needs.

What is the difference between vitamin D and vitamin D3? Are they the same thing?

The main difference between vitamin D and vitamin D3 is their origin and chemical form.

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that exists in two main forms: vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) and vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). Vitamin D2 is mainly found in plant sources, while vitamin D3 is found in animal sources and is produced naturally by the skin in response to UVB sunlight.

Vitamin D3 is considered to be the most effective form of vitamin D, because it has a greater affinity for the vitamin D receptors in the body and is converted to the active form more easily than vitamin D2. Moreover, vitamin D3 supplements are generally more effective in increasing vitamin D levels in the blood than vitamin D2.

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