Vitamin D3

Let the sun shine...

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is important for many vertebrates. Part of the need can be met by biosynthesis of the sun's UV-B rays. The provitamin 7-dehydrocholesterol in the body is activated by the sun's rays and converted into vitamin D3 and made available to the body. This is not the case for dogs and cats; they must ingest vitamin D3 with their food.​ 

Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) is important in interaction with calcium and phosphorus and is essential for bone health, the immune system and for regulating various metabolic processes. 

In March 2023, there was a summary of over 300 studies that looked at vitamin D supply in humans and showed that almost half of the people surveyed or examined had a vitamin D deficiency. Symptoms can include muscle weakness and pain, pain in the bones and tingling in the hands and feet. Vitamin D deficiency in expectant mothers is also suspected of causing diabetes in children.

Vitamin D synthesis is influenced by skin type and geographical environment. People with light skin generally need less exposure to sunlight to meet their vitamin D needs than people with dark skin. The reason for this seems to be that people with light skin often live at higher latitudes than people with darker skin. In the north and south of the earth, the sun is sometimes less or not at all visible and the temperatures are much lower than near the equator. This means that the skin is less or not at all exposed to the sun and has less chance of using it to produce vitamin D. In general, the height of the sun, geographical location above sea level, air pollution and place of residence (city vs. country) can have an influence on vitamin D absorption. This is why vitamin D supplementation is important for many people, especially in winter.. 

There are illnesses where there is an increased or reduced need for vitamin D in order to prevent a disturbance in the calcium-phosphorus balance.  

Dietary supplements

If the vitamin D balance cannot be covered by sunlight, it is possible to take in vitamin D through food.

Fatty sea fish is an important source of vitamin D3, but some cheeses also contain some vitamin D3.

In industry, vitamin D3 is now mostly synthesized from lanolin (sheep's wool fat) or fish organs and mixed with carriers such as maltodextrin, starch or vegetable oils. As a vegan vitamin D3 option, the raw material can be synthesized from lichens and other fungi and offered in powder form or as oil.

How high the bioavailability of vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) from plants really is is still questionable, which is why vegans in particular can be affected by vitamin D deficiency. The same applies to vegan pet food (especially for cats).

Caution: It is important to ensure that you do not overdose on vitamin D3 over a long period of time without seeking medical advice. Any excess vitamin that the body does not need is stored in the liver. In the long term, an overdose can lead to increased calcium excretion and calcium storage, which can damage the kidneys and potentially lead to osteoporosis. 

Our Vitamin D3 Products

Disclaimer 

For legal reasons, we would like to point out that some of the above statements require further research and studies to scientifically prove them. Therefore, not all statements can currently be accepted by conventional medicine.

Sources: 
in News
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