What is Vitamin D?
Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin, found in foods such as mushrooms, oily fish, butter and egg yolk. Vitamin D has functions and benefits that are probably more wide ranging than any other vitamin.
There has been huge renewed interest in vitamin D recently, with new global research showing that the health benefits of this nutrient stretch beyond bone health. There is increasing evidence for the beneficial effects from dietary vitamin D which has shown benefits for its contribution to:
- Normal function of the immune system
- Normal absorption and utilisation of calcium in the body
- Maintenance of normal bones and teeth
- Maintenance of normal muscle function
- Normal blood calcium levels
- The process of cell division
For adults over the age of 60, it has also been shown that a daily vitamin D intake of 20µg or more from all sources helps to reduce the risk of falling associated with postural instability and muscle weakness. Falling is a risk factor for bone fractures among men and women 60 years of age and older.
