Vitamin D   >> back to the newsletter overview

Vitamin D is considered the basic hormone of life – it is produced in the skin through insolation or gained from food. It takes part in almost every important process in the human body; it causes the cell development and reproduction, is part of the immune reaction and contributes to the control of other hormonal systems. Vitamin D deficiency can therefore be a risk factor for several diseases, such as tuberculosis, cancer, osteoporosis (atrophy), disorders of the cardiovascular system, the nerves and muscles. Roughly 60% of the German population is suffering from vitamin D deficiency. It is advisable to have your vitamin and hormone levels checked to be able to react in the case of potential hazards.

Vitamin D – the biological background

Vitamins are vital substances that the human body cannot produce on its own. They therefore need to be taken up from food. This, actually, makes vitamin D not really a vitamin as there are preliminary components of it already in the body.

80% of the needed amount is produced from these components in the skin through insolation (UV light). The remaining 20% must be taken up from food (mainly fish). The actual agent calcitriol (1,25(OH)2D3) is synthesized in another stage in the kidneys. This “activated vitamin D” can impact on several functions within the body, such as our immune system, when binding to the vitamin D receptor. It facilitates fast immune reactions and an efficient protection against autoimmune diseases.

Calcitriol also controls the calcium level of the blood. Vitamin D deficiency can lead to a reduction of the calcium concentration. Kidney stones or decalcification of the bones (osteoporosis) are possible consequences.

An important indicator for calcium deficiency is the parathyroid hormone level of the blood. This hormone is responsible for an increased calcium production within the blood. As a counter-reaction, a reduction in the calcium level will increase the production of the parathyroid hormone. If a test reveals an increased concentration, this might therefore be an indicator for calcium deficiency. Determining the parathyroid hormone level is part of measuring the level of vitamin D.

Vitamin D – the social background in brief

Vitamin D deficiency is quite a modern phenomenon; to be precise, it is a consequence of the industrialization of the 19th century.

Large parts of the population fell into poverty; malnutrition, life in tenements and no access to fresh air increased, causing disorders of the vitamin D levels. Tuberculosis and rickets (a disorder of the bone growth of children) occurred increasingly. The success of sun cures, cod-liver oil and a healthy diet could only be proved a few years ago – these measures guaranteed an outstanding supply with vitamin D and strengthened the immune system.

Even if our living conditions have improved substantially, roughly 60% of the German population is affected by vitamin D deficiency. This puts us far above the figures of other countries: in Norway and Japan, for instance, a high fish consumption supplies sufficient vitamin D, and in the US, certain food products are enriched with vitamin D.

Who is at risk and what are the causes of vitamin D deficiency?

The two main causes of vitamin D deficiency are an insufficient uptake of vitamin D from food and too little insolation. The latter is additionally caused by people increasingly working indoors, the geographic location (less sun in northern regions), clothing habits and the skin color (dark-skinned people produce only about a tenth of vitamin D under the same amount of insolation). A higher age and weight are also risk factors. Physical conditions that disturb the vitamin D synthesis or the uptake from food can also cause a low vitamin D level.

What can you do yourself?

With lots of fresh air and a healthy diet rich in vitamin D (especially with oily fish, mushrooms and dairy products) you can maintain a balanced vitamin D level. The recommended daily uptake for adolescents and adults is 10-20µg (400 IU) a day. It is, however, not easy to get enough vitamin D from food in Germany, as the fish consumption is rather low and supplementation of food products is illegal. It is therefore advisable to have your vitamin D level checked to be able to react fast and efficiently in the event of a potential risk (e.g. by prescriptions of vitamin D supplements).

What can we do for you?

We have a modern laboratory at our disposal to determine several parameters. In addition to vitamin D and parathyroid hormone levels, we can also provide you with hormone profile tests, cancer examinations and basic check ups. Please contact us for any questions if interested.

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