Vit D

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Vitamin D in a New

Lightby

Donald W. Miller, Jr.,

MD

 

There are thirteen vitamins humans need for growth and development and to

maintain good health. The human body cannot make these essential

bio-molecules. They must be supplied in the diet or by bacteria in the

intestine, except for vitamin D. Skin makes vitamin D when exposed to

ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation from the sun. A light-skinned person will

synthesize 20,000 IU (international units) of vitamin D in 20

minutes sunbathing on a Caribbean beach.

Vitamin D is also unique in another way. It is the only vitamin that is a

hormone, a type of steroid hormone known as a secosteroid, with

three carbon rings.

Steroid hormones such as cortisone, estrogen, and testosterone have four

carbon rings. Ultraviolet B radiation in sunlight breaks open one of the

rings in a steroid alcohol present in the skin,

7-dehydrocholesterol, to form vitamin D (cholecalciferol). The

liver changes this molecule into its circulating form,

25-hydroxyvitamin D (calcidiol, 25[OH]D), the " vitamin

D " blood tests measure. Cells throughout the body absorb

25-hydroxyvitamin D and change it into 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D

(calcitriol), the active form of vitamin D that attaches directly to

receptors on the DNA of genes in the cell’s nucleus.

The vitamin D hormone system controls the expression of more than 200

genes and the proteins they produce. In addition to its well-known role

in calcium metabolism, vitamin D activates genes that control cell growth

and programmed cell death (apoptosis), express mediators that regulate

the immune system, and release neurotransmitters (e.g., serotonin) that

influence one’s mental state.

 

For whole article:

 

http://www.lewrockwell.com/miller/miller25.html

[Guest guest]

Hi Hanneke,The Sperti sunlamp provides light that approximates sunlight (that may be used in the winter).However, the Sperti lamp is rather expensive.I wonder if there are any bulbs that can supply UVB to stimulate Vitamin D production.Darius Dinshah told me that the incandescent light bulbs that claim to be full-spectrum—are not full spectrum.http://www.dinshahhealth.orgYou probably know that the Vitamin D in Donald Miller's article is D3.Vitamin D2 is a synthetic substitute that's toxic (D2 is added to soy milk, rice milk and several other foods).In October 2006, researchers Lisa Houghton and Reinhold Vieth wrote an article for the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition titled, The Case Against Ergocalciferol (Vitamin D2) as a Vitamin Supplement. Mary JoVit DPosted by: "Hanneke" blosshan   blosshanWed Apr 9, 2008 1:41 am (PDT)Vitamin D in a New Lightby Donald W. Miller, Jr., MD<dwm.edu%20>There are thirteen vitamins humans need for growth anddevelopment and to maintain good health. The human body cannotmake these essential bio-molecules. They must be supplied in thediet or by bacteria in the intestine, except for vitamin D. Skinmakes vitamin D when exposed to ultraviolet B (UVB) radiationfrom the sun. A light-skinned person will synthesize 20,000 IU(international units) of vitamin D in 20 minutes sunbathing on aCaribbean beach.Vitamin D is also unique in another way. It is the only vitaminthat is a hormone, a type of steroid hormone known as asecosteroid, with three carbon rings.Steroid hormones such as cortisone, estrogen, and testosteronehave four carbon rings. Ultraviolet B radiation in sunlightbreaks open one of the rings in a steroid alcohol present in theskin, 7-dehydrocholesterol, to form vitamin D (cholecalciferol).The liver changes this molecule into its circulating form,25-hydroxyvitamin D (calcidiol, 25[OH]D), the "vitamin D" bloodtests measure. Cells throughout the body absorb 25-hydroxyvitaminD and change it into 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (calcitriol), theactive form of vitamin D that attaches directly to receptors onthe DNA of genes in the cell’s nucleus.The vitamin D hormone system controls the expression of more than200 genes and the proteins they produce. In addition to itswell-known role in calcium metabolism, vitamin D activates genesthat control cell growth and programmed cell death (apoptosis),express mediators that regulate the immune system, and releaseneurotransmitters (e.g., serotonin) that influence one’smental state.For whole article: http://www.lewrockwell.com/miller/miller25.html<http://www.lewrockwell.com/miller/miller25.html>