Vitamin D
The underestimated vitamin.
Our mental performance is also influenced by our body’s vitamin D balance. Vitamin D deficiency not only makes you tired, flabby and hungry, it also affects our memory, intellectual performance and increases the risk of dementia, Parkinson’s, depression and schizophrenia.,
Vitamin D is responsible for physical and mental well-being, so vitamin D influences:
- The bone metabolism
- The cell function
- The organ function
- Vascular health
- Cardiovascular health
- The immune system
- The brain function
- The mental achievement
- The psyche
The formation of vitamin D, which is required in almost all body cells, is imperative for the function of numerous organs, as well as the bone metabolism. Scientific studies show that it promotes bone development and growth at a young age, but reduces bone loss due to age or illness and has a preventive effect in diseases such as rickets (calcification disorders). The regulation of the mineral balance, such as calcium intake, is also supported by vitamin D. Studies also show that people with a healthy vitamin D budget are less likely to suffer from heart problems, vascular and vein problems. Blood pressure regulation via the vitamin D receptors in the vessel wall is responsible for this.
Our mental performance is also influenced by our body’s vitamin D balance. Vitamin D deficiency not only makes you tired, flabby and hungry, it also affects our memory, intellectual performance and increases the risk of dementia, Parkinson’s, depression and schizophrenia.,
The following table shows different blood values and the corresponding evaluation of the vitamin D level:
Guide values
(Nanograms per milliliter of blood)
Healthy value; Normal value; Slight deficiency; Strong deficiency
40 – 80 ng / ml; 30 – 40ng / ml; 20 – 30ng / ml; 7 – 20ng / ml
Vitamin D deficiency: which groups of people are affected?
National and international studies show insufficient vitamin D supply in all age groups and social classes. Some groups of people are more at risk here than others:
Risk Group
- Pregnant and lactating women
- baby
- Children and adolescents
- vegan
- People with a macrobiotic diet
- Older people
- Obese people
- People with skin type 5 or 6
- People with insufficient sun exposure due to cultural or religious backgrounds.
Vitamin D deficiency can be triggered by various factors.
Triggers of the vitamin D deficiency
- Smoke
- Alcohol consumption
- Unhealthy diet
- Missing movement
- stress
- Place of residence / latitude *
- Work in rooms
- Lack of sunlight exposure
- UV impermeable clothing
- Sunscreen
- Missing UVB radiation
Lifestyle also has a significant impact on the vitamin D balance. While the sun was once revered as God by many cultures, it is now often considered dangerous and carcinogenic. This setting leads to long-term vitamin D deficiency due to the lack of exposure to sunlight.
* Between the 47th and 55th Latitude, i.e. in Central and Northern Europe, such as Germany, but also North America, such as New England and Canada, hardly any UVB radiation passes through the atmosphere during the winter months due to the flat angle of the sun. This inevitably leads to a lack.,
How can you recognize a vitamin D deficiency early?
Early warning signals / signs of a deficiency
- fatigue
- Listlessness
- Weakness
- exhaustion
- Dejection
- Reduced performance
- Muscle and calf cramps
- Muscle weakness
- muscle pain
- Muscle twitches
- Tremble
- Tension in the back and neck
- Twitching of the eyelids
- Susceptibility to infections
- Weakened immune system
- Concentration problems
- nervousness
- Inner unrest
- restlessness
- Fast-breaking fingernails with white spots
- Headache (especially after physical exertion)
- sleep disorders
- Problems falling asleep and staying asleep
- High sleep requirements
- Joint pain
- Behavior change
- Coordination disorder
- Circulatory problems
- Circulatory disorder
- Feeling cold (especially in hands and feet)
- Nausea during / after exertion
- Loss of appetite
Attention:
Some of these signs also apply to other nutritional deficiencies in the body, such as magnesium
or iron deficiency.
For diseases such as HIV, epilepsy or previous diseases such as cancer, one is recommended
Basically checking the vitamin D values. ,,,
What are the possible consequences of vitamin D deficiency?
Possible consequences of vitamin D deficiency can be infectious diseases, broken bones, cancer and organ damage:
Further consequences of vitamin D deficiency
- rickets
- high blood pressure
- Obesity
- Cardiovascular disease
- diabetes
- depression
- multiple sclerosis
- Muscle weakness
- Cancer (colon and breast cancer)
- schizophrenia
- Allergies
- Neurological disorders
Studies show that people with a lower vitamin D level are at higher risk of developing the disease.
A healthy vitamin D balance is essential to strengthen the immune system and counteract the development of
diseases,
What does a therapy look like?
How is vitamin D absorbed?
a. Targeted nutrition
The vitamin D household can be supported through targeted nutrition. Foods with a vitamin D content are:
Foods containing vitamin D
- Salmon (D3)
- Eel (D3)
- Herring (D3)
- Sardines (D3)
- Cod liver oil (D3)
- Avocado (D2)
- Boletus (D2)
- Mushrooms (D2)
- Shiitake Mushrooms (D2)
- Eggs (D3)
- Milk (D3)
- Cheese (D3)
- Butter (D3)
However, vitamin D levels cannot be adequately covered through diet alone.
b. Food supplements
In addition to natural sources of vitamin D, there are also nutritional supplements, such as tablets and drops, that are designed to help meet vitamin D needs.
Side effects of dietary supplements
- Headache
- fatigue
- nausea
- Excessive thirst
- Heart rhythm disorders
- Kidney damage
- Kidney stones
- Kidney failure
- muscle pain
- Calcium retention in the heart,
Lungs, tendons and muscles
The need for taking is determined by the family doctor. As with all medications, overdoses and resulting negative reactions can also occur with vitamin D preparations.
c. UV therapy
Advantages of UV light therapy
- Whatever the weather
- Independent of the season
- Regardless of the latitude
- No medication
- Easily reachable maximum values
- Easily maintain a healthy vitamin D level
- Independent of time
- Better health
- Disease prevention
- Increased performance
- Higher life expectancy
- Increased quality of life
The invisible UV-B part of the sunlight penetrates into the uppermost skin layer and the body forms vitamin D through a biochemical process. Dr. Hönle Medizintechnik GmbH has modeled the sunlight and developed a UVB radiation device that is tailored to the exact requirements and supports safely, easily and comfortably with the full vitamin D supply. The approximate exposure times are listed in the following table:
Irradiation time for vitamin D formation (prone and supine)
UVB irradiation device Sun exposure (midsummer in Germany) Sun exposure (early and late summer)
Skin type 1 per sec. 10 min. Each 20 min.
Skin type 2 per sec. 15 min. Each 30 min.
Skin type 3 per sec. 20 min. Each 40 min.
Skin type 4 per second 25 minutes each 50 minutes
Skin type 5 per sec. 30 min. Each 60 min.
Skin type 6 per sec. 35 min. Each 70 min.
The following graphic shows the wavelength and the relative radiation flow distribution of the UVB broadband spectrum.
The main differences in effectiveness between UVA and UVB clearly explain why a visit to the tanning salon is unfortunately not sufficient to meet vitamin D requirements, since solariums are usually equipped with UVA lamps.
Differences in effects between UVB and UVA
UVB
- 10% of UVB radiation passes through the air envelope
- The UVB rays penetrate the cells of the epidermis
- Vitamin D formation
- The so-called melanocytes form the color pigment melanin through cell division
- The melanin is transported into the upper layers of the skin and stored in the horny layer, which thickens the top layer of skin
- Melanin protects against black and white skin cancer
- UVA
- 100% of the UVA radiation passes through the air envelope
- The UVA rays penetrate into the cells of the dermis
- The skin tans, but does not form melanin
How is the vitamin D level measured?
With the laboratory diagnostic determination of the 25-OH-D level in the blood serum, it can be determined whether the vitamin D requirement is adequately covered or is deficient. A drop of blood is sufficient for this.
In the case of indications such as diabetes mellits, heart failure, high blood pressure, cancer, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, osteoporosis or rheumatism, the 25-OH-D level should always be checked.
What is the daily requirement of vitamin D?
Daily vitamin D requirement (IU = international units per kilogram)
Daily requirement = 40 – 60 IU / kg
Depending on the skin type (see Table 5), 30 minutes in a bathing suit, without sunscreen, can be sufficient for the vitamin D supply in direct sunlight on a day in summer.
Skin types
Skin type Skin, eye and hair color Tanning tendency Sunburn tendency
Skin type 1: very light skin, blonde or red hair, blue or light eyes, freckles / none / always significant, skin peels quickly
Skin type 2: fair skin, blonde hair, blue, green or brown eyes / slight / always significant
Skin type 3: medium skin tone, all eye colors, brown hair / often / sometimes
Skin type 4: brownish skin color, dark eyes and dark hair / high, instant pigments / rare
Skin type 5: dark skin and dark hair / very high, instant pigments / very rare
Skin type 6: almost black skin, dark hair / intense, immediate pigments / almost never
The following table lists the different skin types and the associated identifying features:
Devices of Dr. Hönle Medizintechnik GmbH
The following table shows the various devices, technical data and possible uses:
Device / Technical data / Use / Photo
dermalight 80
Dimensions: (LxWxH) 300x60x45mm light emission: 110x40mm weight comb: approx. 285g mains connection:
230V / 50Hz / 20VA_Private, particularly suitable for travel
dermalight 1000
U tripod dimensions: (LxWxH) 920x700x1950mm 8 spotlights: 900 watts 12 spotlights: 1300 watts_Private and commercial
