Vitamins & Minerals Q&A

Vitamin D

About vitamin D

The main role of Vitamin D is regulating the concentration of calcium and phosphorus in the blood. Vitamin D also helps the body absorb calcium, which is necessary to form and maintain strong bones. The body produces Vitamin D through exposure to sunlight, and small amounts are contained in oils from fish such as herring, mackerel, sardines, and tuna.

Q
Do people with darker skin produce only a little Vitamin D even if they are exposed to sunlight?
A

The topics of melanin pigment and ultraviolet light often come up when discussing the relationship between skin tone and vitamin D.
When a person's skin is exposed to a lot of ultraviolet light, it will produce dark melanin pigments. By turning darker, the skin tries to prevent further effects of ultraviolet light. Ultraviolet light is useful for producing Vitamin D, but it is also known to be a cause of skin cancer, etc. Our skin contains 7-Dehydrocholesterol, a type of cholesterol and a precursor of Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). When this is exposed to ultraviolet light, it is converted into Vitamin D3.
Darker skin blocks ultraviolet light and reduces ultraviolet exposure, so people with darker skin produce less Vitamin D3.
The same occurs when you use sunscreen.

Q
What vitamins are good to take together with Vitamin D?
A

Vitamin D, as with other vitamins and nutrients, does not function fully by itself, because various nutrients interact with each other in the body.
Vitamin D is indispensable when calcium is absorbed in the intestines and serves to strengthen bones. To build stronger bones, it is important to take nutrients such as protein, calcium, Vitamin D, and Vitamin K together.If you are worried about having a balanced everyday diet, we recommend taking supplements in addition to improving your diet. Vitamins are nutrients that are indispensable in keeping your body healthy.
Only small amounts of some vitamins are necessary, but some are not produced in the body at all and others are only produced in insufficient amounts. As a result, it is necessary to take in nutrients through your food rather than just taking single nutrients in the form of supplements.