What is vitamin D?

About this episode

What is vitamin D? Thanks for asking! Vitamin D was discovered in 1922 by American biochemist Elmer McCollum, who was nicknamed Dr Vitamin by Time Magazine. He found that cod liver oil could still prevent rickets in rats, despite its vitamin A having been removed. From this observation, he deduced that it contained a different substance which he called vitamin D. Why vitamin D is necessary? A sufficient quantity of vitamin D is necessary during early childhood years in order to prevent rickets. In adults, it protects against osteoporosis and the deterioration of bone tissue. It also plays an important part in preventing breast cancer and colon cancer. Vitamin D deficiency increases the risk of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. According to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, over 1 billion people worldwide are vitamin D deficient. In May 2020, an American study suggested that vitamin D deficiency could increase the risks of complications associated with Covid-19. This was based on data from countries severely affected by COVID-19, like China, France, Germany, Italy and the United States. According to a Dutch study, another vitamin may give you an advantage in fighting the virus, and that's vitamin K. Covid-19 causes coagulation of blood and degrades elastic pulmonary fibres. Whereas vitamin K consumed with food participates in the production of proteins which regulate coagulation. How do we produce or find Vitamin D then? But how does sunblock work then? What about skin colour; does that impact our ability to produce Vitamin D? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen the last episodes, you can click here: What is doomscrolling? What is the New Cold War? What is chlordecone? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices