Vitamin D is known for its importance in the management of calcium in the intestine, bones and blood and resistance to disease. However, Thyroid Factor Reviews show that vitamin D levels can also be a contributing factor in many other health problems.

 

The researchers now believe it plays a crucial role in how cells communicate. Clinical studies link abnormal vitamin D levels to colon, prostate, and breast cancer, as well as heart disease, weight gain, and thyroid conditions.

 

Vitamin D production

 

Vitamin D is unique compared to other vitamins, because it is almost impossible to get what you need from food. Instead, your body naturally produces it on your skin when exposed to natural or artificial UVB light.

 

Once your body produces vitamin D or takes it as a supplement, it is sent to the liver. The liver transforms vitamin D into 25 (OH) D and sends it to various areas of the body and activates it. Once activated, you are ready to complete your tasks.

 

Autoimmune conditions

 

Autoimmunity occurs when the immune system treats a person's healthy cells and tissues as a threat. When this happens, your body produces an immune response and attacks. This response can cause damage, inflammation, and chronic pain in many parts of the body.

 

Vitamin D deficiencies can reduce the body's ability to fight infection and can link to or cause autoimmune diseases like Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Grave's disease.

 

Clinical studies

 

Several 2014 studies presented at the annual meeting of the Thyroid Association are of special interest. Researchers from Nanjing, China evaluated 34 patients with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis and 32 with Grave's Disease against 52 healthy patients. The researchers measured many factors related to the thyroid, including vitamin D3.

 

Vitamin D is actually a group of compounds classified as Vitamin D1, D2, and D3. Vitamin D3 is the natural form of the vitamin and the most biologically active.

 

The researchers found that patients with autoimmune thyroid disease had significantly lower vitamin D3 levels than healthy controls. Patients with high thyroid peroxidase antibodies that the body produces in autoimmune thyroid disease also had lower levels of vitamin D. This suggests that vitamin D insufficiency may be linked to or cause autoimmune thyroid disease.

 

Brazilian researchers studied 54 Hashimoto patients, compared to 54 healthy controls. They also found vitamin D deficiency in 63.2% of patients. Those with low vitamin D levels also had higher levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone and a larger thyroid.

 

Lack of vitamin D

 

Normally, the skin produces enough vitamin D when exposed to adequate UV light. However, the risks of skin cancer or melanoma now mean that many people wear sunscreen and cover their bodies. We also spend more time indoors for work and entertainment.

 

Since more clinical tests show a link between vitamin D and thyroid function, many doctors now recommend vitamin D tests as part of thyroid assessment and care. However, physicians and functional practitioners who follow the medical model may treat it differently based on their results.

 

Medical model vs functional model

 

The medical model recommends 400 international units per day of vitamin D. They also define a sufficient serum 25 (OH) D level above 50 nmol / L, since it "meets the needs of 97.5% of the population". The test used to measure vitamin D levels in the 25-hydroxy vitamin D blood test.

 

The medical model generally recommends supplementation to increase low vitamin D levels. However, the functional approach to care recognizes multiple reasons that can cause low vitamin D levels. Consequently, recommending supplements before discussing general health and others Possible problems can be ineffective and counterproductive.

 

Supplements don't always correct low vitamin D levels, because they don't address underlying problems. The vitamin D receptor in some autoimmune patients cannot be activated due to variations in its DNA sequence. Consequently, they need higher than normal levels of vitamin D in the blood to avoid vitamin D insufficiency.

 

Vitamin D is fat soluble, and some patients with thyroid problems, such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis, have low heartburn and poor fat absorption. Autoimmune conditions like Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Grave's disease also cause the immune system to work overtime