Introduction
Vitamin D3, which is referred to as cholecaciferol is the form of vitamin D that is gotten when the human skin is exposed to direct sunlight (Adams & Hewison, 2010). This form of vitamin D is thought to be superior to the other form of vitamin D referred to as Vitamin D2 or ergocalciferol.
There has been so much progress in research studies concerning the medical importance of vitamin D3. Several disorders have been directly linked to vitamin D3 deficiency.
This paper seeks to establish the importance of vitamin D3, specifically regarding its relationship with such diseases as cancer, HIV and AIDS, depression among others.
Vitamin D3 and Cancer
Research carried out mainly in the last year has led to some useful revelations in regard to Vitamin D3’s possible role in the prevention and treatment of cancer. Studies are currently being conducted to establish how vitamin D3 can reduce the risk of more than 17 different types of cancer (Holick, Binkley, Bischoff, & Gordon, 2011).
A recent study conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health has shown that Vitamin D3 can prolong the life of a prostate cancerpatient or even help fight the cancer (Lichtenstein, Patel, Raman, & Tatsioni, 2009). It is worth noting that those men who have enough amount of vitamin D in the organism are less exposed to a prostate cancer disease. “The mechanism of action”, as shown through experimentation, is “the reduction of proliferation and boosting of apoptosis” (Lichtenstein, Patel, Raman, & Tatsioni, 2009). According to the study, increased concentration of vitamin D3 caused lower levels of specific antigen at diagnosis (Marin, 2011). Thus, the researchers concluded that when a patient is exposed to higher levels of the vitamin gotten from sunshine then cancer cells become less active.
Its well thought proper intake of vitamin D3 can lower deaths caused by prostate cancer since the vitamin will attach itself to cancerous cells and inhibit the cell division process (Marin, 2011).
Invitro studies have shown that “when vitamin D is added to a culture of cancerous cells, it causes the cancer cells to cease growth and begin to return to their normal state, more studies are required to confirm whether this can take place in the human body” (Marin, 2011).
Studies have also been carried out regarding colorectal cancer. This type of cancer causes the second highest cancer-related deaths in the United States. Epidemiological studies carried out by Harvard Medical School have shown that cancer patients, who have higher levels of vitamin D at the time of diagnosis, have a better chance of survival. It has also been revealed that the dietary intake of vitamin D, 200-400 IU per day is not sufficient to adequately prevent or stop cancer growth.
Other studies have shown that vitamin D3 is also vital in the treatment and prevention of other forms of cancer, such as breast cancer where high levels of vitamin D3 metabolites are associated with a non-significantly lower risk (Lichtenstein, Patel, Raman, & Tatsioni, 2009).
Vitamin D3 and Fibromyalgia
Research that was begun a few years ago seems to have pinpointed the relationship between “fibromyalgia, chronic pain and lower levels of vitamin D” (Marin, 2011, pp. 4). Most outstanding is the study that was carried out in Mayo Clinic in 2009 showed that vitamin D deficiency was directly related to narcotic pain medication (Adams & Hewison, 2010).
Fibromyalgia is often diagnosed with concurrent symptoms. The most important symptoms that are required to confirm a diagnosis are as follows: anxiety and/or depression, widespread chronic pain, chronic fatigue, and a significantly reduced pain threshold (Marin, 2011).
Studies have appeared to provide a link between these symptoms, which are often described as fibromyalgia syndrome and vitamin D insufficiency.
There is still no consensus as to whether vitamin D3 deficiency is the real cause of fibromyalgia syndrome. Studies are still being carried out and to date there are few scientific findings that can settle the debate.
Its common knowledge that vitamin D promotes bone and muscle strength, new findings have linked it to increase in pain and impairment of neuromuscular functioning. By recognizing this, physicians can effectively reduce their patients’ suffering and improve the quality of their lives.
These findings are preliminary, but they should be adopted to ensure that the quality of healthcare is improved. Patients who suffer from chronic pain and often use narcotics, should have their vitamin D checked due to the fact that inadequate levels may play a leading role in the creation and sustenance of the pain (Marin, 2011). Similarly, physicians who offer care to patients who have been diagnosed with chronic pain that appears to be musculoskeletal and is accompanied by several tenders and palpate areas should contemplate checking the level of vitamin D (Marin, 2011).
Vitamin D3 and Allergies
Studies carried out over the past few years have tended to draw a relationship between vitamin D3 deficiency and the prevalence of allergies in children.
A study carried out in February at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Yeshiva University in New York, indicated that children who had low levels of vitamin D3, had a very high chance of developing sensitivity allergens (Marin, 2011). Many people were diagnosed and it became clear that those ones who did not have enough vitamin D in the organism were at risk of getting some form of the allergy.
Another study carried out by Scholars at Harvard University showed that an increase in exposure to sunlight was able to assist in the prevention of asthma and allergies in children (Marin, 2011).
A study conducted in New Zealand in 2006 also showed that vitamin D deficiency was directly related to a respiratory infection susceptibility. The follow-up study conducted by the researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital confirmed the findings and went further to identify that asthma was the respiratory ailment mostly observed (Adams & Hewison, 2010).
Vitamin D Deficiency and AIDS
A more recent study that was done by a network of scientists referred to as EuroSIDA found out that vitamin D deficiency is very common for patients suffering from HIV and AIDS (Lichtenstein, Patel, Raman, & Tatsioni, 2009). The deficiency was further linked to the progression of the AIDS disease. The more advanced the AIDS condition, the lower the level of vitamin D. This study was not the first one to come up with these findings, however, it was the first to establish a direct relationship between vitamin D deficiency and the overall mortality as well as the progression of the disease that can lead to AIDS (Marin, 2011).
After identifying that low levels of Vitamin D were prevalent in patients diseased with HIV, the study was modified to identify how the nutritional insufficiency was related to the progression of the disease (Marin, 2011).
The results indicated that the group that had been diagnosed with the lowest level of vitamin D in their blood turned out to contribute the biggest percentage (10%) of individuals who had developed AIDS. The middle group had an average figure (6%) while the group whose blood had highest level of vitamin D contributed only a small percentage (5%) of individuals who had developed AIDS (Marin, 2011). The results indicate that people who have the HIV virus and are deficient in vitamin D are more likely to develop AIDS compared to people with the virus but with sufficient levels of vitamin D. Furthermore, this patient are more likely to die due to AIDS, according to the results of the same study (Marin, 2011).
The same study showed that mortality chances were much higher in vitamin D deficient patients. The mortality ratios were directly proportional to the level of vitamin D deficiency (Marin, 2011).
These findings reveal that HIV-infected patients should take measures to reverse or prevent vitamin D deficiency. The differentiation of the two types of vitamins is also vital for their survival. Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) is superior to vitamin D2 and thus patients should ensure that they get vitamin D3 to boost chances of their survival.
Conclusion
This paper sought to identify the medical importance of vitamin 3D. It has been established that Vitamin D, especially vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) deficiency is associated with many disease conditions such as HIV and AIDS, cancer and allergies. Research is currently underway to establish or confirm the particular mechanisms involved. There are ongoing works to establish whether there are other conditions that are associated with the disease and if so how.
References
Adams, J., & Hewison, M. (2010). Update in Vitamin D. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 95(2): 471-8.
Holick, M., Binkley, N., Bischoff, H., & Gordon, C. (2011). Evaluation, treatment, and prevention of vitamin D deficiency: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline. J Clin Endocrinol , 96(7):1911-30.
Lichtenstein, A., Patel, K., Raman, G., & Tatsioni, A. (2009). Vitamin D and calcium: a systematic review of health outcomes. Evidence report/technology assessment , (183): 1-420.
Marin, L. (2011). Seattle Residents May Be More Susceptible to Seasonal Depression. Web.