Vitamins A and D - "Mineral Absorbers"

Why are Vitamins A and D so Important?

Vitamin A (Retinol)

Vitamin D (Cholecalciferol)

Functions in body

Sufficient vitamin A needed for mineral uptake / utilization of water-soluble vitamins;

•  Essential for good eyesight (retinal component) - Vitamin A is called “retinol” because of its presence in the retina;

•  Builds muscle;

•   Utilizes protein -initiates gastric juice secretion; (High-protein diet depletes vitamin A - e.g. heavy meat-eating);

•   “Beauty”Vitamin - keeps the skin smooth and soft

•  Improves growth in nutrient-deprived children;

•  Powerful inhibitor of prostate cancer ;

•  Antioxidant -controls free radicals in body fats, and its presence in Cod liver oil protects against lipid peroxide damage.

•  Growth/repair of body tissues - used in cell division.

•  Helps build strong bones/teeth, rich blood;

•   Protects mucous membranes of mouth / nose / throat / lungs / entire digestive tract / bladder / kidneys .

•   Immune system builder;

•   Vitamin A protects against possible dioxins and pesticides (a useful ingredient in cod liver oil)

•  Reproduction - necessary for sperm production. Used in cell division and differentiation (i.e. cell decides what it will be), and prenatal development (Aids RNA production); Prevents spontaneous abortion.

•  Sex Hormone Production -needed for conversion of cholesterol into steroid hormones

Vitamin D does much more than aid calcium absorption for bone strength:

•  Vitamin D3 (the vitamin D form produced in the body by the action of sunlight on skin) is converted via liver, then kidneys and nearly all body cells to its active hormone form, called CALCITRIOL.

•  Virtually all the body's cells have vitamin D receptors - meaning they use vitamin D to function properly.

•  Upregulates nearly 3000 genes -considering that your body only has ~25,000 genes helps one to grasp D's enormous influence on health; Vitamin D affects DNA through vitamin D receptors (VDRs), which bind to specific locations of the human genome;

•  Bone Formation and Strength -By promoting intestinal calcium and phosphate absorption, vitamin D helps to form and strengthen bones.

•  Aids repair and maintenance;

•  Regulates Immune system and Inflammation - vitamin D up-regulates an important gene for fighting infections and controlling chronic inflammation. This gene produces over 200 anti- microbial peptides, most importantly, cathelicidin, a natural broad-spectrum antibiotic (the reason vitamin D is so effective against colds / flu and why flu occurs in winter).

Since vitamin D modulates immune response it can prevent over-reactive inflammation leading to autoimmune disorders E.g. Crohn's Disease, IBS, Rheumatoid arthritis.

•  Has anti-cancer properties, especially against breast, colon, ovarian and prostate cancer.E.g.Prostate cancerhas been found to be inversely correlated to geographic availability of sunlight and skin darkness. Vitamin D at certain levels is growth inhibitory to prostate cells.  Tuohimaa P. et al, Both high and low levels of blood vitamin D are associated with a higher prostate cancer risk.

•  Precursor to the steroid hormones.

•   Effective antioxidant against lipid  peroxidation Wiseman H. Vitamin D is a membrane antioxidant

Signs of Deficiency

•   Goose bumps on skin (mostly at back of upper arm);

•  Night blindness;

•  Keratomalacia (severe nutritional deficiency, corneal ulceration, extreme eye dryness);

•  Increased rate of infection;

•  Increase in mortality;

•  Advanced deficiency affects mucous membranes of respiratory/gastro-intestinal/genito-urinary tracts.

•  Deficiency in pregnancy causes malformations in baby -eye-defects, displaced kidneys, harelip, cleft palate, heart abnormalities, larger blood vessels.

Vitamin A stores are rapidly DEPLETED by EXERCISE, FEVER and STRESS

•  Research implicates vitamin D deficiency in many disorders; www.vitamindcouncil.com/research.shtml

•  Body unable to control calcium and phosphate levels - Low blood levels of vitamin D cause release of calcium and phosphate from bones. Consequentially, bones form, but without becoming dense and hard(i.e. mineralized) àRickets in children(softening of the skull bones, bowing of the legs, spinal curvature, increased joint size.).

•  Osteomalacia in adults (Pain in the joints/hips, back, ribs;Muscles in the upper arms and thighs become weak; Fatigue; Waddling; bone fractures) -often seenin the elderly, who generally receive little sunlight. (Malacia means “softening”).