Vitamin D: A miracle or a necessity?

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kerem Teralı, Lecturer in the Faculty of Medicine of Cyprus International University (CIU) said that in many studies, vitamin D not only improves the skeletal health reducing the risk of fracture but also boosts the body organ systems, and Vitamin D deficiency may manifest in a variety of ways, including fatigue, back pain, hair loss, poor wound healing, and symptoms of depression.

Reminding that vitamin D is basically a vitamin that regulates the amount of calcium and phosphorus in the body, Teralı said, " Besides being provided through the diet optimized by consuming meat and vegetables, vitamin D can be synthesized in skin when exposed to sun rays."

Teralı pointed out that vitamin D is also an important hormone that manages certain processes in the body, and noted that about three percent of the genes that people have are directly or indirectly associated with this hormone. 

Stating that low vitamin D deficiency can be easily measured in laboratories, Teralı stated that when lab results indicate deficiency,  supplements need to be taken.

Teralı said that serum vitamin D levels below 30 ng/mL indicates Vitamin D deficiency and should be supplemented, and reminded that it is important for these levels to be above 50 ng/mL in order to protect bone health in older adults (>65 years old).

On the other hand, Teralı noted that the discussions about the extra-skeletal effects of vitamin D are still ongoing, and contrary to the hopes of the newly published reviews and meta-analyses, excess of vitamin D in the body (>50 ng/mL) has a role in reducing the risk of cancer, cardiovascular diseases or type 2 diabetes in adults. 

Teralı also drew attention to the fact that serum vitamin D levels of 100 ng/mL and above have toxic effects on the  body. For people with sufficient vitamin D in their body, supplemental vitamin D administration does not provide extraordinary benefits on the general health status of the person.
However, it is essential to prescribe supplemental vitamins to individuals suffering from vitamin D deficiency.

Teralı stated that as the CIU Faculty of Medicine, they continue scientific studies on the prevalence rate of vitamin D deficiency in the Turkish Cypriot community and its potential determinants. Teralı also expressed that they will share new findings with everyone in  future publications.