Calcium can be absorbed through two major transport systems: active transport and passive diffusion; about 60% of calcium is absorbed in the small intestine (duodenum and proximal jejunum) (1,2). An important player in calcium absorption is Vitamin D, more specifically in the intestine calcium absorption. Vitamin D in calcitriol form was historically limited to muscle tissue of bones, the kidneys, and the intestine. However, it is now know that calcitriol plays an important roll is other tissue function such as the brain, heart, skin, colon, central nervous system, and pancreas, when receptors were found on these tissues as well. Vitamin D can be obtained in a multitude of ways such as through the sun, supplementation, fortified food sources such as milk and grains, as well as in animal products. This paper will review the ways that Vitamin D maintain calcium levels, types of calcium absorption via vitamin D, vitamin D’s effects on calcium absorption (primarily in the intestine) during deficiency, calcium absorption via vitamin D in the elderly, healthy women, and pregnant women. It is important to focus on women because women overall have a lower bone density than men as well as experience drastic estrogen changes later on in life which both directly correlate with calcium and vitamin D consumption and absorption.
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
The Role of Vitamin D in Serum Calcium Homeostasis
Normal serum calcium concentration is usually about 8.5-10.5 mg/dL, when this level drops the parathyroid gland releases PTH by activating the calcium receptors (1,2,3). Vitamin D on the other hand influences PTH as well when in high concentrations inhibiting transcription of the PTH gene. The homeostasis of serum calcium through calcitri...
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...ting the hypothesis that age plays a large factor in absorption of calcium in the body (primarily intestinal calcium absorption) (15,16). Elderly, menopausal, and postmenopausal women are at a greater risk of calcium and vitamin D deficiency during those times in their lives. After multiple studies were conducted, the idea that women are at a lesser risk of bone issues (such as fractures) if they follow a regiment of daily doses of calcium and vitamin D either naturally or through supplementation. Pregnant women also have a greater need for vitamin D since the need for more calcium for a growing baby. Conclusion drawn from Fudge et al’s study showed interesting information that Overall, VDR null mice adapted to pregnancy through the up-regulation of duodenal Trpv6 and intestinal calcium absorption and VDR was not crucial during pregnancy for calcium absorption.
Read Case 12 The Folic Acid Fortification Decision: Before and After on pages 351-363 of your text. Once you have read the case, you are to address these questions. The word limit per response is 200 words.
Her findings from this research was praised as she concluded that small supplementary feeding with fruits, milk and wheat germ improved the growth of school children. She also found out that the over dosage of Vitamin D produced brittle bones and calcification of soft tissues. If that wasn’t enough, she continued her extensive research and showed that pantothenic acid is essential for normal pigmentation of hair and skin. Lastly she was intelligent enough to prove that the bone density of woman decreased between 50 and 65 years of
The body controls calcium levels in the bones and blood through parathyroid hormone and calcitonin. PTH is released in the blood to stimulate osteocytes, which causes bone to breakdown. In turn this releases calcium when levels are low in the blood stream.
Context: Hypercalcemia is a commonly encountered clinical problem. In the majority (90%) of the cases it is either due to malignancy or primary hyperparathyroidism and is rarely due to granulomatous disease.
In 2011, the University Of Minnesota took women who take vitamins daily and studied them(Offit, Paul., 2013). The result was the same in that there was no supporting evidence that favors Pauling’s claims and statements. In conclusion, the general public believed the words of a man who had no specific evidence to support his own claims over researches done by trusted establishments who had evidence towards their own claims against Linus Pauling. Vitamin D is essential in many aspects especially during growth periods such as adolescents and infancy as indicated by Winston Koo and Nitin Walyat who are the respective authors of “Vitamin D and Skeletal Growth and Development”. Vitamin D is essential for the body as it helps development organ cells; without the development of organ cells, the body cannot fight against harsh diseases and it will eventually cause severe diseases which can lead to delayed growth rate(Koo, Winston ., 2013, p.188).. Children who drink breast milk are more prone to vitamin D deficiency because breast milk does not contain as many vitamins as mineral (Koo,
Arterial calcification (categorized into intimal and medial calcification) is another complication causing cardiovascular disease. Due to anti-inflammatory effects of vitamin D , it can inhibit various aspects of intimal and medial calcification. There are several factors influencing the process of(please write the whole of abbreviation here) VSMC calcification; core binding alpha-I (cbfaI) which turns a mesenchyme cell into an osteoblast, bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2 ) which accelerates the calcific...
Since ancient times vitamin D has been the predominant cause of bone deficiencies.1 However, it was not in till the seventeenth century when both Dr. Daniel Whistler and Professor Francis Glisson made the first scientific description of a vitamin D deficiency.2 During the mid-seventeenth century there was an increase amount of children that were diagnosed with the bone disease called rickets.2 The cause of the rickets was determined to be associated to the lack of sunlight. A German researcher Kurt Huldschinsky came to the conclusion that when infants were exposed to ultraviolet light rays they became cured of rickets2. He stated that a substance in the skin was the potential source of the cure.2 In 1922, American scientist Elmer McCollum proved that when cod liver oil was heated; the beneficial effects of vitamin A in the oil were reduced.2 However, the oil remained effective in curing rickets leading McCollum to reason that a nutrient different from vitamin A was present in the oil. As a result, he named this nutrient vitamin D, which became the fourth vitamin to be discovered and named.2 Additionally, shortly after 1918, vitamin D was also discovered by an accidental experiment that included a group of scientists curing dogs affected with rickets by feeding cod liver oil to them.1
Classically, vitamin D deficiency is known for its effects on bone, causing reduced mineralization, rickets and osteomalacia.[1, 3] However, many new roles of vitamin D have recently come to light, with more consequences attributed to its’ deficiency.[1] Vitamin D deficiency is increasingly associated with infectious diseases like tuberculosis, and non communicable diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and stroke.[1, 6, 8–11]
Education plays a dominant role in the lives of students all over the United States. Since most students spend roughly eight to twelve hours in school, it is important to make sure that they are provided with a healthy and nutritious breakfast, lunch and snack.
Vitamin, any of the organic compounds required by the body in small amounts for metabolism, to protect health, and for proper growth in children. Vitamins also assist in the formation of hormones, blood cells, nervous-system chemicals, and genetic material. The various vitamins are not chemically related, and most differ in their physiological actions. They generally act as catalysts, combining with proteins to create metabolically active enzymes that in turn produce hundreds of important chemical reactions throughout the body. Without vitamins, many of these reactions would slow down or cease. The intricate ways in which vitamins act on the body, however, are still far from clear.
Calcium is a mineral found in many foods that the human body cannot produce itself (National Osteoporosis Foundation). According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation it is used in the regulation of heartbeat, stimulation of hormone secretions, conduction of nerve impulses, stimulation of blood clotting, and maintenance of a healthy skeleton. They also state that we lose calcium every day through shed skin, nails, hair, sweat, and other bodily functions. Bones are also constantly being “remodeled” by removal of older pieces of bone and replacement with new bone. These losses make a daily source of calcium invaluable. Calcium has traditionally been thought of in conjunction to milk, but this connection is slowly being broken.
When one hears the three words: vitamins, nutrients, and minerals, they think of one thing-being healthy and noticing what your intake is daily. Nutrition is all about vitamins and nutrients. Firstly, vitamins are an organic compound required by the body in small amounts of metabolism, to protect health, and for proper growth of children. Vitamins also assist in the formation of hormones, blood cells, nervous systems chemicals, and genetic material. There are 13 well-identified vitamins. Some examples of the 13 well-identified vitamins are: A, D, E, and K-fat contained foods, B, C-consumed immediately. A well known and commonly used in commercials for orange juice vitamin is vitamin C. Vitamin C or ascorbic acid is important in the synthesis and maintenance of connective tissues. The lack of vitamin C will result in a sickness called scurvy. Scurvy harms the gums, mucous membranes, and the skin. Another well-known vitamin and is also used to commercial to give more information about this beverage is the vitamin in milk. The vitamin in milk is vitamin D. If you do not drink milk and obtain this vitamin, your bones and teeth will become soft and weak. Lacking one or more of the 13 well-identified vitamins will cause sickness and weakness to your body. Secondly, nutrients are how the body assimilates certain compounds. Nutrients are classified in 5 major groups: proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals. One of the five nutrients is carbohydrate. The carbohydrate group principally consists of sugar, starch, dextrin, cellulose, and glycogen. In more basic terms, carbohydrates are sugars needed by human and other living organisms. Some types of foods that contain carbohydrates would be candies, ice cream, fruit juice, soda, chocolate bars etc. Lastly, vitamins are connected to minerals. Minerals are also a very important part of a healthy person. There are 11 major groups of minerals. They are: calcium, chromium, copper, iodine, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorous, potassium, selenium, and zinc. All these terms look very familiar if one has taken chemistry. These are the elements of our world. One of the more common minerals that most people have heard of is calcium. Calcium also helps with the structure and strength of teeth and bones. Vitamins and minerals work together to help humans maintain a healthy body. For example, vitamin D works with calcium to help for and maintain the strength of teeth and bones.
Vitamin D is a necessary component for calcium absorption to prevent boss loss. Nutritionally our body can create vitamin D by sun exposure however many factors can prevent our bodies to create vitamin D such as using sunblock or not getting enough sun exposer from daily routine. Vitamin D can be found in many foods that we such as milk including almond milk, eggs yolks, saltwater fish, and liver. Other vitamins that can help prevent bone loss are vitamin A and C. Vitamin C is an antioxidant which helps reduce oxidative stress which can have a negative effect on the cells in the body. This helps protect against inflammation which takes away calcium from the bones. Vitamin C can be found in many foods such as papaya, bell peppers, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, strawberries, pineapples, oranges and kiwifruit and fruit juices have supplement vitamins. Vitamin A is important for bone growth, vision, cell division and cell differentiation. There are two different forms of vitamin A are retinol and beta-carotene. Retinol can be found in meat, poultry, fish and dairy products while beta-carotene can be found in fruits, vegetables and
Rickets is a bone disease that occurs in children as a result of a Vitamin D deficiency. This disease, which was nearly eradicated in the early 20th century, has become a re-emerging health concern for various countries in the past ten years. Certain factors such as poor nutrition as a result of low socioeconomic status or high concentrations of melanin in the skin can increase the chances of getting rickets. Sufficient Vitamin D levels are crucial to the functioning of the body, especially in the absorption of calcium. This essay will examine the causes, symptoms, pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of rickets; as well as the importance of Vitamin D and calcium in the prevention and treatment of this disease.
Since we have been learning about nutrition in class, our task was to record a food log. Nutrition requires a well-balanced diet containing nutrient and vitamins like amino acids and fatty acids. Over the past seven days I have been recording and have been looking very carefully at my intake of nutrients, minerals, vitamins, and fats. In our task, the objective was to record the basic foods we ate during the period of seven, but it did not require recording every single detail or our intake of food. Doing this food log was a pain and it was disturbing because I never wrote about what I ate like breakfast, lunch, dinner, or additional meals. I found this food log useful because it helped me learn what I can change in my intake of foods to make my diet healthy and to see what about my diet is affecting me from being healthy because I could affect me in the future.