Interní Med. 2008; 10(6): 295-297

Vitamin D - readout

doc. MUDr. Pavel Hlúbik CSc¹, MUDr. Jana Fajfrová²

¹ Vojenská lékařská akademie JEP, Hradec Králové

² Fakulta vojenského zdravotnictví Univerzity obrany, Hradec Králové

Vitamin D is required to maintain normal blood levels of calcium and phosphate, that are in turn needed for the normal mineralisation of bone, muscle contraction, nerve conduction and general cellular function in all cells of the body. Vitamin D, a seco-steroid, can either be made in the skin from a cholesterol-like precursor by exposure to sunlight or can be provided pre-formed in diet. The foods rich in vitamin D are fatty fish, eggs, butter, liver and some meat. The early signs of vitamin D deficiency are decreased serum concentration of calcium resulting from depressed absorption of calcium from the intestine leading to depletion of calcium from bones. Later signs are inadequate skeletal mineralization (rickets or osteomalacia), bone pain, severe bone deformities and alterations in muscle metabolism and respiratory function. Symptoms of acute and chronic vitamin D intoxication include nausea, diarrhoea, polyuria, weight loss, hypercalcemia, hypercalciuria and eventually nephrocalcinosis, decreased renal function or calcification of soft tissues. Upper limit for vitamin D intakes is 50 μg/day.

Keywords: Key words: vitamin D, vitamin D insufficiency, ultraviolet radiation.

Published: July 1, 2008  Show citation