Vitamin D

The human forms of vitamin D that are most crucial for nutrition are calciferol (vitamin D2) and cholecalciferol ( vitamin D3 ). Ergosterol, a plant sterol, can be exposed to radiation to produce calciferol. The naturally occurring form of vitamin D is called cholecalciferol, and it can be found in fish liver oils and animal fats. It also comes from being exposed to UV rays from sunshine, which transform skin cholesterol into vitamin D. The remote depots are where most of the vitamin D is kept.

Functions:

• Intestine:
  • Boost calcium and phosphorus absorption through the digestive tract.
• Bone:
  • Encourage regular mineralization.
  • Increases in bone reabsorption.
  • Impact the maturation of collagen.
• Kidney:
  • Boost phosphate reabsorption in the tubules.
  • Varying impact on calcium reabsorption.
• Others:
  • Permit normal growth.

Deficiency:

Rickets:

• Rickets is caused by a vitamin D deficiency and typically affects young children between the ages of 6 months and 2 years. It is a disease with a quick growth cycle.
• The calcification of developing bones has decreased. In Nepal, vitamin D deficiency is less prevalent than vitamin A deficiency.

Causes:

• Inadequate exposure to sunlight Children who overdress or live in urban areas without access to natural light are more likely to have it.
• Impaired vitamin D synthesis from the skin and disturbed metabolism caused by liver and renal disorders.
• Low phosphate and calcium intake.
• Calcium and phosphate are not being absorbed properly.

Symptoms:

Signs and symptoms of rickets may include:

•  Delayed growth.
•  Pain in the spine, pelvis, and legs.
•  Muscle weakness.

Because rickets softens the growth plates at the ends of a child's bones, it can cause skeletal deformities such as:

•  Bowed legs.
•  Thickened wrists and ankles.
•  Breastbone projection.

Treatments and drugs:

The majority of rickets patients can be cured with calcium and vitamin D supplementation. Pay attention to your doctor's dose recommendations, which may change depending on your child's growth. Vitamin D excess can be harmful.

Give a single large dosage of vitamin D3—300 000 units for infants under 1 year old and 600 000 units for adults older than that—along with calcium and phosphorus.

Prevention:

• Encourage parents to regularly expose their kids to the sun.
• Young children with a vitamin D supplement in the form of food.
• Milk in particular is fortified with vitamin D.

REFERENCE

• Ambika Rai, Kabita Dahal. Community Health Nursing II. Kathmandu: Makalu Publication House, 2012 (reprint).
• Dr.Suwal S.N. & Tuitui R. (2063) A Textbook of Community Health Nursing, 1st edition, Vidyarthi Prakashan (P). Ltd. Kamalpokhari, Kathmandu
• Endres J.B & Rockwell R.E. (1985), 2nd edition, Food, Nutrition & the Young Child, Times Mirror/ Mosby College Publishing, Toronto, USA
• MedicineNet. 1996. 2017 http://www.medicinenet.com/vitamin_d_deficiency/article.htm
• Medline Plus. 05 January 2017 https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002405.htm
• Web MD. 2005. 2017 http://www.webmd.boots.com/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-d-deficiency