Vitamin D Deficiency - Essay Example

Vitamin D deficiency Unit Summary-The New England Journal of Medicine: Vitamin D deficiency Introduction In the article entitled “The New England Journal of Medicine: Vitamin D deficiency”, the author talks about, Vitamin D deficiency problems having been eliminated because of food fortified with this Vitamin. However, which is still common in both adults and children, and is considered as of lack of Vitamin D in the body. The study sheds some light on lack of Vitamin D causing retarded growth and deformities in skeletal bones during childhood, which increases the risk of fractures in hips in the future. Additionally, in adults, Vitamin D deficiencies precipitate osteoporosis causing weak bones, a high risk of fractures and osteomalacia (Holick, 2007). The article also explains some of the essential roles Vitamin D plays in the body and not only building strong bones in the body but also helps to fight against any infections. The main aim of the research was to review the nature of Vitamin D deficiency, its role in nonskeletal and skeletal health, what cause it, while at the same time suggesting some of the strategies that can be used for its treatment and prevention. As much as most cells and tissues available in the body have Vitamin D receptors and convert the enzymes into Vitamin D, there is a great interest in the role it plays in terms of decreasing the risk of a number of chronic diseases such as cancer, autoimmune, cardiovascular and other infectious diseases (Holick, 2007). The research study was conducted in Boston University Medical Centre, Boston, from the Medicine Department, Endocrinology Section of Diabetes and Nutrition, the Vitamin D, Bone and Skin Laboratory Research 52% of research was conducted on Black American and Hispanic adolescents, while 48% on preadolescents white girls in Maine. In this research, it was found out that the Black American and Hispanic adolescents had 20ng hydroxyvitamin D levels per milliliter, and the Black American women and girls having the same. However, 32% of healthy physicians were found to lack Vitamin D despite taking a glass of milk everyday in addition to eating salmon once a week and multivitamin tablet daily. It was concluded that human beings get Vitamin D from their diet, diet supplements and sunlight. People who eat a high diet of fish helps prevents the vitamin deficiency, while sun penetration being the main source of Vitamin D, penetrates the body as a wave length of 290 to 315 nm (Holick, 2007). Therefore, it was concluded that low intake of Vitamin D than recommended, lack of exposure to sunlight, low calcidoil blood (25-hydroxy-Vitamin D) causes Vitamin D deficiencies. However, I find the research being limited in the sense that the researchers only used few individuals while comparing their hypotheses, which leaves a reader confused of what exactly their main objective was. Nevertheless, some of the questions I had in mind were Vitamin D disorders, in which the study expanded my knowledge on some of its disorders. It is linked to depression and schizophrenia, wheezing, and lung illnesses and skin reduction synthesis. However, I find the research effective in shedding light on Vitamin D deficiency in general. It gives information on what any reader would like to know about the deficiency. Additionally, the study has been well elaborated and does not leave some information behind. It goes ahead and explains the consequences of lacking Vitamin D, in terms of calcium, bone metabolism, and phosphorous absorption. The research also conducts a study in the mineral bone density among Black Americans, Hispanic and White men and women. Therefore, the research is more scientific than speculative since it is full of studies. Some of the future studies that I think would be important are the Vitamin D deficiency in terms of causing Cardiovascular and hypertension disease. This is a subject that has been neglected and therefore, researchers need to shed some light on how Vitamin D is associated with heart failure. Moreover, the study has established the main and important studies on Vitamin D deficiency. The researchers have conducted enough studies to make the research relevant and reliable. It has helped me to expound my knowledge on the topic, from its definition, disorders, causes, its treatment among other relevant information I was in need of. If I were to conduct such a research, I would not have probably changed the methods but I would test as many individuals as possible, from different ethnic backgrounds and not rely of Hispanic, Black Americans and White individuals only. My main subjects would be children from the age of 1 and grownups up to 65 years of age to detect the amount of chromatography liquid 25 hydroxyvitamin D2 and hydroxyvitamin D in them, including both 25-hydroxyvitamin D2 and 25- hydroxyvitamin D3 in their bodies. Once through with the detection, I would then suggest recommended intakes to be increased so as to reduce the risks associated with the deficiency to individuals who lack Vitamin D. This particular information has expanded my knowledge on Vitamin D deficiency. I am now aware of the fact that lack of sunlight causes Rickets in children, as well as in adults. It also causes retarded growth and deformities in skeletal bones during childhood. I intend to use these particular findings in my career in future, by pursuing a Masters degree in RN because of my passion in health and nutritional deficiencies. I also look forward of opening a clinic in my neighborhood one day. I will come up with classes that will teach young mothers on Vitamin D deficiencies and how they can prevent them. By doing so, I will help my community in avoiding such disorders caused by Nutritional deficiencies that can be avoided if people take precaution, by advising them on the correct healthy intakes. Therefore, I find the study on Vitamin D deficiency reliable in general. It provides important information based from several studies conducted on specific individuals. I often caution my friends and young mothers to make sure they have adequate Vitamin D in their bodies, in addition to exposing themselves to the sun to help release Vitamin D stored in their body fats. Reference Holick. M (2007).The New England Journal of Medicine: Vitamin D deficiency.Department of Medicine, Section of Endocrinology, Nutrition, and Diabetes, the Vitamin D, Skin, and Bone Research Laboratory, Boston University Medical Center, Boston. Read More