Vitamin D is an essential vitamin. It occurs naturally in very few foods and is absorbed through the skin when exposed to direct sunlight. Most local pharmacies carry an over-the-counter Vitamin D supplement. But how do you know if you need to take this supplement?

Strong bones are built largely through the absorption of calcium. Vitamin D aids the body in absorbing calcium. This helps prevent soft bones for children and weakened bones in adults. Either of these can lead to very serious medical conditions. Vitamin D also helps to regulate the immune system as well as the neuromuscular system. It is also essential in the life cycle of human cells.

A deficiency of Vitamin D has been linked to several series health issues too. Among the maladies that are attributed to this deficiency are cancers of the colon, prostate and breast. It is believed to also be a factor in cases of heart disease, weight gain and even depression. Higher levels of Vitamin D have been known to decrease the risk of these and other diseases.

Those who are at risk of developing a deficiency of this key nutrient should consider taking a Vitamin D supplement. Seeking the advice of a pharmacist or other health care professional can guide in how much to take. They can also help you decide the length of time it should be consumed. This is important as too much of the supplement although unlikely can lead to other complications.

Those who should consider taking the supplemental vitamin are those who do not consume enough in their regular diet and those who are not exposed to sunlight. Eating fish and fish oils will present quite a lot of natural Vitamin D. Also eating plenty of foods that have been fortified with the vitamin will help. Many dairy products are Vitamin D fortified. So are most cereals and breads.Exposure to direct sunlight is very important to assuring adequate levels of the vitamin in the body. If you live in an area where there is not a lot of sunlight a lot of the day, or you do not get outside very much then you should consider taking supplemental Vitamin D. Another factor to the body’s absorption of the vitamin is the pigment of the skin. Darker colored skin can inhibit absorption.