Is a Vitamin D3 supplement as effective as real sunlight ?

Question

I don't take Vitamin D supplements, i'm outside in the sun a lot .
My sister however, doesn't get outside much , she works night-shift and sleeps during the daytime . Would a Vitamin D3 supplement do her good ?

Answer 1

We make vitamin D from certain UV rays from sunlight. We make Vitamin D "if" most of our skin is exposed, and we dont need to be exposed to the sun too long to make adequate vitamin D, just 15 to 20 minutes. It's obviously easier for us to utilize the suns summer rays more than the winter rays because of the warmth. Who really goes outside and lays around in their bikini in the snow? heh

As far as supplemental vitamin D goes, we have to metabolize it in our liver to make it useful in our bodies. Animal source vitamin D, cholecalciferol or D3 is easier for us to metabolize than plant source vitamin D, ergocalciferol or D2.

Supplementing with Clean, fresh cod liver oil will give us some D3, but most of us especially in the north are deficient in vitamin D and low strength supplements sometimes aren't enough. Some people take 2,000-5,000 IU's of D3 per day to try to correct deficiency with their practitioners guidance.

I suggest that if your sisters vitamin D levels are an issue, then she can go and see her Dr (MD) and get her levels of D tested. It's generally covered by insurance and she will know if she really needs to supplement or not.

Answer 2

Vitamin A and D fortified cod liver oil capsules containing 4,000 IU of vitamin A and 400 IU of vitamin D are very good if you don't get out in the sun much. One a day is all you need. Even 800 IU of vitamin D a day is OK but any more than that is overdoing it and unnecessary. Even as little as 200 IU a day is probably enough or even less. Some multivitamins only contain 50 IU of vitamin D which certainly helps but more is better as vitamin D helps to absorb calcium which is good for your bones.

Answer 3

your skin manufactures vitamin D when you are exposed to sunlight. 20 min. of sun exposure and your skin will create 400 iu of that vitamin D. you can find it within the egg yolks, fish, butter, and milk. cod liver oil is also good.
you can take 200 to 400 iu a day for supplement when low sun exposure. but must be carefull as if this vitamin is taken in higher dose. toxicity can occure, but for that you need 1000-1500 iu a day for over a month. so don`t worry if you take less a day. and of coarse nothing beats the real thing, the sun.

Answer 4

Vitamin supplements generally are not as effective as eating fruits, vegetables or as sunlight (D)

Answer 5

Vitamin D needs sunlight to work. It is not one or the other. They work together. Sunlight doesn't replace teh need for the vitamin intake and the vitamin alone doesn't work without sunlight. However, by sunlight we don't mean sunbathing, which is dangerous too. Just a normal exposure, like going to do your daily shopping in the morning or so.

Answer 6

Here is some good info! Fall and winter are the SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) seasons. During these months of the year depressing thoughts can overwhelm us due to darker days. It is especially difficult to experience sadness or depression when we are expected to be and act jovial amidst holiday activities. Winter months are especially notorious for their gloomy gray skies, cold drizzling rainfall, and occasional dismal snowfall. Fall-Back Into SADness The SAD season births its symptomatic depressive moods upon us generally around the same time when we turn our clocks back from standard to daylight savings time. The fall-back one hour change results in shorter daylight hours. For those of us who depend on sunshine to brighten our moods the shortened daylight makes us feel SAD, and are likely to continually feel even SADder as the season progresses. SAD hovers above our heads, its emotional clouds filled with feelings of depression, melancholy, and anxiety, as we do our best to muddle through each darkened day. A single day with overcast skies is a great excuse to crawl under a blanket and stick your nose into a good book or veg out on the couch and watch an old movie. But, day after day of light deprivation can be harmful, it can make a person feel cranky, lethargic, and despondent. SAD Symptoms 1. Change in Sleep Patterns * oversleeping but not refreshed * cannot or reluctantly get out of bed * require afternoon naps 2. Depression * feelings of despair, misery, guilt, anxiety, hopelessness, etc. * normal tasks become frustratingly difficult * withdrawal from friends and family * avoiding company * crankiness or irritability * lack of feeling/emotion * constant state of sadness 3. Lethargy * decreased energy * everything an effort * decreased productivity 4. Physical Ailments * joint pain * stomach problems * lowered resistance to infection * weight gain * premenstrual syndrome (worsens or only occurs in winter) 5. Behavioral Problems * appetite changes (usually increased appetite) * carbohydrate craving * loss of interest in sex * difficulty concentrating * not accomplishing tasks Winter Depression Seasonal Affective Disorder, also called Winter Depression, affects approximately 10 million people in the United States alone. Women are three times more likely than men to suffer from this disorder. People who live in colder climates have a higher incidence of SAD than do those who live in warm, sunny locations. It has also been documented that suicide rates are higher in places of increased light deprivation. SAD Prevention and Remedies * Low fat diet, without too much protein * Daily vitamin with magnesium, B complex, and minerals * Elimination of caffeine * Stress management * Elimination of refined sugars and flours * Walking or aerobic exercise * Saint John's Wort * Mustard Flower Essences * Herbal remedies * Spending 30 minutes each day in the fresh air (in the sunlight if the weather permits, don't forget sunscreen!) * Light therapy (Light, whether it is natural or artificial, is essential in your life)

Answer 7

yeh... but she will have to take a lot of them concidering she will just sh.lt them out 12 hours later

where as if she got real sunlight it would stay within her body up to a week

Answer 8

yes, but 10 min of real sunlight helps a lot too. or she could go to a tanning salon.

Answer 9

i think it would better to ask a professional doctor that specializes in that problem,but if you already bought it read the instructions and read it to the doctor,take care also because some are fake. ; )

Answer 10

Yes.