Vitamin D is a vital substance for our body, which is largely obtained from sunlight. But what to do if the sun doesn’t shine enough? The concentrated consumption of foods with a high vitamin D content can then help.
Vitamin D describes a group of fat-soluble vitamins, the calciferols, which include vitamin D2 and vitamin D3. In the human body, these are significantly involved in bone metabolism. In particular, they promote the absorption of calcium and phosphate from the intestine and ensure that they are built into the bones. Vitamin D is also involved in other metabolic processes, such as the formation of proteins and the control of genes. But how does the body get vitamin D?
Health tips
How important vitamin D is – especially in winter
by Jennifer Fraczek
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How does the body get vitamin D?
In contrast to most other vitamins, the human body can largely produce vitamin D itself: it covers 80 to 90 percent of its daily needs. The extraction takes place with the help of sunlight or more precisely the UV-B components contained therein, which are absorbed directly through the skin. That is why it is important to sunbathe regularly unprotected. Typically, five to 25 minutes a day is enough to meet general needs.
In Germany, however, this only applies to the period between March and October. In the remaining winter months, the sun’s rays in this country are too weak. Although the body can make its own vitamin D storage in fat and muscle tissue, it is sometimes still low. Especially with risk groups it can …
