Cholecalciferol

Cholecalciferol is an important hormone also known as Vitamin D3. Its usefulness is still being studied, but some of its benefits include strengthening bones and effectively keeping prostate and colon cancers at bay. Deficiencies result in increasingly susceptibility to cancer, brain diseases, heart disease, and numerous other physical and mental ailments. If you happen to be concerned about whether or not you get the recommended 5000IU of this vitamin daily - do not fret; humans can synthesise Cholecalciferol by exposing their skin to the sun. The UV rays in the sun break down the Cholesterol in the skin creating Vitamin D3. By just exposing 40% of your body to the sun for 20 minutes you can produce 20,000IU of Vitamin D3. Do not worry about overdosing on it either; your body limits the amount it produces to about 20,000IU per day. You can however get Vitamin D3 poisoning if you ingest too much of it though supplements. The true fact about Vitamin D3 is that it is not actually a vitamin; it is classified as a hormone because the body produces it itself.

Properties
Cholecalciferol is crystalline substance that is often not seen in its solid form. When solid it appears as white, needle-like crystals. Cholecalciferol is most often found dissolved into fats and other non-water liquids which makes it hard to observe in its pure state. Cholecalciferol is not water soluble and must be dissolved in some sort of lipid when consumed. To ensure maximum absorption of Cholecalciferol it is recommended to consume some sort of fatty food such as eggs or 2% milk just before taking it.

Production
Vitamin D3, or Cholecalciferol is a chemical compound formed by the exposure of ultra violet rays to the skin of mammals. When UV rays are exposed to the skin a special type of cholesterol stored in our skin called 7-dehydrocholesterol reacts and forms active 7-dehydrocholestrol, or Cholecalciferol. The Cholecalciferol is then circulated through the blood stream and our kidneys filter it out to make 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, the biologically active version used by our body. Because it is produced by the body Vitamin D3 is not actually a true vitamin and is classified as a hormone. In nature, Vitamin D3 can be found in egg yolks, fish oils, and many different plants.

Uses
Vitamin D3 is one of the least known vitamin in the world, yet it is one of the most beneficial. Vitamin D3 can prevent things such as Obesity, Type 2 Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, Depression, Psoriasis, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Kidney Stones, Osteoporosis, & Neurodegenerative disease. Long term use can even prevent most types of cancer, especially cancer of the breast, prostate, and colon. One study was conducted on a group of 2686 people aged 65-85. In the study half the group took 100,000iu of Vitamin D3 every 4 months for 5 years and the other half took a placebo. The rate of fractures on those who took Vitamin D3 was 22% lower than those who did not. Also, the rate of fractures in major osteoporotic sites was down 33%. The study concludes that Cholecalciferol, Vitamin D3, is effective in preventing fractures to elderly people. When someone is affected by prostate cancer they produce an increased amount of prostate-specific antigens, one of the most common symptoms of prostate cancer. In one study 15 prostate cancer patients were given 2000iu's of Cholecalciferol daily and the number of prostate-specific antigens decreased or stayed the same. This was sustained for up to 21 months.

Deficiency
Vitamin D3 deficiency is common among humans, more and more people are avoiding the sun for fear of getting skin cancer. Lack of vitamin D3 can cause major problems. If your body is low on vitamin D3 you may just lose out on health benefits such as a lower risk of certain cancers and a more solid bones. However, severe vitamin D3 deficiency can greatly increase your risk for things such as heart disease, chronic pain, hypertension, arthritis, depression, inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, Crohn's Disease, cancer, and Multiple Sclerosis. Other risks include stroke, muscle atrophy, and birth defects.

A study by the American Society of Anesthesiologists published in 2007 reveals that out of 267 adults being treated for chronic pain, 26% of them had Vitamin D deficiency. Those with the deficiency dose had to be almost twice as much as those with adequate Vitamin D3. Those with deficiency also stayed on morphine for an average 71.1 months while those with proper Vitamin D levels only stayed on for an average of 43.8 months. This study did not prove that deficiency of vitamin D was the cause of the patient's chronic pain, but it did show there is a direct connection between the pain senses and Vitamin D levels. Patients in this study also demonstrated a more depressive mood when deficient of the vitamin.