Visit www.dummies.com/cheatsheet/vitamind to view this book's cheat sheet.
Table of Contents
About This Book Conventions Used in This Book What You Don’t Have to Read Foolish Assumptions How This Book Is Organized Part I: The Life History of Vitamin D Part II: Key Roles of Vitamin D Part III: Getting Enough Part IV: The Part of Tens Icons Used in This Book Where to Go from Here
Part I: The Life History of Vitamin D Part II: Key Roles of Vitamin D Part III: Getting Enough Part IV: The Part of Tens
Chapter 1: The Essentials of Vitamin D Understanding What Vitamin D Is and How It Works Forming vitamin D in the body Regulating the production of vitamin D Moving vitamin D around the body Putting vitamin D to work Seeing How Vitamin D Affects Your Health Building bone Reducing your risk of cancer Preventing heart disease and diabetes Checking Out Where Vitamin D Comes From Sun Food Supplements Appreciating the Long-Term Medical Benefits Prevention of deformity Lives saved? Chapter 2: Finding Out If You Have Enough Vitamin D How Much Do You Need, Anyway? Knowing what level of vitamin D your body needs Computing the correct IU level Checking out the government’s recommendations Avoiding a vitamin D overdose Measuring Vitamin D in the Body Checking Children for Proper Vitamin D Levels Delivering the right daily dose for kids Treating children for deficiency Figuring Out Who Lacks Vitamin D Caucasians African Americans Asian Americans Latinos Children The elderly People who are obese Looking at Lab Tests for Vitamin D Examining the tests Discovering testing problems Standardizing the test Chapter 3: Considering Calcium Understanding the Physiology of Calcium Considering the functions of calcium Learning how calcium is controlled Getting the Calcium You Need Following the U.S. government’s guidelines on calcium Selecting the best sources of calcium Dealing with too much and too little calcium Realizing the Purpose of Other Minerals for Bone Focusing on phosphorus Giving credit to magnesium
Understanding What Vitamin D Is and How It Works Forming vitamin D in the body Regulating the production of vitamin D Moving vitamin D around the body Putting vitamin D to work Seeing How Vitamin D Affects Your Health Building bone Reducing your risk of cancer Preventing heart disease and diabetes Checking Out Where Vitamin D Comes From Sun Food Supplements Appreciating the Long-Term Medical Benefits Prevention of deformity Lives saved?
Forming vitamin D in the body Regulating the production of vitamin D Moving vitamin D around the body Putting vitamin D to work
Building bone Reducing your risk of cancer Preventing heart disease and diabetes
Sun Food Supplements
Prevention of deformity Lives saved?
How Much Do You Need, Anyway? Knowing what level of vitamin D your body needs Computing the correct IU level Checking out the government’s recommendations Avoiding a vitamin D overdose Measuring Vitamin D in the Body Checking Children for Proper Vitamin D Levels Delivering the right daily dose for kids Treating children for deficiency Figuring Out Who Lacks Vitamin D Caucasians African Americans Asian Americans Latinos Children The elderly People who are obese Looking at Lab Tests for Vitamin D Examining the tests Discovering testing problems Standardizing the test
Knowing what level of vitamin D your body needs Computing the correct IU level Checking out the government’s recommendations Avoiding a vitamin D overdose
Delivering the right daily dose for kids Treating children for deficiency
Caucasians African Americans Asian Americans Latinos Children The elderly People who are obese
Examining the tests Discovering testing problems Standardizing the test
Understanding the Physiology of Calcium Considering the functions of calcium Learning how calcium is controlled Getting the Calcium You Need Following the U.S. government’s guidelines on calcium Selecting the best sources of calcium Dealing with too much and too little calcium Realizing the Purpose of Other Minerals for Bone Focusing on phosphorus Giving credit to magnesium
Considering the functions of calcium Learning how calcium is controlled
Following the U.S. government’s guidelines on calcium Selecting the best sources of calcium Dealing with too much and too little calcium
Focusing on phosphorus Giving credit to magnesium
Chapter 4: Facilitating Bone Growth and Strength Recognizing the Importance of Bone Mechanical functions of bone Synthetic function of bone Metabolic functions of bone Building Strong Bones with Vitamin D What is bone? Vitamin D brings in the calcium and promotes bone growth Reckoning with Rickets and Osteomalacia Describing signs and symptoms Exploring the causes Treating the condition Managing Osteoporosis Looking at the risk factors Diagnosing osteoporosis Preventing osteoporosis Treating osteoporosis Helping Your Teeth Grow Exploring the normal development of teeth Knowing how rickets affects teeth Chapter 5: Protecting the Immune System Describing the Immune System Separating the innate from the adaptive immune system Calling on B and T cells for protection Realizing the Role of Vitamin D Boosting the Immune System to Fight Infections Healing tuberculosis Fending off flu and other viruses Examining Autoimmune Diseases Multiple sclerosis Rheumatoid arthritis Systemic lupus erythematosis Graves’ disease Chapter 6: Preventing Cancer Explaining How Cancer Develops Understanding how cell growth gets out of control Checking out the different types of tumors Moving through the stages of cancer How Vitamin D Helps Prevent the Big C Promoting normal cell growth Encouraging the death of abnormal cells Protecting cells from things that cause cancer Taking steps if you already have cancer: Vitamin D’s effect Blocking Colon Cancer Reviewing colorectal cancer Understanding vitamin D’s possible role Stopping Breast Cancer Reviewing breast cancer Understanding vitamin D’s role Looking at Prostate Cancer Reviewing prostate cancer Understanding vitamin D’s role Vitamin D and Other Cancers Halting lung cancer Deterring ovarian cancer Fending off pancreatic cancer A Caveat about Vitamin D and Cancer Chapter 7: Safeguarding Your Heart Considering the Link between Vitamin D and Heart Disease Coronary Artery Disease: It Can Creep Up on You Fingering cholesterol as the culprit Looking at vitamin D’s effect on CAD High Blood Pressure: When High Numbers Are Harmful Explaining high blood pressure Clarifying vitamin D’s role in blood pressure Heart Failure: When the Body’s Pump Is Weak Explaining heart failure Examining vitamin D’s role in heart health Heart Attacks and Vitamin D: Seeing the Bigger Picture Relationship of vitamin D levels and risk of a heart attack Can increasing vitamin D after a heart attack prevent another one? Realizing There’s More to Learn About Vitamin D and the Heart Chapter 8: Avoiding Diabetes and Related Conditions The Basics of Diabetes Identifying the symptoms of diabetes Making a diagnosis Type 1 Diabetes: When the Body Attacks Itself Describing type 1 diabetes Treatment and prognosis Examining vitamin D’s role in type 1 diabetes Type 2 Diabetes: When Your Body Reacts to Your Lifestyle Looking at the characteristics of type 2 diabetes Treatment and prognosis Checking out vitamin D’s role in type 2 diabetes Metabolic Syndrome: A Dangerous Precursor to Heart Disease and Diabetes Determining who’s at risk for metabolic syndrome Recognizing major signs and symptoms Dealing with metabolic syndrome Connecting metabolic syndrome and vitamin D Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Leading Cause of Female Infertility Recognizing major signs and symptoms Dealing with polycystic ovary syndrome Connecting polycystic ovary syndrome and vitamin D Chapter 9: Looking at Other Possible Functions of Vitamin D Finding a Role for Vitamin D in Asthma Reviewing asthma Understanding the role of vitamin D Treating Psoriasis Reviewing psoriasis Understanding the role of vitamin D Linking Vitamin D Levels and Brain Health Normal brain development Autism Alzheimer’s disease Parkinson’s disease Depression Seasonal affective disorder Managing Your Weight Looking at Fibromyalgia Chapter 10: Furthering Science’s Knowledge of Vitamin D Seeing the Importance of Research Studies How research studies work Participating in research studies A Big Vitamin D Study That’s Trying to Do Everything
Recognizing the Importance of Bone Mechanical functions of bone Synthetic function of bone Metabolic functions of bone Building Strong Bones with Vitamin D What is bone? Vitamin D brings in the calcium and promotes bone growth Reckoning with Rickets and Osteomalacia Describing signs and symptoms Exploring the causes Treating the condition Managing Osteoporosis Looking at the risk factors Diagnosing osteoporosis Preventing osteoporosis Treating osteoporosis Helping Your Teeth Grow Exploring the normal development of teeth Knowing how rickets affects teeth
Mechanical functions of bone Synthetic function of bone Metabolic functions of bone
What is bone? Vitamin D brings in the calcium and promotes bone growth
Describing signs and symptoms Exploring the causes Treating the condition
Looking at the risk factors Diagnosing osteoporosis Preventing osteoporosis Treating osteoporosis
Exploring the normal development of teeth Knowing how rickets affects teeth
Describing the Immune System Separating the innate from the adaptive immune system Calling on B and T cells for protection Realizing the Role of Vitamin D Boosting the Immune System to Fight Infections Healing tuberculosis Fending off flu and other viruses Examining Autoimmune Diseases Multiple sclerosis Rheumatoid arthritis Systemic lupus erythematosis Graves’ disease
Separating the innate from the adaptive immune system Calling on B and T cells for protection
Healing tuberculosis Fending off flu and other viruses
Multiple sclerosis Rheumatoid arthritis Systemic lupus erythematosis Graves’ disease
Explaining How Cancer Develops Understanding how cell growth gets out of control Checking out the different types of tumors Moving through the stages of cancer How Vitamin D Helps Prevent the Big C Promoting normal cell growth Encouraging the death of abnormal cells Protecting cells from things that cause cancer Taking steps if you already have cancer: Vitamin D’s effect Blocking Colon Cancer Reviewing colorectal cancer Understanding vitamin D’s possible role Stopping Breast Cancer Reviewing breast cancer Understanding vitamin D’s role Looking at Prostate Cancer Reviewing prostate cancer Understanding vitamin D’s role Vitamin D and Other Cancers Halting lung cancer Deterring ovarian cancer Fending off pancreatic cancer A Caveat about Vitamin D and Cancer
Understanding how cell growth gets out of control Checking out the different types of tumors Moving through the stages of cancer
Promoting normal cell growth Encouraging the death of abnormal cells Protecting cells from things that cause cancer Taking steps if you already have cancer: Vitamin D’s effect
Reviewing colorectal cancer Understanding vitamin D’s possible role
Reviewing breast cancer Understanding vitamin D’s role
Reviewing prostate cancer Understanding vitamin D’s role
Halting lung cancer Deterring ovarian cancer Fending off pancreatic cancer
Considering the Link between Vitamin D and Heart Disease Coronary Artery Disease: It Can Creep Up on You Fingering cholesterol as the culprit Looking at vitamin D’s effect on CAD High Blood Pressure: When High Numbers Are Harmful Explaining high blood pressure Clarifying vitamin D’s role in blood pressure Heart Failure: When the Body’s Pump Is Weak Explaining heart failure Examining vitamin D’s role in heart health Heart Attacks and Vitamin D: Seeing the Bigger Picture Relationship of vitamin D levels and risk of a heart attack Can increasing vitamin D after a heart attack prevent another one? Realizing There’s More to Learn About Vitamin D and the Heart
Fingering cholesterol as the culprit Looking at vitamin D’s effect on CAD
Explaining high blood pressure Clarifying vitamin D’s role in blood pressure
Explaining heart failure Examining vitamin D’s role in heart health
Relationship of vitamin D levels and risk of a heart attack Can increasing vitamin D after a heart attack prevent another one?
The Basics of Diabetes Identifying the symptoms of diabetes Making a diagnosis Type 1 Diabetes: When the Body Attacks Itself Describing type 1 diabetes Treatment and prognosis Examining vitamin D’s role in type 1 diabetes Type 2 Diabetes: When Your Body Reacts to Your Lifestyle Looking at the characteristics of type 2 diabetes Treatment and prognosis Checking out vitamin D’s role in type 2 diabetes Metabolic Syndrome: A Dangerous Precursor to Heart Disease and Diabetes Determining who’s at risk for metabolic syndrome Recognizing major signs and symptoms Dealing with metabolic syndrome Connecting metabolic syndrome and vitamin D Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Leading Cause of Female Infertility Recognizing major signs and symptoms Dealing with polycystic ovary syndrome Connecting polycystic ovary syndrome and vitamin D
Identifying the symptoms of diabetes Making a diagnosis
Describing type 1 diabetes Treatment and prognosis Examining vitamin D’s role in type 1 diabetes
Looking at the characteristics of type 2 diabetes Treatment and prognosis Checking out vitamin D’s role in type 2 diabetes
Determining who’s at risk for metabolic syndrome Recognizing major signs and symptoms Dealing with metabolic syndrome Connecting metabolic syndrome and vitamin D
Recognizing major signs and symptoms Dealing with polycystic ovary syndrome Connecting polycystic ovary syndrome and vitamin D
Finding a Role for Vitamin D in Asthma Reviewing asthma Understanding the role of vitamin D Treating Psoriasis Reviewing psoriasis Understanding the role of vitamin D Linking Vitamin D Levels and Brain Health Normal brain development Autism Alzheimer’s disease Parkinson’s disease Depression Seasonal affective disorder Managing Your Weight Looking at Fibromyalgia
Reviewing asthma Understanding the role of vitamin D
Reviewing psoriasis Understanding the role of vitamin D
Normal brain development Autism Alzheimer’s disease Parkinson’s disease Depression Seasonal affective disorder
Seeing the Importance of Research Studies How research studies work Participating in research studies A Big Vitamin D Study That’s Trying to Do Everything
How research studies work Participating in research studies
Chapter 11: Getting Vitamin D from the Sun Catching Some Rays Checking out ultraviolet rays A cautionary word about tanning and tanning salons Seeing How the Skin Responds to the Sun How skin wrinkles How skin tans (and eventually burns) Knowing How Much Vitamin D You Can Make from the Sun Figuring your minimal erythemal dose Determining your skin type The Whens and Wheres of Getting the Right Amount of Sun Calculating optimal sun-exposure times for making vitamin D Enjoying the sun in different seasons Enjoying the sun at different latitudes Enjoying the sun at different times of day The role that altitude and atmosphere play Blocking Out the Sun Seeing how sunscreen protects your skin Choosing and using sunscreen Considering the Risks of Sun Exposure Premature aging Skin cancer Is There Such a Thing as Safe Sun? Chapter 12: Getting Vitamin D from Food Selecting the Best Sources of Vitamin D Cod liver oil Salmon Mushrooms Mackerel Tuna fish Milk Orange juice Other sources Obtaining Vitamin D If You Have Dietary Restrictions If you’re a vegetarian If you can’t absorb fats Chapter 13: Getting Vitamin D from Supplements Choosing the Best Supplement Deciding what to take Choosing a multivitamin, mineral, or targeted supplement Deciding how much to take Comparing the different preparations of vitamin D Taking Vitamin D Supplements Correctly Drugs that interfere with absorption Medical conditions that increase your need for vitamin D Determining a Supplement’s Effect on Blood Levels of Vitamin D Chapter 14: Appreciating Special Needs in Pregnant Women and the Elderly Understanding Why Older Folks Need More Vitamin D Seeing the Benefits of Vitamin D as You Age Avoiding falls and fractures Slowing muscle loss Preventing pelvic floor disorders in women Improving memory and thinking Getting Sufficient Vitamin D for Mother and Newborn Understanding how vitamin D influences a baby’s development Preparing for a pregnancy with vitamin D Getting enough vitamin D for two during pregnancy Making sure your newborn gets the right amount of vitamin D
Catching Some Rays Checking out ultraviolet rays A cautionary word about tanning and tanning salons Seeing How the Skin Responds to the Sun How skin wrinkles How skin tans (and eventually burns) Knowing How Much Vitamin D You Can Make from the Sun Figuring your minimal erythemal dose Determining your skin type The Whens and Wheres of Getting the Right Amount of Sun Calculating optimal sun-exposure times for making vitamin D Enjoying the sun in different seasons Enjoying the sun at different latitudes Enjoying the sun at different times of day The role that altitude and atmosphere play Blocking Out the Sun Seeing how sunscreen protects your skin Choosing and using sunscreen Considering the Risks of Sun Exposure Premature aging Skin cancer Is There Such a Thing as Safe Sun?
Checking out ultraviolet rays A cautionary word about tanning and tanning salons
How skin wrinkles How skin tans (and eventually burns)
Figuring your minimal erythemal dose Determining your skin type
Calculating optimal sun-exposure times for making vitamin D Enjoying the sun in different seasons Enjoying the sun at different latitudes Enjoying the sun at different times of day The role that altitude and atmosphere play
Seeing how sunscreen protects your skin Choosing and using sunscreen
Premature aging Skin cancer
Selecting the Best Sources of Vitamin D Cod liver oil Salmon Mushrooms Mackerel Tuna fish Milk Orange juice Other sources Obtaining Vitamin D If You Have Dietary Restrictions If you’re a vegetarian If you can’t absorb fats
Cod liver oil Salmon Mushrooms Mackerel Tuna fish Milk Orange juice Other sources
If you’re a vegetarian If you can’t absorb fats
Choosing the Best Supplement Deciding what to take Choosing a multivitamin, mineral, or targeted supplement Deciding how much to take Comparing the different preparations of vitamin D Taking Vitamin D Supplements Correctly Drugs that interfere with absorption Medical conditions that increase your need for vitamin D Determining a Supplement’s Effect on Blood Levels of Vitamin D
Deciding what to take Choosing a multivitamin, mineral, or targeted supplement Deciding how much to take Comparing the different preparations of vitamin D
Drugs that interfere with absorption Medical conditions that increase your need for vitamin D
Understanding Why Older Folks Need More Vitamin D Seeing the Benefits of Vitamin D as You Age Avoiding falls and fractures Slowing muscle loss Preventing pelvic floor disorders in women Improving memory and thinking Getting Sufficient Vitamin D for Mother and Newborn Understanding how vitamin D influences a baby’s development Preparing for a pregnancy with vitamin D Getting enough vitamin D for two during pregnancy Making sure your newborn gets the right amount of vitamin D
Avoiding falls and fractures Slowing muscle loss Preventing pelvic floor disorders in women Improving memory and thinking
Understanding how vitamin D influences a baby’s development Preparing for a pregnancy with vitamin D Getting enough vitamin D for two during pregnancy Making sure your newborn gets the right amount of vitamin D
Chapter 15: Ten Myths Regarding Vitamin D Myth: Vitamin D Is a Vitamin Myth: You Can Get Sufficient Vitamin D in Your Diet Myth: You Should Avoid the Sun at All Costs Myth: It’s Easy to Take Too Much Vitamin D Myth: Government Guidelines for Vitamin D Intake Are Inadequate Myth: You Need Vitamin D Only for Your Bones Myth: Children Get Enough Vitamin D in Breast Milk Myth: You Protect Your Skin Completely with Sunscreen Myth: A Tanning Salon Is a Safe Way to Expose Your Skin Myth: Vitamin D Is the Cause for Elevated Serum Calcium Chapter 16: Ten Possible New Functions of Vitamin D Treating Cystic Fibrosis Reducing Skin Rashes and Swelling Helping with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Improving In Vitro Fertilization Rates Preserving Bone in Burn Patients Relieving Chronic Lower Back Pain Healing Hip Fractures Slowing the Progression of Osteoarthritis Avoiding Chronic Sinusitis Preventing Nocturnal Cramps Cheat Sheet
Myth: Vitamin D Is a Vitamin Myth: You Can Get Sufficient Vitamin D in Your Diet Myth: You Should Avoid the Sun at All Costs Myth: It’s Easy to Take Too Much Vitamin D Myth: Government Guidelines for Vitamin D Intake Are Inadequate Myth: You Need Vitamin D Only for Your Bones Myth: Children Get Enough Vitamin D in Breast Milk Myth: You Protect Your Skin Completely with Sunscreen Myth: A Tanning Salon Is a Safe Way to Expose Your Skin Myth: Vitamin D Is the Cause for Elevated Serum Calcium
Treating Cystic Fibrosis Reducing Skin Rashes and Swelling Helping with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Improving In Vitro Fertilization Rates Preserving Bone in Burn Patients Relieving Chronic Lower Back Pain Healing Hip Fractures Slowing the Progression of Osteoarthritis Avoiding Chronic Sinusitis Preventing Nocturnal Cramps