Do you think you know your vitamins?
Vitamin A
Physiology of vitamin A: Vitamin A, or retinol, belongs to the retinoid family (retinol, retinal, retinoic acid). It is synthesized from its precursor, beta-carotene, and stored in the liver. Vitamin A is absorbed at the same time as lipids. Vitamin A has a number of functions, including the maintenance of vision through the synthesis of rhodopsin, as well as antioxidant properties. It is essential for optimal immune function. Its presence is necessary for vitamin D activity.
Vitamin A deficiency: My patients have abnormally low vitamin A levels. This may be due to inadequate dietary intake, intestinal resorption disorders and/or biliary insufficiency. In the eyes, vitamin A deficiency can lead to reduced or lost night vision, accelerated skin ageing, immune deficiency and functional vitamin D deficiency. Nutritional and micronutritional advice: We recommend increasing consumption of foods rich in vitamin A (liver, oily fish, butter, cheese, eggs, carrots, which are rich in beta-carotene). Vitamin A-rich supplements may also be advisable. A check-up is required eight weeks after the start of supplementation.
Consult us about the micronutritional tests carried out to determine your vitamin A levels.
In brief: vitamin A is a carotenoid obtained directly from foods of animal origin, or produced by the intestine from beta-carotene. Vitamin A is a powerful fat-soluble antioxidant that protects cell membranes and lipoproteins. It also has numerous other biological activities (cofactor of vitamin D, thyroid hormones and certain fatty acids). It also plays a role in controlling cell proliferation.
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Vitamin D3
Physiology: Vitamin D is a hormone that our body is able to synthesize in the skin from cholesterol when exposed to sufficient sunlight, and which can also be supplied via the diet. Vitamin D's activities are not limited to regulating phosphocalcic and bone metabolism. For several years now, it has been demonstrated that that vitamin D possesses significant immunomodulatory and protective activities against cancer. Vitamin D is considered an essential regulator of immune responses. It increases the resistance of respiratory mucosa to viral aggression.
Vitamin D3 deficiency: the vitamin D levels of our primo-consultants are abnormally low. Numerous Numerous studies indicate that there is an excellent correlation between vitamin D levels and an individual's vulnerability to microbial aggression, particularly viral aggression. Low vitamin D levels could be a predictor of infection risk and disease severity. Nutritional and micronutritional advice: Encourage your patient to eat more vitamin D-rich foods (cod liver oil and canned cod liver, salmon, trout, herring, organic eggs, organic calf's liver, organic dairy products, button mushrooms). You should also advise your patient to get regular exposure to the sun (before 11:00 a.m. and after 4:00 p.m.) at least twice a day, for at least 30 minutes, on the face, arms and forearms. You should aim for a blood vitamin D concentration of around 60 ng/ml, and in any case less than 100 ng/ml. To achieve this, depending on the starting level, a daily intake of 1000, 2000 or even 4000 international units of vitamin D is recommended, with a fatty meal, depending on the patient's weight. It is IMPERATIVE to check vitamin D levels six weeks after starting supplementation. In obese patients, vitamin D is stored in fatty tissue, so it may be necessary to increase these doses.
Patients deficient in vitamin D3 are often also deficient in iron, as vitamin D3 needs iron to be "active" in the body, as this hormone-vitamin undergoes hydroxylation, an enzymatic process requiring iron.
In brief: Vitamin D3, or 25-hydroxycholecalciferol, is a hormone that does much more than regulate phosphocalcium metabolism and skeletal homeostasis. It also plays an anti-inflammatory role, supporting CD4 Treg lymphocytes. Most people are vitamin D deficient.
Ask us about our micronutritional tests to find out your vitamin D3 levels.
Contact us to find out your micronutritional levels HERE
