For fully functional and optimum health of the eyes, bones, and heart, the importance of vitamin D couldn’t be ignored, and extensive research performed by the American Optometric Association also supports the fact. With eye health nutrients, we usually think of beta-carotene, whereas vitamin D is as important as any other for sharp and strong vision.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) can be prevented with sufficient intake of vitamin D, but the advantages don’t end here, many oncologists in Dubai also cite the importance of prevention against various eye anomalies. We’re lucky to obtain this vitamin from many different sources and maintain eye health to its finest.
Vitamin D – An overview
Chemical compounds which fight against various diseases and bacteria, help heal wounds, promote healthy growth of body cells and allow our body to grow are referred to as ‘vitamins’. All that said; each vitamin has a different function in the body, but vitamin D is known for its uniqueness as it transforms into a hormone once the body receives it. This specific hormone is known as calcitriol.
Our body is able to absorb other nutrients from the food due to the presence of calcitriol, or vitamin D. Absorption of phosphorous and calcium-rich foods is possible only because of this vitamin and since a human body is incapable to self-generate it, we need external sources to obtain vitamin D of which the most common is ample exposure to sunlight and appropriate diet.
The role in vision improvement
Our eyes are shielded from various diseases because of this vitamin D especially glaucoma, AMD, cataracts, and dry eye syndrome. Besides this, it also helps in healing the eyes from different injuries. Oncologists in Moorfields Dubai, as well as various medical studies, support that vitamin D carries antineoplastic properties which helps the body to fight against cancer.
It’s also angiogenic which prevents the generation of new blood vessels from harmful tumors. Presence of vitamin D in the eyes safeguards against tissue degeneration. A human macula is susceptible to degenerate with age AMD whereas the process can accelerate if someone’s already diagnosed with any other eye disease.
This macular damage also distorts retinal focus which negatively impacts on the central visual field. Besides this, macular tissue erosion also causes inflammation and irritation in the eyes where vitamin D helps to relieve and heal them both. Although the damage is irreversible as well as your age, it can be extended and slowed by healthy intake of vitamin D.
Prevention of diabetes is also possible by including vitamin D in your daily diet whereas deficiency would result in lower insulin resistance. Some other diseases from lack of vitamin D are:
- Cardiovascular diseases
- High blood pressure
- Osteoporosis and
- Juvenile diabetes
- Eye and body growth deficiency among the infants and younger children
Obtainable sources
Besides exposure to sunlight which creates and spreads vitamin D across the body, other food sources are:
- Egg yolk
- Salmon
- Sardines
- Dairy milk
- Orange juices
- Fortified yogurt and
- Soy beverages
A combination of all or as directed by the doctor would help your body to sustain the right level of vitamin D.
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