There are lots of claims about what vitamin D does for our health, especially in the age of Covid-19. Dr. Naomi Albertson explains what vitamin D is, how we create it in our bodies and get it in our diet, and what we know for sure in regards to how it functions in the body.

0:52 Introduction.

2:44 Vitamin D is fat soluble, so you should take it with a little fat for absorption.

3:34 The two forms of vitamin D: D2 and D3.

3:51 Your skin starts the process of activating vitamin D. Sunshine is important, but temperature is important too!

5:44 Kidney or liver problems can affect your ability to create vitamin D.

6:11 All of our cells have receptors for vitamin D.

7:05 Blood tests for vitamin D.

9:18 Casual exposure to the sun (arms and face) isn't enough to achieve your daily recommended vitamin D intake.

10:10 Find your recommended daily intake of vitamin D: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-HealthProfessional/#h2

10:59 The ability to create Vitamin D is reduced in elderly individuals.

11:19 Food sources of vitamin D.

12:03 Certain medical conditions can negatively impact the ability to absorb vitamin D through diet.

12:32 Acid helps us absorb vitamin D, so acid blocking medications can negatively impact how much we get in our diets.

13:05 Many Americans are deficient in vitamin D.

15:14 Your skin type affects how much vitamin D you absorb.

15:53 What we know for sure vitamin D does. Calcium absorption and calcium regulation.

18:58 Muscle function.

19:42 The risk of falls in the elderly.

20:05 Cancer risk.

20:30 Respiratory illness.

22:05 Covid-19 mortality.

23:19 Cardiovascular health.

24:11 Pregnancy and birth outcomes.

25:19 The range of normal vitamin D levels.

25:44 Do low vitamin D levels matter?

27:51 You can take too much vitamin D.

29:02 Symptoms of too much vitamin D or extremely low vitamin D.

31:30 Vitamin D supplementation.