Vitamin D is classified as a fat-soluble vitamin, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health. Vitamin D is not naturally present in many food items people eat as a matter of routine. It is added to or enhanced in certain food items, including some types of milk. Vitamin D is also produced by exposure to sunlight. When ultraviolet rays from the sun strike your skin what chemically is known as vitamin D synthesis occurs, adding the vitamin to your system.

In addition, you can add vitamin D to your system through dietary supplements. This can be accomplished through injection or orally. Vitamin D principally is responsible for assisting the body to absorb certain minerals, including iron, calcium, and zinc. The vitamin also aids in the balancing of sodium and phosphorus in your body. If you sodium or phosphorus levels get off balance in your system, you can experience serious and even potentially fatal illness. Vitamin D deficiency can occur when low dietary intake of the vitamin and sparse exposure to sunlight occur. There are two primary illnesses or diseases associated with Vitamin D deficiency.

These are:

• rickets
• osteomalacia

With the fortification of milk with vitamin D beginning in the 1930s in the United States, rickets became very rare. With that said, every year infants and some younger children are diagnosed with this disease. Rickets has the potential for creating soft bones and bone deformities. Osteomalacia, the second more common condition resulting from a vitamin D deficiency, also causes bone softness. This can occur in people of any age.

Osteomalacia in children and even young adults can result in the bowing as a person grows. In older individuals, osteomalacia can result in fractures, particularly among weight-bearing bones in the legs. There is additional evidence to suggest that a vitamin D deficiency can cause other serious health problems.

These include:

• cardiovascular disease
• cognitive impairments
• cancer
• asthma

As mentioned a moment ago, dietary supplements are a means through which a person obtains vitamin D. An important consideration is whether a vitamin D shot is more effective than taking this supplement orally.

Compare and Contrast Vitamin D Via Shot and Orally

The National Institutes of Health completed and reported on a research study regarding the overall effectiveness of vitamin D shots and oral applications. The study concluded injections and oral consumption are both effective ways to deliver vitamin D into your body. Although both shots and oral applications are effective means of getting vitamin D into your system, injections edge out oral supplements for what proves to be fairly prevalent problem. The research study reported by the National Institutes of Health found that a large percentage of people who start an oral vitamin D supplement regimen fail to stick to it. Within what often proves to be a short period of time, people begin missing oral doses until they reach a point where they aren’t taking the oral supplement as all.

Thus, even though oral consumption of vitamin D is an effective delivery system, that regimen oftentimes proves inadequate because people don’t remain committed to it. There are some myths associated with vitamin D injections that were addressed in the referenced National Institutes of Health study as well. A prime misconception is that vitamin D injections are costly. In fact, the study revealed that the cost associated with a vitamin D injection oftentimes is less than the expenses of taking oral doses. Another misconception is that a vitamin D shot regimen is time-consuming. In fact, this type of treatment takes a matter of a few minutes when administered by capable, reputable professionals.

Finally, a vitamin D injection is not painful. Generally speaking, a person who receives a vitamin D injection experiences the feeling of a quick poke. Some people really don’t feel much of anything at all. If you would like more information about vitamin D shots, or if you would like to schedule an appointment to receive this important supplement, call us today at 205-352-9141. You can schedule a consultation at any time that is convenient for you. If you’re interested in learning more about vitamin D injections, there is no-cost and no-obligation for an initial consultation with us.