Why Vitamin D Matters for Good Health

Vitamin D is a nutrient that falls under a group of fat soluble vitamins, the kind that are stored in the body for long periods of time. Other vitamins in the same group are A, E and K.

Such kind of vitamins are absorbed along with fats in the diet, explains Neema Shosho, a Nutritionist based in Dar es Salaam.

Do I need vitamin D?

Yes. Our bodies need vitamin D. Some of the key functions of Vitamin D is to boost immune system of our bodies (fight off invading bacteria and viruses) and to maintain strong bones.

Vitamin D helps the body to absorb calcium (one of bone's main building blocks) from food and supplements.

People who get too little vitamin D may develop soft, thin, and brittle bones, a condition known as rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults.

Children with rickets experience delayed growth, pain in the spine, pelvis and legs, muscle weakness and skeletal deformities such as bowed legs or knock knees. Vitamin D is also needed by nerves to carry messages between the brain and every part of the body