Assignment Week 5 - Nutrition and Supplements

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Part I: Research/Write about Supplements Americans are spending a lot of money on nutritional supplements without really knowing how these supplements affect the body. In addition, many companies selling these products are not regulated. Using your textbook, credible websites, and 3 actual research articles, research one of the supplements. *What is this supplement used for? Vitamin D Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is only in a very few foods, added to other foods, and is also used in dietary supplements. Vitamin D helps promote calcium absorption and combines with the calcium to protect from bone diseases like osteoporosis. The most common use for Vitamin D is if people do not get a lot of sunlight. Most people tend to stay in buildings like an office all day for work and then people spend time in their home instead of being out in the sunlight. If people do get a good amount of adequate sunlight, then taking a Vitamin D supplement is not necessary. There are many good qualities about Vitamin D. There are two forms of Vitamin D when used as a supplement. There is D2 and D3. D2 is manufactured by irradiation of esgosterol in yeast. D3 is manufactured by irradiation of 7-dehydrocholesterol from lanolin and the chemical conversion of cholesterol. Other than these two differences, D2 and D3 are the same. *What are the benefits and hazards of using this supplement? BENEFITS: • Treats conditions that cause weak or painful bones (osteomalacia) • Helps prevent low levels of blood that can cause phosphate or a disease called Fanconi syndrome • Psoriasis (by prescription only) • Helps prevent low calcium and bone loss in people with kidney failure • Helps regulate hormone levels which can cause low blood calcium • Rickets – the softening of bones in children due to deficiency or impaired metabolism • Reducing bone

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