Vitamin D is a hormonal system that regulates the expression of more than 3% of all genes in the body, such as modulating calcium absorption, bone mineralization, innate and adaptive immune response, inflammation and tissue repair, renin expression, and insulin secretion. and sensitivity.
According to the President of the Spanish Society of Occupational Medicine and Safety (SEMST), Dr. Pilar Niño, warned that “one of the factors what can contribute increasing vitamin D deficiency among the population, working hours are becoming more leisurely
and this leads to a more sedentary lifestyle.
He 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency It is a major global health problem, affecting more than half of the population, including children, youth, adults, postmenopausal women and the elderly. In Spain between 80-100% of people over 65 years of age have a concentration of this hydroxyvitamin less than 25 and in persons under 65 years of age reach 40%.
“ polymyalgia and concentration on work tasks in the workplace may be affected vitamin D deficiency among the working population. Therefore, in countries such as Spain, due to the high prevalence of existing hypovitaminosis D, we believe that it is essential to provide additional vitamin D supply on a general basis. some key foods in the dietas this is already being done, especially in the Nordic countries,” the expert added.
Risk factors for developing vitamin D deficiency
Some risk factors for vitamin D deficiency develops
are:
- prematurity.
- Hyperpigmented skin.
- Low sun exposure.
- Obesity.
- Malabsorption disorders.
- Advanced age.
Pilar Niño believes that “although the recommendations of various scientific societies do not support this, in Spain, taking into account high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in the general populationit might be convenient to include analytical detection of vitamin D as a normal procedure for periodic checks and recognitions carried out in relation to company employees.”
On vitamin D supplementsthe doctor explains that this is something safe when used correctly and from the workplace he emphasizes that it is a treatment that does not have any restrictive effect on, for example, driving or operating machines, and benefits the health of workers.
How does vitamin D deficiency affect you?
A number of studies have emphasized that Vitamin D deficiency may affect prognosis and pathogenesis
certain types of cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes and osteoporosis.
Various studies have also reflectednegative effects of vitamin D deficiency This could be due to its effects on tissues such as the central nervous system, endocrine system, immune system, production of anti-inflammatory cytokines and protection against autoimmune or inflammatory diseases, among others.