Why Vitamin D in skin creams?
Vitamin D - unlike all other vitamins- is actually a super pro-hormone, closely related chemically to estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. Although traditionally known to be important in regulation of calcium and bone differentiation, we now know vitamin D is incredibly important for virtually all of our vital systems. Vitamin D influences more than 200 human genes, which could be impaired when we do not have enough vitamin D. We can manufacture our own vitamin D when sufficient sunlight hits our skin. In fact, our skin and DNA are programmed to make sufficient amounts of Vitamin D. Yet, most of us are Vitamin D deficient. In fact, vitamin D deficiency is a global pandemic. Why is that? Click here for a detailed discussion.
Vitamin D receptor (VDR) is an intracellular hormone receptor that specifically binds 1,25(OH)2D and interacts with vitamin D response elements of target genes to produce a variety of biologic effects. The vitamin D receptor belongs to the nuclear receptor superfamily of steroid/thyroid hormone receptors, and VDRs are expressed by cells in most organs, including the brain, heart, skin, gonads, prostate, breast and placenta. VDR mediates many genomic and non-genomic effects of vitamin D. Therefore, VDR is as important as vitamin D itself.
The genomic effects of vitamin D are due to the fact that it acts as a co-factor in gene transcription. Intracellular vitamin D binds to nuclear VDR, which then interacts with other nuclear hormone receptors, particularly the family of retinoid X receptors (RXR). This complex then binds to special DNA sequences called vitamin D response elements (VDRE) generally within the promoter region of the genes it regulates. There are thousands of VDREs in hundreds of genes, often thousands of base pairs away from the coding portion of the gene regulated. The profile of active VDREs (and regulated genes) varies from cell to cell.
Recently, the mitochondrial effects of vitamin D have been characterized in many cell types. Based on the vitamin D3 supplementation studies, individuals show a personalized response to vitamin D3 and can be segregated into high, mid, and low responders which may be based on VDR. Therefore, some individuals require more vitamin D than others to have the same effect.
Viewed as a transcription co-factor that helps decode our DNA throughout our body, it is not surprising that Vitamin D has such widespread effects. This genomic function of vitamin D in gene transcription takes hours to days. Another non-genomic function of vitamin D is though calcium channels at a cell surface receptor and second messengers, leading to a more rapid response taking seconds to minutes.
A third role of Vitamin D is that it is metabolized into our sex hormones. And it all begins at the skin. It seems the skin is an important organ for hormone production. Absorption from the skin is reflects our own body's pathway for vitamin D metabolism, which then is synthesized into sex hormones.
There is clear evidence that many health conditions are improved with Vitamin D. Of the 30 leading causes of death in the United States in 2010, 19 have been linked to low vitamin D status including various forms of cardiovascular disease, various cancers, diabetes mellitus, Alzheimer's disease, and falls and fractures in the elderly. Vitamin D deficiency can also help explain, at least in part, other common conditions like obesity, childhood obesity, melanoma, and autism. Combining vitamin D3 with omega-3s and exercise is associated with a 60% lower risk of cancer in older adults.
Our Hormonal Cosmetic Creams at Face Body Glow are also supplied with vitamin D3 and vitamin K2. So, you not only get essential hormones, you also get sufficient vitamin D3, together with other nourishing components.