Vitamin D is an extremely important vitamin and plays a role in many physiological functions. Vitamin D is produced in the body when the skin is exposed to sunlight. Exposure of bare skin to sunlight for approximately 5-10 minutes in 2-3 times per week enables the body to generate adequate vitamin D. The vitamin D is then send to the liver that breaks it down and synthesized in the body. Vitamin D is important in the functioning of various body functions. For instance, it supports the health of the nervous system, brain, and immune system thereby protecting the body against various diseases including multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes, and cancer. Also, vitamin D helps to maintain healthy bones and teeth by absorbing calcium that promotes growth, impact on the expression of genes responsible for development of cancer, and support cardiovascular health and lung function. It regulates levels of insulin and assist in management of diabetes. Deficiency of vitamin D has been associated with weight gain, heart disease, depression, and cancer ( Bikle, 2016). Therefore, vitamin D provides a wide range of health benefits.
Calcium is the most plentiful mineral in the body and it is important for overall health. Most cells in the body utilize calcium in a certain way. For instance, calcium is used in developing bones that support our bodies, it promotes normal functioning of the cells, promotes release of hormones, transmits messages through nerves, and muscle contraction, used in the nervous system, and maintenance of teeth. Calcium and vitamin D share a special relationship. The body needs vitamin D to absorb calcium. For instance, milk as a source calcium requires vitamin D to aid in its absorption. The combination of vitamin D and calcium assists in preventing osteoporosis and strengthening bones. Blood homeostasis refers to the regulation of calcium ion concentration in the extracellur fluid. Resorption of the bone by osteoclasts releases calcium into the bloodstream aids in regulation of calcium homeostasis that aids in maintenance of healthy skeletal. The process of calcium homeostasis is regulated by three hormones including 1a,25-dihydroxy-Vitamin D, calcitonin, parathyroid hormone ( Lappe, Watson & Travers-Gustafson et al., 2017).
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The blood calcium is tightly regulated because calcium ions must be available so that neurons can function and sarcomeres can contract. Calcium plays a critical role to neurons function by contributing to synaptic activity and transmission of the depolarizing signal. Calcium play an important role in motor neurons by mediating between chemical signaling and electrical and prevent it from damages because of its vulnerability ( Lappe, Watson & Travers-Gustafson et al., 2017).
Sarcomere is a basic part of striated muscle tissue. They comprise of long, fibrous proteins that serve as filaments that cross each other during muscle contraction or relaxation. Muscle contractions occur when myosin filaments and actin slide past each other. During this process, the filaments do not contract and individual elements of sarcomere do not compress. The process of contraction of sarcomere starts with a sequence of events that leads to contraction of individual muscle fiber. Muscle contraction is signaled by the neurotransmitter, ACH from the motor neuron intertwining that fiber. The local fiber membrane depolarizes and the sodium ions that are positively charged enter the muscle activating an action that extents to the rest of membrane causing it to depolarize. Calcium plays a critical role in the contraction process of sarcomere. The depolarization of the membrane triggers the release of calcium ions from where it is stored in the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Calcium in turn triggers contraction that is sustained by the ATP. The sarcomere has the ability to contract without distorting itself. The process of contraction ends at the time when actin filaments come into contact with those on the opposite side and the Z-lines comes in contact with myosin creating the boundaries of sarcomere ( Awasti, Izu & Mao et al., 2016).
References
Awasti, S., Izu, L. T., Mao, Z., Jian, Z., Chen-Izu, Y., & Chan, J. W. (2016). SHG-2PF Imaging of Local Ca2+ and Sub-Sarcomere Contraction in Live Cardiomyocytes. Biophysical Journal , 110 (3), 432a.
Bikle, D. D. (2016). Vitamin D and bone. In Handbook of nutrition and diet in therapy of bone diseases (pp. 2063-2068). Wageningen Academic Publishers.
Lappe, J., Watson, P., Travers-Gustafson, D., Recker, R., Garland, C., Gorham, E., ... & McDonnell, S. L. (2017). Effect of vitamin D and calcium supplementation on cancer incidence in older women: a randomized clinical trial. Jama , 317 (12), 1234-1243.
