What is Vitamin D?

Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin found in food, supplements, and can be made inside your body after exposure to the sun’s UV, or ultraviolet, rays.  UV rays trigger vitamin D synthesis to take place in the skin, making sunshine a significant source of vitamin D.

The major function of vitamin D is to maintain your body’s normal blood levels of calcium and phosphorus.  As vitamin D promotes calcium absorption in your body, it helps your body form and maintain strong b ones.  It also works in alliance with several other vitamins and minerals in your body to encourage bone mineralization.

Deficiency of vitamin D can lead to very serious health problems.  Our bones can become too thin, brittle, or become misshapened.  Getting enough vitamin D helps prevent rickets in children and osteomalacia in older individuals, two forms of skeletal diseases that weaken bones.

February 5th, 2008