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16: Vitamin D (Chapter 18b)

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    117072
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    Abstract

    Vitamin D is a generic term for a group of related sub­stances, includ­ing vitamin D2 (ergo­cal­ciferol) and vitamin D3 (chole­cal­ciferol). It is a precursor to the steroid hormone 1,25‑dihydroxy­vitamin D (calcitriol) that helps the body absorb and retain calcium and phosphorus, thus contributing to bone health. Deficiencies in vitamin D may cause rickets, osteomalacia and osteoporosis. Sun-mediated synthesis of vitamin D in the skin may be important in lower latitudes, but in settings where this synthesis is not significant, vitamin D is an essential nutrient. As vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, deficiencies may be caused by malabsorption syndromes. Exposure and status of vitamin D is assessed by measuring the concen­tration of the transport metabolite, 25‑hydroxyvitamin D, that reflects both ingested and skin-synthesized sources. 1,25‑dihydroxy­vitamin D (calcitriol) is not a measure of vitamin D status as levels in blood reflect temporary stimulation and not nutrient stores. Other measures of vitamin D status include factors and molecules related to its role in bone development; little is known about specific biomarkers of the nonskeletal roles of vitamin D

    Vitamin D (calciferol) is a generic term for a group of related fat-soluble sub­stances, includ­ing vitamin D2(ergo­cal­ciferol), vitamin D3 (chole­cal­ciferol) and their meta­bolites (Figure 18b.1).

    Chemical structures of ergosterol, vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol), 7-dehydrocholesterol, and vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) arranged vertically with labels in black and white.

    Figure 18b.1 The structures of two forms of vitamin D (Vitamin D2 and Vitamin D3) and their precursor sterols.

    Vitamin D2 is derived from the plant sterol, ergo­sterol, and is the form used to fortify vegan foods and in some high-dosage pharma­ceut­ical prep­ar­ations. Vitamin D3originates from the action of ultra­violet B (UVB) rays from sunlight or artificial sources on its precursor sterol, 7-dehydrochol­esterol. This is present in the skin and some animal-based diet­ary sources, including some fish liver oils, the flesh of fatty fish, eggs, and organ meats. Foods may be fort­ified with vitamin D (e.g., milk, cereals, bread, margarine) in some countries (Cashman and O’Dea, 2019).


    This page titled 16: Vitamin D (Chapter 18b) is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Rosalind S. Gibson via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.