How We Get Vitamin D
Your body makes Vitamin D with a little help from the sun.
- When sunlight hits your skin, it triggers a chemical reaction that produces Vitamin D.
- Vitamin D starts as an inactive form called 7-dehydrocholesterol in your skin.
- UVB rays from sunlight change it into Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol).
- The liver changes Vitamin D3 into calcidiol, and then the kidneys convert calcidiol into calcitriol, the active form of Vitamin D.
- Calcitriol acts like a hormone, helping regulate calcium levels in the blood.
Why Vitamin D Is Important
Vitamin D plays a crucial role in maintaining your body’s health and strength.
- Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium from the intestines into the bloodstream, which keeps bones and teeth strong.
- Without sufficient Vitamin D, bones can become weak or brittle, leading to diseases such as rickets in children and osteoporosis in adults.
- Vitamin D also helps regulate immune system functions, making it easier for your body to fight infections.
- It also helps muscles function properly, reducing the risk of falls and fractures.
Fun Facts
Here are some interesting facts about Vitamin D:
- Your skin produces Vitamin D more efficiently if you have lighter skin, but everyone needs sun exposure to stay healthy.
- The main forms of Vitamin D are D2 (from non-animal sources) and D3 (from animal sources and produced by the body).
- Mushrooms are the only non-animal food source that naturally contains Vitamin D when exposed to sunlight.
- Just 10–20 minutes of sunlight a few times a week can help maintain healthy Vitamin D levels!
Review
Let’s quickly recap what we learned about Vitamin D:
- What triggers Vitamin D production in the skin? Sunlight
- What mineral does Vitamin D help absorb? Calcium
- What organs help activate Vitamin D? Liver & Kidney
- What diseases are caused by a lack of Vitamin D? Rickets & Osteoporosis
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