Vitamin D is also called calciferol or vitamin Antirachitic. It is a fat soluble vitamin which means it is soluble in fat. Its role is to stimulate intestinal absorption of calcium and phosphorus.
Vitamin D which I will talk more specifically called vitamin D3 or cholecalciferol. It is synthesized in the skin by the action of ultraviolet (290-315 nm) cholesterol. It is also present in foods of animal origin such as fish oils.
Risk factors for vitamin D deficiency are: latitude, skin pigmentation, exposure to light and age.
Thus we do not synthesize all the same amount of vitamin D depending on where we live in the world, according to our age and our skin color. (more…)
