Vitamin D

(in 1,200 products)

1. Antioxidant - Reduces oxidation to prevent the formation of free radicals which may be harmful to health.

2. Dietary / Nutritional Supplement - Vitamins, minerals, proteins, fatty acids or probiotics that improves nutritional intake

3. Experimental / Patented - Relatively new ingredient with limited data available

Cholecalciferol ( vitamin D3 ) is a steroid hormone that has long been known for its important role in regulating body levels of calcium and phosphorus , in mineralization of bone, and for the assimilation of Vitamin A. The classical manifestations of vitamin D deficiency is rickets, which is seen in children and results in bony deformaties including bowed long bones. Deficiency in adults leads to the disease osteomalacia. Both rickets and osteomalacia reflect impaired mineralization of newly synthesized bone matrix, and usually result from a combination of inadequate exposure to sunlight and decreased dietary intake of vitamin D. Common causes of vitamin D deficiency include genetic defects in the vitamin D receptor, severe liver or kidney disease, and insufficient exposure to sunlight. Vitamin D plays an important role in maintaining calcium balance and in the regulation of parathyroid hormone (PTH). It promotes renal reabsorption of calcium , increases intestinal absorption of calcium and phosphorus , and increases calcium and phosphorus mobilization from bone to plasma. Cholecalciferol is a steroid hormone produced in the skin when exposed to ultraviolet light or obtained from dietary sources. The active form of cholecalciferol , 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol ( calcitriol ) plays an important role in maintaining blood calcium and phosphorus levels and mineralization of bone. The activated form of cholecalciferol binds to vitamin D receptors and modulates gene expression. This leads to an increase in serum calcium concentrations by increasing intestinal absorption of phosphorus and calcium , promoting distal renal tubular reabsorption of calcium and increasing osteoclastic resorption.

1. PubChem: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/5280795

1. US FDA Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) Food Substances (21 CFR 184) [2017]

- § 184.1950 - Vitamin D