Vitamin D

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Vitamin D is a group of fat-soluble prohormones, the two major forms of which are vitamin D2 (or ergocalciferol) and vitamin D3 (or cholecalciferol). The term vitamin D also refers to metabolites and other analogues of these substances. Vitamin D3 is produced in skin exposed to sunlight, specifically ultraviolet B radiation.

Vitamin D plays an important role in the maintenance of organ systems.

Vitamin D deficiency can result from inadequate intake coupled with inadequate sunlight exposure; disorders that limit its absorption; conditions that impair conversion of vitamin D into active metabolites, such as liver or kidney disorders; or, rarely, by a number of hereditary disorders. Deficiency results in impaired bone mineralization and leads to bone softening diseases rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults, and possibly contributes to osteoporosis. However, sunlight exposure, to avoid deficiency, carries other risks, including skin cancer; this risk is avoided with dietary absorption, either through diet or as a dietary supplement.

For more information about Vitamin D, read the full article at Wikipedia.
This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.


News tagged with vitamin d

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Multiple health concerns surface as winter, vitamin D deficiences arrive

Medicine & Health / Health

created Nov 23, 2009 | popularity 4.1 / 5 (8) | comments 3

A string of recent discoveries about the multiple health benefits of vitamin D has renewed interest in this multi-purpose nutrient, increased awareness of the huge numbers of people who are deficient in it, spurred research ...


Vitamin D levels associated with survival in lymphoma patients

Medicine & Health / Cancer

created Dec 05, 2009 | popularity 4.7 / 5 (3) | comments 1

A new study has found that the amount of vitamin D in patients being treated for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma was strongly associated with cancer progression and overall survival. The results will be presented at the annual ...


Physicians Explore Link Between Vitamin D Deficiency and Hypertension

Physicians Explore Link Between Vitamin D Deficiency and Hypertension

Medicine & Health / Health

created Nov 25, 2009 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 2

(PhysOrg.com) -- Drs. William White and Pooja Luthra at the University of Connecticut Health Center are investigating a possible link between vitamin D deficiency and high blood pressure.


Heart failure linked to gene variant affecting vitamin D activation

Medicine & Health / Genetics

created Dec 01, 2009 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Previous studies have shown a link between low vitamin D status and heart disease. Now a new study shows that patients with high blood pressure who possess a gene variant that affects an enzyme critical to normal vitamin ...





Search results for vitamin d


Genetic link to vitamin A deficiency

Medicine & Health / Research

created Nov 17, 2009 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

(PhysOrg.com) -- Almost half of UK women may be lacking an important source of vitamin A due to a previously undiscovered genetic variation, scientists at Newcastle University have found.


Treatment with folic acid, vitamin B12 associated with increased risk of cancer, death

Medicine & Health / Research

created Nov 17, 2009 | popularity 3.5 / 5 (2) | comments 0

Patients with heart disease in Norway, a country with no fortification of foods with folic acid, had an associated increased risk of cancer and death from any cause if they had received treatment with folic acid and vitamin ...


Roasting Does More than Enhance Flavor in Peanuts

Roasting Does More than Enhance Flavor in Peanuts

Chemistry / Other

created Dec 09, 2009 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 1

(PhysOrg.com) -- Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists have shown that increasing roast color intensity steadily ramps up the antioxidant capacities of peanuts, peanut flour and peanut skins.


Vitamin E extract could help tackle cancer tumours

Medicine & Health / Cancer

created Dec 03, 2009 | popularity 3.3 / 5 (4) | comments 1

(PhysOrg.com) -- An extract of vitamin E could have a key role to play in the treatment of cancerous tumours, according to newly-published research today.


Antioxidant compound reduced incidence of colorectal metachronous adenomas

Medicine & Health / Cancer

created Dec 08, 2009 | popularity 4.5 / 5 (2) | comments 0

Supplementation with a selenium-based antioxidant compound decreased the risk of developing new polyps of the large bowel — called colorectal metachronous adenomas — in people who previously had colorectal polyps removed.


The changing pattern of childhood blindness in developing countries

Medicine & Health / Diseases

created Dec 08, 2009 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

"Changing patterns of global childhood blindness suggest a reassessment of research, training, and programmatic needs," says a team of eye specialists from India, Malawi, and Tanzania.


ADA releases updated position paper on nutrient supplementation

Medicine & Health / Other

created Dec 08, 2009 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

While supplements can help some people meet their nutrition needs, eating a wide variety of nutrient-rich foods is the best way for most people to obtain the nutrients they need to be healthy and reduce their risk of chronic ...


Vitamin B niacin offers no extra benefit to statin therapy in seniors already diagnosed with CAD

Medicine & Health / Research

created Nov 18, 2009 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0

The routine prescription of extended-release niacin, a B vitamin (1,500 milligrams daily), in combination with traditional cholesterol-lowering therapy offers no extra benefit in correcting arterial narrowing and diminishing ...


Pistachios may reduce lung cancer risk

Medicine & Health / Cancer

created Dec 08, 2009 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (5) | comments 0

A diet that incorporates a daily dose of pistachios may help reduce the risk of lung and other cancers, according to data presented at the American Association for Cancer Research Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research Conference, ...


Can heart disease treatments combat AMD?

Medicine & Health / Research

created Dec 01, 2009 | popularity 3 / 5 (1) | comments 1

Can treatments that reduce risks for cardiovascular disease (CVD) also help combat age-related macular degeneration (AMD), an eye disease that affects millions of Americans? CVD and AMD share some risk factors-such as smoking, ...



List of search results for vitamin d