Vitamin D is commonly referred as calciferol and this vitamin is manufactured by the body naturally
. In other words it can be referred as a group of steroid molecules. Vitamin D could be further differentiated into Vitamin D2 and Vitamin D3. Vitamin D3 is known as cholecalciferol and Vitamin D2 is known as ergocalciferol. A molecule 7-dehydrocholesterol is present in the skin of animals and when this absorbs light energy it generates Vitamin D3. Vitamin D2 is synthesized by some plants and they are also found in yeast.
The other name for Vitamin D is sunlight Vitamin. The ultraviolet rays from the sun strike the skin and this ends up in the production of Vitamin D. Vitamin D is essential for controlling the levels of calcium in the blood, absorption of calcium from the normal diet and is also responsible for the controlling of the calcium excretion by the body in the urine. Regular intake of Vitamin D in the diet keeps the immune system strong, maintains healthy gums and teeth, prevents the cracks occurring in the bones and lessens the effect of cancer. In women, osteoporosis occurs at a certain age especially during menopause.
This is due to the lack of Vitamin D and also due to the lack of proper exposure of sunlight on the body. Vitamin D is essential for bone density maintenance. When the Vitamin D intake is increased the autoimmune diseases like diabetes mellitus, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis could be decreased. They also prevent rickets and osteomalacia.