Hormone
vitamin D
[ vy-tuh-min ... ]
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Definitions related to vitamin d:
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A hormone that plays a key role in ensuring the absorption of calcium from the intestines.Harvard Dictionary of Health TermsHarvard Medical Publishing, 2011
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A vitamin that includes both CHOLECALCIFEROLS and ERGOCALCIFEROLS, which have the common effect of preventing or curing RICKETS in animals. It can also be viewed as a hormone since it can be formed in SKIN by action of ULTRAVIOLET RAYS upon the precursors, 7-dehydrocholesterol and ERGOSTEROL, and acts on VITAMIN D RECEPTORS to regulate CALCIUM in opposition to PARATHYROID HORMONE.NLM Medical Subject HeadingsU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
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Vitamins are substances that your body needs to grow and develop normally. Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium. Calcium is one of the main building blocks of bone. A lack of vitamin D can lead to bone diseases such as osteoporosis or rickets. Vitamin D also has a role in your nerve, muscle, and immune systems. You can get vitamin D in three ways: through your skin, from your diet, and from supplements. Your body forms vitamin D naturally after exposure to sunlight. However, too much sun exposure can lead to skin aging and skin cancer. So many people try to get their vitamin D from other sources. Vitamin D-rich foods include egg yolks, saltwater fish, and liver. Some other foods, like milk and cereal, often have added vitamin D. You can also take vitamin D supplements. Check with your health care provider to see how much you should take. People who might need extra vitamin D include Older adults; Breastfed infants; People with dark skin; People with certain conditions, such as liver diseases, cystic fibrosis and Crohn's disease; People who have obesity or have had gastric bypass surgery. NIH: National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary SupplementsMedlinePlusU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
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