Vitamin D: Vitamin or Hormone?
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to explore the role of sunlight in vitamin D synthesis and its broader physiological effects.
Results Summary
The study found that sunlight exposure leads to vitamin D synthesis, which functions as a multifunctional hormone influencing immune, cardiovascular, endocrine, and metabolic systems, with potential roles in depression, pain, and cancer.
Population
Not specified
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Calcitriol | increase | the immune system | - | - | has been shown to have enhancing effects | #1 |
Calcitriol | increase | the cardiovascular system | - | - | has been shown to have enhancing effects | #2 |
Calcitriol | increase | the endocrine system | - | - | has been shown to have enhancing effects | #3 |
Calcitriol | increase | other metabolic pathways | - | - | has been shown to have enhancing effects | #4 |
vitamin D | neutral | depression | - | - | has also a role in | #5 |
vitamin D | neutral | pain | - | - | has also a role in | #6 |
vitamin D | neutral | cancer | - | - | has also a role in | #7 |
Vitamin D can be obtained from diet, direct sunlight, or supplementation. The most common form is synthesized in the skin after exposure to ultraviolet B radiation. Nevertheless, the thought is that vitamin D is more of a multifunctional hormone or prohormone. This is because vitamin D plays contributes to many processes in the body. Calcitriol has been shown to have enhancing effects on the immune system, the cardiovascular system, the endocrine system, and other metabolic pathways. There is evidence that vitamin D has also a role in depression, pain, and cancer.