Vitamin D <Calciferol>
Sources
Butter
Fortified milk
Eggs
Oily fish
Properties
Fat soluble and insoluble in water
Unaffected by acids, alkalis and oxygen
The most stable of all vitamins
Reference Intake
10 micrograms for Children and Adults
15 micrograms for Teenagers
Functions
Deficiency
Regulates the amount of calcium and phosphorus in the bones and teeth, helping to maintain density and strength
Regulates calcium levels in the blood ; if blood-calcium levels are too low, it stimulates the production of a calcium-binding protein needed to absorb more calcium
Controls the absorption of calcium and phosphorus into the blood
Increased risk of bone diseases and tooth decay
Increased risk of bone diseases and tooth decay
Increased risk of bone diseases, such as rickets, osteoporosis and osteomalacia, and tooth decay
Forms
Ergocalciferol D2 : A plant form of vitamin D. Created when UV light shines on fungi and yeasts, converting ergosterol into ergocalciferol. Used in vitamin supplements.
Cholecalciferol D3 : An animal form of vitamin D. Created when UV light shines on the skin, converting 7-dehydrocholesterol in the epidermis to cholecalciferol.
Diseases
Rickets, Osteoporosis, Osteomalacia, Tooth Decay and Hypervitaminosis