Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Role of Skin in Vitamin D Synthesis01:23

Role of Skin in Vitamin D Synthesis

The skin plays a crucial role in the synthesis of vitamin D, a vital nutrient for various physiological processes in the body. Vitamin D is unique because it can be synthesized in the skin through a series of chemical reactions triggered by exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation from sunlight.
The solar UV B rays (290-315 nm) are absorbed by the skin, and 7-dehydrocholesterol (provitamin D3) photolyzes it to previtamin D3, which undergoes a rapid transformation to vitamin D3(cholecalciferol).
Vitamins01:30

Vitamins

Vitamins, derived from the Latin word for life, are essential organic substances required in small quantities for optimal growth and overall well-being. Unlike other organic nutrients, vitamins don't act as sources of energy or building materials but rather facilitate these nutrients' utilization by the body. Vitamins are predominantly coenzymes, assisting enzymes in specific chemical actions, like the oxidation of glucose for energy involving B vitamins. Most vitamins are not produced in our...
Role of Vitamins in Maintaining Bone Health01:25

Role of Vitamins in Maintaining Bone Health

The growth and maintenance of bone are regulated by a combination of nutritional factors, including vitamins, such as vitamin A, B12, C, D, and K.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is involved in the process of bone remodeling. Retinoic acid, the active metabolite of Vitamin A, has nuclear receptors in osteoblasts and osteoclasts, which are involved in bone remodeling.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 acts as a cofactor during the formation of osteoblast-related proteins, such as osteocalcin. Vitamin B12 plays a role...
Multiple Sclerosis l: Introduction01:19

Multiple Sclerosis l: Introduction

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that affects the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. It is an inflammatory demyelinating disorder and a leading cause of neurological disability in young adults.EpidemiologyMS commonly begins between 20 and 40 years of age and is twice as common in women. Its exact cause remains unclear, but genetic susceptibility contributes, with higher risk in first-degree relatives and identical twins. A greater...
Changes in Skin Color: Clinical Perspectives01:14

Changes in Skin Color: Clinical Perspectives

The first thing a clinician sees is the skin, so the examination of the skin should be part of any thorough physical examination. Most skin disorders are relatively benign, but a few, including melanomas, can be fatal if untreated. A couple of the more noticeable disorders, albinism and vitiligo, affect the appearance of the skin and its accessory organs.
Albinism
Albinism is a genetic disorder that affects (completely or partially) the coloring of skin, hair, and eyes. The defect is primarily...
Connective Tissue Cell Types01:22

Connective Tissue Cell Types

Connective tissue develops from the mesoderm of a developing embryo and consists of cells, fibers, and ground substance: a gel-like material containing large complexes of carbohydrates and proteins. Connective tissue was first identified as a separate tissue family in the 18th century, and Johannes Peter Muller coined the term connective tissue.
Fat cells (adipocytes), smooth muscle cells (myoblasts), and bone cells (osteoblasts) are some connective tissue cell types. Some immune system cells...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Metabolic Phenotyping of Nutritional Rickets in Bangladeshi Children.

Nutrients·2026
Same author

Erratum to 'Riboflavin deficiency is highly prevalent in women and children across high and low/middle income countries worldwide' [J. Nutr. 2026; 156: 101277].

The Journal of nutrition·2026
Same author

Riboflavin Deficiency Is Highly Prevalent in Females and Children across High and Low/Middle Income Countries Worldwide.

The Journal of nutrition·2026
Same author

Longitudinal Comparison of Bone, Growth and Biochemical Markers in Breastfed HIV-Exposed Uninfected and HIV-Unexposed Ugandan Children.

Journal of bone and mineral research : the official journal of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research·2026
Same author

Rural-urban differences in osteoporosis and sarcopenia prevalence among Gambian older adults: A pilot study.

Journal of bone and mineral research : the official journal of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research·2025
Same author

Calcium and Iron Nutrition through the Reproductive Life Course.

Annals of nutrition & metabolism·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 29, 2026

A Method of Trigonometric Modelling of Seasonal Variation Demonstrated with Multiple Sclerosis Relapse Data
10:46

A Method of Trigonometric Modelling of Seasonal Variation Demonstrated with Multiple Sclerosis Relapse Data

Published on: December 9, 2015

Vitamin D deficiency: a global perspective.

Ann Prentice1

  • 1The Medical Research Council Human Nutrition Research, Elsie Widdowson Laboratory, Cambridge, United Kingdom and Medical Research Council Keneba, Keneba, The Gambia. ann.prentice@mrc-hnr.cam.ac.uk

Nutrition Reviews
|December 5, 2008
PubMed
Summary

Vitamin D deficiency, causing rickets and osteomalacia, is a global health issue. Factors influencing vitamin D levels and effective interventions are crucial for public health strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Nutritional Science
  • Public Health
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • Clinical vitamin D deficiency, including rickets and osteomalacia, is prevalent globally.
  • A resurgence of rickets is observed in children from ethnic minority groups in Europe and Australasia.
  • Plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration (25OHD) serves as a key indicator for vitamin D deficiency risk.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review factors influencing population-level differences in 25OHD.
  • To provide a global overview of low vitamin D status prevalence.
  • To discuss controversies in 25OHD interpretation and vitamin D adequacy indices.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review summarizing factors affecting 25OHD.
  • Analysis of global prevalence data for low vitamin D status.

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 29, 2026

A Method of Trigonometric Modelling of Seasonal Variation Demonstrated with Multiple Sclerosis Relapse Data
10:46

A Method of Trigonometric Modelling of Seasonal Variation Demonstrated with Multiple Sclerosis Relapse Data

Published on: December 9, 2015

  • Discussion of emerging evidence on calcium intake and rickets etiology.

    • Main Results:

    • Identifies various factors contributing to disparities in 25OHD levels across populations.
    • Highlights the widespread prevalence of inadequate vitamin D status globally.
    • Presents evidence linking very low calcium intake to rickets in Africa and Asia.

    Conclusions:

    • Urgent global action is required to combat the burden of rickets and osteomalacia.
    • Understanding factors affecting vitamin D status is critical for public health interventions.
    • Further research into the role of calcium intake in rickets etiology is warranted.