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Vitamins

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 Skin in Vitamin D Synthesis

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).

Role of Vitamins in Maintaining Bone Health

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...

Bone Disorders

Bone Disorders

Aging and its effect on bone remodeling is the most common cause of bone disorders. In young and healthy people, bone deposition and resorption happen at an equal rate to maintain optimal bone health.
Bone deposition is also affected by the levels of sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone that promote osteoblast activity and bone matrix synthesis. When the level of these hormones decreases due to aging, it causes a reduction in bone deposition. As a result, bone resorption by osteoclasts...

Skeleton and Calcium Homeostasis

Skeleton and Calcium Homeostasis

Calcium is not only the most abundant mineral in bone but also the most abundant mineral in the human body. Calcium ions are needed for bone mineralization, tooth health, heart rate regulation and strength of contraction, blood coagulation, the contraction of smooth and skeletal muscle cells, and the regulation of nerve impulse conduction. The average calcium level in the blood is about 10 mg/dL. When the body cannot maintain this level, a person will experience hypo or hypercalcemia.

Connective Tissue Cell Types

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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 20, 2026

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

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

Published on: December 9, 2015

Vitamin D deficiency and mortality.

Armin Zittermann¹, Jan F Gummert, Jochen Börgermann

¹Clinic for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Heart Center North Rhine-Westfalia, Ruhr University Bochum, Georgstrsse 11, D-32545 Bad Oeynhausen, Germany. azittermann@hdz-nrw.de

Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care

|August 28, 2009

Summary

Vitamin D deficiency, indicated by low 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels, is linked to increased mortality in general and at-risk populations. Further research is needed to confirm if vitamin D supplementation improves survival in specific groups.

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 20, 2026

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

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

Published on: December 9, 2015

Area of Science:

Endocrinology
Public Health
Gerontology

Background:

Vitamin D deficiency is a prevalent global health issue, particularly in Europe and North America.
Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentration is the standard biomarker for assessing vitamin D status.
Deficient levels (<25 nmol/l) are common and raise public health concerns.

Purpose of the Study:

To review current scientific findings on the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and mortality.
To evaluate the association between low 25(OH)D levels and survival rates.
To explore the potential benefits of vitamin D supplementation on mortality.

Main Methods:

Systematic review of recent nonrandomized studies.
Analysis of meta-analyses of controlled trials.
Examination of data on specific patient populations, including those with chronic diseases.

Main Results:

Low 25(OH)D concentrations (<25 nmol/l) are associated with increased mortality in the general population.
Vitamin D deficiency is linked to higher mortality risk in individuals with cardiovascular disease.
While supplementation may benefit some, calcitriol levels are better mortality predictors in advanced heart failure patients.

Conclusions:

Evidence increasingly links vitamin D deficiency to excess mortality.
The efficacy of vitamin D supplementation for improving survival requires further investigation, especially in aging populations and specific patient cohorts.
Understanding the complex interplay between vitamin D, calcitriol, inflammation, and renal function is crucial for targeted interventions.