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...
Mutations01:35

Mutations

Mutations are changes in the sequence of DNA. These changes can occur spontaneously or they can be induced by exposure to environmental factors. Mutations can be characterized in a number of different ways: whether and how they alter the amino acid sequence of the protein, whether they occur over a small or large area of DNA, and whether they occur in somatic cells or germline cells.
Chromosomal Alterations Are Large-Scale Mutations
While point mutations are changes in a single nucleotide in...
Mutations01:39

Mutations

Overview
Pigmentation01:19

Pigmentation

The color of the skin is influenced by a number of pigments, including melanin, carotene, and hemoglobin. Recall that melanin is produced by cells called melanocytes, which are found scattered throughout the stratum basale of the epidermis. The melanin is transferred to the keratinocytes via melanosomes.
Melanin occurs in two primary forms: eumelanin that provides black and brown pigment and pheomelanin that provides red color. Dark-skinned individuals produce more melanin than those with pale...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Genitourinary symptoms and sexual function in women with primary ovarian insufficiency.

Climacteric : the journal of the International Menopause Society·2024
Same author

Obesity and sexual health: focus on postmenopausal women.

Climacteric : the journal of the International Menopause Society·2024
Same author

Low genitourinary tract risks in women living with the human immunodeficiency virus.

Climacteric : the journal of the International Menopause Society·2023
Same author

Plasma homocysteine levels and handgrip strength in postmenopausal women.

Climacteric : the journal of the International Menopause Society·2022
Same author

Vulvovaginal atrophy management with a laser: the placebo effect or the conditioning Pavlov reflex.

Climacteric : the journal of the International Menopause Society·2022
Same author

Association of bilateral oophorectomy and menopause hormone therapy with mild cognitive impairment: the REDLINC X study.

Climacteric : the journal of the International Menopause Society·2021
Same journal

Polycystic ovary syndrome, amenorrhea and the diagnostic role of anti-Müllerian hormone.

Minerva endocrinologica·2021
Same journal

Effects of Mediterranean diet on semen parameters in healthy young adults: a randomized controlled trial.

Minerva endocrinologica·2021
Same journal

Next generation of strain specific probiotics in diabetes treatment: the case of Prevotella copri.

Minerva endocrinologica·2020
Same journal

New perspectives in neuroendocrine neoplasms research from tumor xenografts in zebrafish embryos.

Minerva endocrinologica·2020
Same journal

Codon bias analyses on thyroid carcinoma genes.

Minerva endocrinologica·2020
Same journal

The possible role of endocrine dysfunction of adipose tissue in gestational diabetes mellitus.

Minerva endocrinologica·2020
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 28, 2026

Studying Chronic Exposure of Mice to Ultraviolet B Radiation
03:20

Studying Chronic Exposure of Mice to Ultraviolet B Radiation

Published on: August 19, 2025

Vitamin D, sunlight and longevity.

F R Pérez-López1, A M Fernández-Alonso, P Mannella

  • 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain. faustino.perez@unizar.es

Minerva Endocrinologica
|October 25, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Low vitamin D levels are linked to increased mortality from various causes. Higher daily vitamin D supplementation (2,000 IU+) is needed, with urgent calls for new studies on optimal levels for different health outcomes.

More Related Videos

Lipid Supplementation for Longevity and Gene Transcriptional Analysis in Caenorhabditis elegans
07:25

Lipid Supplementation for Longevity and Gene Transcriptional Analysis in Caenorhabditis elegans

Published on: December 9, 2022

A Suppressor Screen for the Characterization of Genetic Links Regulating Chronological Lifespan in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
10:39

A Suppressor Screen for the Characterization of Genetic Links Regulating Chronological Lifespan in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Published on: September 17, 2020

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 28, 2026

Studying Chronic Exposure of Mice to Ultraviolet B Radiation
03:20

Studying Chronic Exposure of Mice to Ultraviolet B Radiation

Published on: August 19, 2025

Lipid Supplementation for Longevity and Gene Transcriptional Analysis in Caenorhabditis elegans
07:25

Lipid Supplementation for Longevity and Gene Transcriptional Analysis in Caenorhabditis elegans

Published on: December 9, 2022

A Suppressor Screen for the Characterization of Genetic Links Regulating Chronological Lifespan in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
10:39

A Suppressor Screen for the Characterization of Genetic Links Regulating Chronological Lifespan in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Published on: September 17, 2020

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology and Metabolism
  • Nutritional Science
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Vitamin D is essential, acquired via sunlight and diet, requiring two hydroxylations for bioactivity.
  • Widespread insufficient (<20-30 ng/mL) or deficient (<20 ng/mL) vitamin D status exists globally.
  • Current lifestyle recommendations and supplementation doses may be inadequate.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the evidence linking vitamin D status to health outcomes and mortality.
  • To highlight the limitations of existing vitamin D supplementation studies.
  • To advocate for higher-dose supplementation and further research.

Main Methods:

  • Review of experimental, epidemiological, and clinical studies.
  • Analysis of existing data on vitamin D status and mortality.
  • Discussion of supplementation trial limitations.

Main Results:

  • Low serum 25(OH)D is associated with increased all-cause, cardiovascular, cancer, and infectious mortality.
  • Existing studies often use low vitamin D doses and have methodological limitations.
  • Optimal vitamin D levels likely vary for different health endpoints.

Conclusions:

  • Higher daily vitamin D doses (≥2,000 IU) are warranted for supplementation.
  • Prospective, controlled studies with higher doses and diverse endpoints are urgently needed.
  • The relationship between vitamin D and health is complex and non-linear.