Vitamin D

Vitamin D is a nutrient that the body needs in small amounts to function and stay healthy. Vitamin D helps the body use calcium and phosphorus to make strong bones and teeth. It is fat-soluble (can dissolve in fats and oils) and is found in fatty fish, egg yolks, and dairy products. Skin exposed to sunshine can also make vitamin D. Not enough vitamin D can cause a bone disease called rickets. It is being studied in the prevention and treatment of some types of cancer. Also called cholecalciferol.

What is Vitamin D?

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is important for strong bones, muscles, and general good health.

Vitamin D Biochemistry

Vitamin D Deficiency

Vitamin D Overdose

Vitamin D Supplementation

Vitamin D and Type 2 Diabetes

The Connection Between Vitamin D and Mental Health

The Role of Vitamin D in Hormonal Balance

Latest Vitamin D News and Research

Low vitamin D levels damage erectile health via superoxide surge, study finds

Vitamin D deficiency directly causes erectile dysfunction by increasing superoxide and reducing protective SLPI levels, as shown in human tissue and animal models. This breakthrough reveals why low vitamin D may lead to poor sexual health and resistance to standard ED treatments.

15 Apr 2025

Could your milk choice affect migraines?

Skim milk consumption is linked to a lower prevalence of migraines in U.S. adults, according to a large NHANES-based study. The association remained significant even after adjusting for lifestyle, diet, and demographic factors.

9 Apr 2025

Perimenopause can begin in the thirties yet remains widely misunderstood

Hot flashes, mood swings, weight gain and insomnia are all signs of hormonal changes and symptoms of menopause, when a woman no longer has menstrual cycles. They can also signal perimenopause, when the body is preparing for this next season of life.

8 Apr 2025

$Diet and exercise habits in your 60s linked to lower fracture and heart death risk$

Diet and exercise habits in your 60s linked to lower fracture and heart death risk

A long-term study in older adults links higher-quality diets to lower risks of hip fracture and cardiovascular death. Researchers suggest that framing bone health through heart disease awareness may better engage men in preventive action.

7 Apr 2025

Gut bacteria and blood metabolites directly affect children’s height, study finds

Researchers used Mendelian randomization to uncover causal links between gut microbiota, blood metabolites, and short stature in children.

7 Apr 2025

Breakthrough research identifies small peptide for psoriasis treatment

Birmingham scientists have shown that a sequence of just three amino acids may reduce the severity of psoriasis, when applied topically in an emollient cream.

3 Apr 2025

Vegetarian diets may hinder healthy aging—unless diet quality is high

Older Chinese adults who followed vegetarian diets were less likely to reach age 80 in good health. However, this disadvantage disappeared for those consuming high-quality plant-based diets.

2 Apr 2025

Vitamin D monitoring during pregnancy and postpartum

Researchers determine the impact of vitamin D levels during pregnancy and their role in maternal and infant health outcomes.

1 Apr 2025

Not all Chinese food is equal: study ranks cuisines by inflammatory potential

Researchers analyzed 980 dishes from eight major Chinese cuisines to evaluate their nutritional profiles and inflammatory potential using the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII).

31 Mar 2025

Colorectal cancer burden climbs in countries with low milk intake

A global study finds that low milk intake is linked to increased colorectal cancer burden, especially in older adults. Prostate cancer rates showed negative trends, though the findings may reflect model limitations rather than protective effects.

26 Mar 2025

Pass the (iodized) salt: Iodine deficiency drives frailty risk in people with diabetes

Lower iodine levels and use of non-iodized salt are linked to a higher risk of frailty in people with type 2 diabetes. This association is strongest in those with thyroid dysfunction, underscoring the importance of adequate iodine intake.

26 Mar 2025

How your diet and probiotics can improve vaccine effectiveness

Researchers uncover how probiotics and diet shape the gut microbiome to boost vaccine efficacy, offering new avenues for precision immunization.

23 Mar 2025

Mediterranean diet shows promise in easing psoriasis, acne, and hidradenitis suppurativa

A recent review highlights how the Mediterranean diet can reduce inflammation and improve outcomes for chronic skin conditions like psoriasis, acne, and hidradenitis suppurativa by modulating key inflammatory pathways and supporting metabolic health.

19 Mar 2025

Can yogurt and kefir help prevent osteoporosis? Scientists examine the facts

Fermented dairy products and probiotics may support bone health by enhancing calcium absorption, modulating inflammation, and influencing bone remodeling, though human studies show mixed results.

18 Mar 2025

Study shows how autism-linked picky eating causes serious vitamin deficiencies

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) face a high risk of multiple micronutrient deficiencies, especially vitamins A, D, B12, and calcium, due to extreme food selectivity. These deficiencies can lead to severe health issues like rickets, vision loss, and immune dysfunction, even in children with normal body weight.

13 Mar 2025

Children who eat fish are more prosocial, but does it impact intelligence?

Children who eat less seafood are significantly more likely to have lower prosocial behavior scores, but no link was found between seafood intake and IQ.

12 Mar 2025

How eating more calories helps lower asthma risk in children - but only up to a point

Children and adolescents in the U.S. who consume higher amounts of dietary energy have a lower risk of asthma, but this protective effect stops beyond 56.442 kcal per kilogram of body weight per day. The study found an L-shaped relationship, suggesting that insufficient energy intake may heighten asthma risk.

12 Mar 2025

Millions in US live in places where doctors don’t practice and telehealth doesn’t reach

Green lights flickered on the wireless router in Barbara Williams' kitchen. Just one bar lit up — a weak signal connecting her to the world beyond her home in the Alabama Black Belt.

10 Mar 2025

Why do some people need supplements and others don’t? New review explains

New research in The New England Journal of Medicine reviews current knowledge on micronutrient requirements, deficiencies, and interventions. It highlights the need for targeted supplementation and calls for advanced research to better diagnose and treat hidden deficiencies.

9 Mar 2025

Study finds Pacific children struggling with micronutrient intake and obesity

Children ages two to eight years across 11 Pacific jurisdictions (Alaska, American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Hawai'i, Marshall Islands, and Palau) are not meeting daily recommended intakes for key micronutrients, either consuming too much or too little.

6 Mar 2025