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Vitamin D

Meaning

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble secosteroid hormone precursor, primarily synthesized in the skin upon exposure to ultraviolet B radiation, and is metabolically activated into the potent steroid hormone calcitriol (1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D). It is fundamentally essential for the maintenance of calcium and phosphate homeostasis, directly supporting optimal bone health and preventing deficiency diseases like osteomalacia. Beyond its classical skeletal function, it operates as a pleiotropic hormone, critically modulating immune function, regulating cellular proliferation, and influencing widespread endocrine signaling throughout the body. Clinically, maintaining adequate serum concentrations is recognized as vital for systemic health and well-being.