Vitamin D3 | Cholecalciferol

Vitamin D3 | Cholecalciferol

Properties: Vitamin D3! What is the first thought that comes to your mind when you hear that? The Sun? Immunity? Strong bones? Absolutely! The effects of D3 activity are strictly linked to these issues, although D3’s scope of action is even wider. Let’s begin from the start. Vitamin D3 is one of the key vitamins that are essential for the proper functioning of our body. It’s of great importance for the immune system. Thanks to this substance the number of white blood cells significantly increases. Those cells are responsible for “searching” and neutralizing potentIal infections. What is more, this vitamin has anti-inflammatory properties which means that it prevents the development of chronic inflammation. That way, it provides enormous support to the immune system. 

Vitamin D3 is also a great support for our mental health. It is not a coincidence that so many people reach for this substance in the autumn when we become a bit depressed. At that time, we usually have less energy and motivation to work. We can stand up to autumn blues and take care of our well-being by supplementing vitamin D3. This is possible thanks to the fact that D3 is able to increase the activity of serotonin and dopamine in the nervous system. It results in a good mood – life immediately becomes much more pleasant. Very few people are aware of the fact that this vitamin is also necessary to maintain the optimal level of hormones. Cholecalciferol, which is actually a full name of this vitamin, acts on the pituitary gland – the brain structure where many important hormones are produced. Vitamin D3 is also responsible for the synthesis of hormones that enable mineralization of bones. Due to this vitamin’s influence, bones simply become more durable. That is the reason why D3 is essential for children whose bones have just started to grow.  Let’s sum – In order to take care of our hormonal balance, we have to remember to maintain the proper level of vitamin D3. Unfortunately, it is not that easy. Although our body, when exposed to the sun, produces this vitamin, its amounts are usually too small. That is the reason why vitamin D3 is especially recommended as a dietary supplement in the winter when there is not enough sunlight. Sometimes it’s good to supplement it also on sunny days. Above all we have to remember that this vitamin is essential for our body, which is why we should not underestimate its deficiencies. Let’s take care of our health because we have just one…

Occurrence: Human body is able to produce some amounts of vitamin D3. It takes place in lower layers of the epidermis during exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Inhabitants of countries in higher latitudes, due to the limited time of exposition to sunlight, are at risk of this vitamin deficiency. That is the reason why it should be delivered from the outside of the organism. Natural sources of the vitamin D3 are: fish (for example eel, herring, cod, salmon, mackerel), cod liver oil, milk, cheese, eggs and some mushrooms.

Biochemistry: Cholecalciferol is a type of vitamin D. It chemically belongs to the group of secosteroids. Its molecule consists of a cyclopentanoperhydrophenanthrene nucleus whose ring B has been split. Because of the fact that it can be produced in the human body, it sometimes is classified as the prohormone. Cholecalciferol is inactive until it is converted to 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (calcitriol). It is hardly soluble in water but it is better soluble in fats.

Fun fact: Vitamin D3 occurs in several forms. These are: calciferol (D1) that is present in cod liver oil, ergocalciferol (D2) produced by plants, cholecalciferol (D3) synthesized in the epidermis of animals, 22-dihydroergocalciferol (D4) that occurs in mushrooms and sitocalciferol (D5) isolated from wheat germ oil.