Vitamin D is medically known as calciferol. In the year of 1782 it was discovered that cod liver oil helped curing bone diseases, especially rickets. In the year of 1918 Mellanby developed experimental rickets in animal models and affirmed the conception that was as yet known that rickets was because of lack of vitamin D in the body. Since then advanced research has been made and now, it is proven that it is the influence of the UV Rays (Ultra Violet Rays) of sunlight that helps in synthesis of vitamin D in the body. The amounts of calciferol thus formed are more during months of summer and less in amount during the months of winter.
Vitamin D is also popular as the sunshine vitamin since the body produces this vitamin after being exposed to sunlight. Approximately 10-15 of exposure to sunlight thrice in a week is sufficient to produce the body's need of vitamin D. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that helps the body absorb calcium. As the category suggests, fat-soluble vitamins are stored in fat tissues of the body.
Particular recommendations for any vitamin depend upon age, gender, and other stages of lives (like gestational period or pregnancy). In general, the people aging over 50 yr need a bit higher amounts of vitamin D as compared to that of the younger generation.
Vitamin D has a group of which D 2 (known medically as calciferol) and D 3 (known medically as cholecalciferol) are main requirement for the human body. Calciferol might be obtained from fresh live plants and on the other hand, cholecalciferol is naturally occurring vitamin D that is present in the animal fats and also abundantly in fish liver oil. This is also derived from exposure to Ultra Violet Rays of the sun that convert the cholesterol present in the skin into vitamin D. Again, as said before, vitamin D is laid largely in the fatty tissues of the body.
