Vitamin D in health and disease

Vitamin D is essential for bone and muscle health and traditionally, prolonged deficiency is associated with rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults.

The vitamin has also been implicated in other diseases including cancer, autoimmune and neurodegenerative disease. Vitamin D is a unique micronutrient as it is a prohormone which is produced in the skin following exposure to sunlight. In countries at mid-high latitudes, UVB radiation from sunlight is of insufficient intensity during the winter months to promote cutaneous vitamin D production.

This, together with limited food sources containing vitamin D, contributes to a high prevalence of insufficient vitamin D status which is a significant global health concern. Optimising vitamin D status is essential for the maintenance of health and the prevention of disease.