Two independent molecules
present in cell. Disorder in
one of the molecules
Common name:
Cholecalciferol
Short description:
Vitamin D3 is one of the most important biological regulators of calcium metabolism.
Keyword:
sunlight
Keyword:
osteoporosis
Common name:
Vitamin D3
CSD refcode:
CHOCAL
Layman's explanation:
The mechanism of vitamin D3 was known in the 1930 s. Vitamin D3 is activated by sunlight and 7-dehydrocholesterol, which is present in the skin of most animals. Vitamin D3 is important for the absorption of calcium and phosphorus and for the normal depositing of these minerals into bone. The conjugated double bond system of the vitamin allows the absorption of light at certain wavelengths in the UV range. This causes a series of transformations that result in the formation of vitamin D3. As long as a mammal has access to sunlight, it is not necessary to ingest any supplements. Vitamin D3 is beneficial to maintain and increase bone density and used for the prevention of osteoporosis.
Reciprocal Net site software 0.9.1-50,
copyright (c) 2002-2009, The Trustees of Indiana University
Files and data presented via this software are property of their
respective owners.
Reciprocal Net is funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation as part of
the National Science Digital Library project.