Vitamin D3 5000IU Softgels 120 Softgels

Vitamin D3 (a.k.a. cholecalciferol) is a fat-soluble compound (similar to cholesterol in structure) produced in the skin with exposure to UVB light (sunlight). When speaking ofit as a dietary supplement, "Vitamin D" may refer to vitamin D2 (ergocalficerol) or vitamin D3, and can be consumed as food such as fish, eggs and especially cod liver oil (D3), or as a supplement or in fortified foods such as milk or orange juice (D2 or D3)(1). Both vitamin D2 and D3 are hydroxylated in the liver to produce 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3, which is further hydroxylated in the kidney to produce 1,25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 (calitriol), the physiologically active form of the vitamin. Hormonally, calcitriol acts to elevate blood calcium levels by increasing gastrointestinal absorption and renal reabsorption (reducing urinary losses) and plays an important role along with parathyroid hormone in coordinating healthy bone turnover by increasing bone resorption(2). Additionally, calcitriol is produced by macrophages (monocytes) as a cytokine that directs the immune response against microbes and coordinates local inflammatory responses(3).