Vitamin D (Calciferol) : Chemical Name, Sources and Deficiency Diseases

Chemical Name of Vitamin D :

The chemical name of Vitamin D is Calciferol.

Sources of Vitamin D:

The sources of Vitamin D are Liver, egg yolk, butter, cod liver oil, shark liver oil. Vitamin D is present mostly in animal foods such as liver, egg yolk, butter, cod liver oil and shark liver oil.

Deficiency Diseases of Vitamin D:

Vitamin D deficiency results in diseases like Rickets, fragile bones.

The deficiency of this vitamin in children leads to a disease called as rickets.

Rickets Symptoms:

Rickets is observed in the children of age group 6 months to 2 years. The disease is characterized by improper formation of bones. The children have curved legs i.e. bow legs, deformed pelvis, knock knees (knees knock each other while standing), swollen wrists and dentition gets delayed.

In adults, the deficiency of vitamin D leads to weakness of the bones and the bones become fragile, that means bones become soft and breaks easily.

Daily requirements of Vitamin D :

• Men – 100 IU
• Women – 200 IU
• Pregnant mothers – 200 IU
• Boys – 200 IU (16 to 18 years)
• Girls – 200 IU (16 to 18 years)

IU – International Units, 1 microgram=40 IU

Functions and Benefits of Vitamin D:

This vitamin D helps in the absorption of calcium and phosphorous by the intestine and it gets deposited in the bone.

Calciferol is required for the formation and normal growth of the bones.

Cholesterol present in the foods gets converted to vitamin D in the presence of sun light in our body.