Vitamin D

Vitamin D is a nutrient that the body needs in small amounts to function and stay healthy. Vitamin D helps the body use calcium and phosphorus to make strong bones and teeth. It is fat-soluble (can dissolve in fats and oils) and is found in fatty fish, egg yolks, and dairy products. Skin exposed to sunshine can also make vitamin D. Not enough vitamin D can cause a bone disease called rickets. It is being studied in the prevention and treatment of some types of cancer. Also called cholecalciferol.

What is Vitamin D?

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is important for strong bones, muscles, and general good health.

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Vitamin D and Cancer

Breastfeeding and Vitamin D

Vitamin D and Type 2 Diabetes

Vitamin D Biochemistry

Vitamin Malabsorption: A Comprehensive Guide from A to K

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Vitamin D Deficiency

The Connection Between Vitamin D and Mental Health

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Vitamin D

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Vitamin D Supplementation

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Dangers of Vitamin Deficiency During Pregnancy

The Role of Vitamin D in Hormonal Balance

Sun Exposure - Positive and Negative Effects

Vitamin D Overdose

Vitamin D and COVID-19

Latest Vitamin D News and Research

High-dose vitamin D3 in pregnancy may boost children’s memory by age 10

High-dose vitamin D3 supplementation from mid-pregnancy to early postpartum was associated with better verbal and visual memory in children at age 10. The post hoc analysis suggests prenatal vitamin D3 exposure may support selected cognitive functions, although findings require cautious interpretation.

21 May 2026

Phase two clinical trial demonstrates dramatic mobility gains in children with severe fibrous dysplasia

Fibrous dysplasia is a rare skeletal disorder in which normal bone is gradually replaced by weak fibro-osseous tissue, leading to fractures, pain, deformities, and severe mobility impairment. In many patients, diseased bone tissue produces excessive amounts of fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF23), a hormone that causes phosphate loss through the kidneys.

21 May 2026

$Calcium and vitamin D supplements show limited fracture prevention benefits$

Calcium and vitamin D supplements show limited fracture prevention benefits

Calcium, vitamin D, or combined supplements offer little to no clinically meaningful benefit on fracture and fall prevention in most older people, finds an in-depth review of the latest evidence published by The BMJ today.

20 May 2026

Vitamin D deficiency linked to higher postoperative breast cancer pain

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with more moderate to severe pain following breast cancer surgery and an increased consumption of opioid drugs, finds research published online in the journal Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine.

19 May 2026

Integrated care needed for lifelong Polyendocrine Ovarian Syndrome management

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, which has just been renamed Polyendocrine Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS), is the most common hormonal and metabolic disorder affecting women of reproductive age, impacting up to 13% of this population and contributing to nearly 40% of infertility cases worldwide.

18 May 2026

Olive waste extract may help lower fat and improve muscle markers

A polyphenol-rich olive oil byproduct may enhance muscle health, reducing fat mass and improving antioxidant markers in adults with metabolic risk factors.

18 May 2026

Can supplements slow Parkinson’s disease? Review reveals where the evidence stands

Dietary supplements are widely used by people with Parkinson’s disease, but this review finds that none have yet been proven to slow disease progression. Biotics, nicotinamide riboside, and omega-3 fatty acids combined with vitamin E show the most promise, but larger, longer, and better-designed trials are needed.

14 May 2026

Wearable sweat sensor tracks vitamin levels in real time

Researchers developed a wearable electrochemical patch that detects six vitamins in sweat at nanomolar levels, combining sweat induction, microfluidic sampling, wireless readout, and pH/ionic-strength calibration. Human testing focused mainly on vitamin B9, showing sweat levels rose after supplementation or a vitamin B9-rich diet and correlated with serum levels, supporting future use for non-invasive nutrition trend monitoring.

28 Apr 2026

Vitamin D may prevent diabetes in people with certain genes

More than two in five U.S. adults has prediabetes, a condition marked by higher-than-normal blood sugar levels that often leads to type 2 diabetes.

23 Apr 2026

AI chatbots give misleading health advice nearly half the time

Widespread inaccuracies in AI chatbot health responses pose public health risks, highlighting the urgent need for better oversight and cleaner training data.

21 Apr 2026

Can diet influence thyroid disease? A major review points to Mediterranean-style eating

This review found that thyroid health depends on more than iodine alone, with selenium, iron, zinc, vitamins, omega-3s, and overall eating patterns all shaping thyroid function and autoimmunity. It also concluded that Mediterranean-style diets are linked to more favorable thyroid outcomes, while unnecessary restrictive diets offer little benefit without a clear medical indication.

7 Apr 2026

Could vitamin D in midlife protect your brain from early Alzheimer’s?

Higher serum vitamin D in midlife is associated with reduced tau burden in the brain, highlighting its potential role in early dementia risk assessment.

7 Apr 2026

US scientists sequence 1,000 genomes from measles, a disease long eliminated with vaccines

This week, the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention posted online its first large tranche of advanced genetic data from measles viruses spreading last year.

2 Apr 2026

Vitamin D levels in midlife tied to lower dementia risk marker

Having higher levels of vitamin D in the blood in middle age is associated with lower levels of tau protein in the brain, which is a sign of dementia, years later, according to a study published April 1, 2026, in Neurology Open Access, an official journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

1 Apr 2026

How vitamin D in the first 1,000 days may shape lifelong health

This narrative review argues that vitamin D is clearly important for skeletal health during the first 1,000 days of life and may also shape immune, metabolic, and selected neurodevelopmental pathways during early development. However, the authors stress that human evidence for most non-skeletal outcomes remains heterogeneous, with benefits appearing most consistent in populations with baseline deficiency.

31 Mar 2026

Planetary health diet meets key nutrient needs during early pregnancy

Following The Planetary Health Diet in pregnancy can meet key nutrient requirements, suggesting that women who eat more sustainably in pregnancy may have higher intakes of several key-pregnancy-related nutrients, including folate, iron, calcium, and dietary fiber.

31 Mar 2026

$Heart health linked to higher fracture risk in postmenopausal women$

Heart health linked to higher fracture risk in postmenopausal women

Postmenopausal women face a high risk of bone fractures. Due to declines in estrogen levels, which can lead to an increased risk of osteoporosis, even a low-impact fall can result in a serious hip, back or wrist injury.

27 Mar 2026

Experts establish standardized protocols for pediatric recurrent wheezing diagnosis

Recurrent wheezing, a respiratory disorder, is caused by the narrowing of the airways, mainly affecting children aged less than 5 years.

26 Mar 2026

Vitamin D may help shape how the immune system responds to gut bacteria in IBD patients

Vitamin D supplementation may help shape how the immune system responds to gut bacteria in people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), according to a Mayo Clinic–led study published in Cell Reports Medicine.

26 Mar 2026

New method uses biomarkers to determine a person's biological age

Aging is a highly individual process. An international consortium coordinated by researchers in Konstanz has developed a method that uses biomarkers to determine a person's biological age - a valuable tool for research on ageing and the development of new approaches in preventive medicine.

19 Mar 2026