A human body produces vitamin D as a response to sun exposure. A person can also boost their vitamin D intake through certain foods or supplements.

Vitamin D is essential for several reasons, including maintaining healthy bones and teeth. It may also protect against a range of diseases and conditions, such as type 1 diabetes.

Despite its name, vitamin D is not a vitamin, but a prohormone, or precursor of a hormone.

Vitamins are nutrients that the body cannot create, and so a person must consume them in the diet. However, the body can produce vitamin D.

In this article, we look at the benefits of vitamin D, what happens to the body when people do not get enough, and how to boost vitamin D intake.

Vitamin D has multiple roles in the body. It assists in:

• promoting healthy bones and teeth
• supporting immune, brain, and nervous system health
• regulating insulin levels and supporting diabetes management
• supporting lung function and cardiovascular health
• influencing the expression of genes involved in cancer development