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What is vitamin D?

Vitamin D is an oil-soluble vitamin that has several important functions in the body:

  • It helps to absorb dietary calcium and phosphorus from the intestines.
  • It suppresses the release of parathyroid hormone, a hormone that causes bone resorption.

Through these actions, vitamin D keeps the calcium and phosphate levels in the blood normal, thereby promoting bone health. Vitamin D may have other benefits, such as improving muscle and immune function, but these areas require more research.