What Is the Role of Vitamin D in the Body?
What is its impact? Dr. Diane Kamen: Vitamin D plays a big role in the body. It’s a hormone. In addition to being called vitamin D, it’s a hormone, in the sense that it plays a big role in over 900 different functions in the body. In addition to helping us absorb more calcium, it plays into the bones ability to hold onto important minerals and nutrients. It also acts on cells of the immune system to help us fight off certain types of infections. We believe it also plays a role, and this is something we’re researching here at MUSC, in the body’s ability to maintain a sense of tolerance to self in preventing autoimmune disease. And that’s something that may occur even in utero and early childhood, as well as throughout our lives. Clearly, we know it’s important around menopause in making sure that calcium and vitamin D are maximized. That’s why we’re really pushing education early in life to make sure young kids are getting enough calcium and vitamin D. It may be that vitamin D is playin
