Vitamin D

<p>vitamin D has hormone-like functions as regulators of mineral metabolism</p>

<p>

<b >Vitamin D</b>&nbsp;is a group of fat-soluble&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secosteroids" title="Secosteroids" class="mw-redirect" >secosteroids</a>. In humans, vitamin D is unique because it can be ingested as&nbsp;

cholecalciferol (vitamin D<sub >3</sub>) or ergocalciferol (vitamin D<sub >2</sub>) and because the body can also synthesize it (from cholesterol) when sun exposure is adequate (hence its nickname, the "sunshine vitamin").</p>