Health Articles : Vitamins and Supplements : Vitamin D
Vitamin D : Vitamin D Analogs
Vitamin D TestingVitamin D tests are mainly done to get specific information about the weakness, bone malfunction or abnormal metabolism of calcium (which is reflected by abnormal ..... An analog is defined as a structural derivative of a parent compound that often differs from it by a single element. Vitamin d itself is a fat soluble vitamin that is required by the body for the performance of several vital functions of the body such as the absorption of calcium and phosphorus and calcium and maintaining their appropriate levels within the body. This vitamin also helps in maintaining the structure and strength of the bones. The different analogs of vitamin d are classified and categorized as vitamin d1 the molecular compound of ergocalciferol and lumisterol with molecular ratio of 1:1. Then comes vitamin d2 composed of ergocalciferol and calciferol. Vitamin d3 or cholecalciferol made from 7-dehydrocholesterol, calcidiol and calcitriol, followed by vitamin d4 composed of 22-23-dihydroergocalciferol, and lastly the vitamin d5 sitocalciferol made from 7-dehydrositosterol. However in general only two of the vitamin d analogs are commercially made available. One is the Calcipotriol or Calcipotriene and the tacalcitol.
Medical studies and scientific researches have concluded that analogs of vitamin D3 metabolites even though not nutritional itself can be used to treat psoriasis. The drug is found to be effective in slowing the rate at which psoriatic skin cells multiply and also and by making newly-formed skin cells differentiate into their proper forms. This active metabolite also performs a wide range of nonclassical actions in the body, such as regulation of cell growth, differentiation and the immune system. Because of these special tarots it has found extensive applications in the treatment of a number of other diseases such as autoimmune diseases, osteoporosis, hyperparathyroidism and cancer. Due to the less calcemic activities of the D3 it offers a comparatively safer mode of treatment and controlling hyperparathyroidism.
Vitamin d3 or cholecalciferol one of the most important of the vitamin d analogs can be synthesized by the human skin under suitable conditions of exposure to the ultra violet radiations of the sun rays. This process is accomplished in the skin when 7-dehydrocholesterol reacts with ultraviolet light with wavelengths 290 to 315 nm. These wave lengths are present in the sunlight when the sun when the sun is high enough above the horizon for UVB to penetrate the atmosphere and is responsible for the production of cholecalciferol.
Cortisol And Vitamin DVitamin is a chemical substance, which is derived from another compound called steroid. The name of the parent compound for steroid is .....
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