What is vitamin D?

About this episode

This summer, relax and learn with Do You Really Know! It's time to learn all about the concepts, words and expressions that surround the summer season! What is vitamin D? Vitamin D was discovered in 1922 by American biochemist Elmer McCollum, who was nicknamed Dr Vitamin by Time Magazine. He found that cod liver oil could still prevent rickets in rats, despite its vitamin A having been removed. From this observation, he deduced that it contained a different substance which he called vitamin D. A sufficient quantity of vitamin D is necessary during early childhood years in order to prevent rickets. In adults, it protects against osteoporosis and the deterioration of bone tissue. It also plays an important part in preventing breast cancer and colon cancer. How do we produce or find Vitamin D then? But how does sunblock work then? What about skin colour; does that impact our ability to produce Vitamin D? ⁠⁠In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions !⁠⁠ To listen to the last episodes, you can click here : ⁠⁠Why do we get verrucas?⁠⁠ ⁠⁠What is climate shadow, the newest way to measure your impact on global warming?⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Why do our bodies need magnesium?⁠⁠ A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. First Broadcast: 16/8/2022 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices