how does the body absorb vitamin d

Vitamin D can be absorbed by the body in two ways: through the skin and through the digestive system.

1. Through the skin: Vitamin D can be synthesized by the skin when it is exposed to sunlight. Specifically, when ultraviolet B (UVB) rays from the sun penetrate the skin, a form of vitamin D called cholecalciferol is produced. This form of vitamin D then travels to the liver and kidneys, where it is converted into the active form of vitamin D that the body can use.

2. Through the digestive system: Vitamin D can also be obtained through the diet, either from natural food sources or supplements. When vitamin D is consumed in the diet, it is absorbed in the small intestine and then transported to the liver. From the liver, it is converted into the active form of vitamin D that the body can use.

Regardless of how vitamin D is obtained, it is eventually converted into its active form in the kidneys, where it helps regulate calcium and phosphorus levels in the body.