Synthetizing Vitamin D

[Hans de Vries]

Could humans (or any animal) aquire the ability to synthetize Vitamin D from simpler compounds without UV? I'm curious.

[imatfaal]

OT - and only because your English is amazingly good for a non-native speaker - the word is synthesise or synthesize

http://www.researchgate.net/post/How_do_nocturnal_animals_handle_their_metabolism_with_lack_of_sufficient_vitamin_D

 

No real answer here - but interesting points.

 

I looked at ergocalciferol - cos I know you get that in mushroom (known for growing in v low light) but cannot see much of interest apart from fact that lighting mushroom with UV increases the yeild

[Fuzzwood]

It might be possible, but keep in mind that we consume the pre-precursor in plenty quantities and is present in the cellular membrane as a sort of plasticizer: cholesterol. A couple of dehydrogenations and a UV-activated reaction gives you vitamin D.