What is Cholecalciferol?

Cholecalciferol also known as vitamin D3 and cholecalciferol is a form of vitamin D that is made from cholesterol when the skin is exposed to sunlight; it is found in certain foods and can be taken as a dietary supplement.Cholecalciferol is produced in the skin after exposure to UVB light.It is converted to calcidiol (25-hydroxyvitamin D) in the liver and then to calcitriol (1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D) in the kidneys.One of its actions is to increase the intestinal absorption of calcium.It is found in foods such as certain fish, cod liver, beef liver, eggs, and cheese.In some countries, including the United States, milk, juice, yogurt, and margarine may also have fortified cholecalciferol.Margarine and fruit juices are pro-inflammatory and harmful to health; these should be avoided.

Cholecalciferol is used as an oral dietary supplement to prevent vitamin D deficiency or as a drug to treat related conditions, including rickets.It is also used in familial hypophosphatemia, hypoparathyroidism causing hypocalcemia, and Fanconi syndrome.Vitamin D supplements may not be effective in people with severe kidney disease.Overdose in humans can cause vomiting, constipation, weakness and confusion.Other risks include kidney stones.Doses greater than 40,000 IU (1,000 μg) per day are usually required before hypercalcemia develops.Normal doses of 800–2000 IU per day are safe during pregnancy.

Cholecalciferol was first described in 1936 and it is on the World Health Organization’s list of essential medicines.In 2020, it was the 60th most commonly prescribed drug in the United States, with over 11 million prescriptions filled.Cholecalciferol is available over the counter as a generic drug.

Other diseases

A 2007 meta-analysis concluded that consuming 1,000 to 2,000 IU of vitamin D3 per day can reduce the incidence of colorectal cancer with a small risk.A study published in Cancer Research in 2008 showed that supplementing the diets of some mice with vitamin D3 (along with calcium) had a nutritional profile similar to that of a neo-Western diet with 1000 IU of cholecalciferol per day May prevent the development of colon cancer.In humans, cholecalciferol supplementation had no effect on the risk of colorectal cancer at a dose of 400 IU per day.Supplements are not recommended for cancer prevention, as any effect of cholecalciferol is very small.Despite the association between low serum cholecalciferol levels and higher rates of various cancers, multiple sclerosis, tuberculosis, heart disease, and diabetes it is generally believed that supplementation levels are not beneficial.It is thought that tuberculosis may cause lower levels.However, it is not entirely clear how the two are related.