Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin, commonly referred to as the “sunshine” vitamin. Although typically found in food, Vitamin D can also be synthesized from exposure to ultraviolet light. It is estimated that 10 to 15 minutes of exposure to the midday sun two or three times a week will provide the daily need for Vitamin D. [1] It is important to note that those who are elderly require a longer duration to direct U.V. (ultraviolet) light, approximately thirty minutes, to fulfill such requirements. There are two types of sources readily available for synthesis in the human body:

• Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) - derived from plant sources (poor source)
• Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) - derived from animal sources and ultraviolet rays