The Physiological Consequences of Hypovitaminosis D

During the industrial revolution in the United States, speculations arose surrounding ultraviolet radiation and its inverse relationship to the alarmingly increasing prevalence of rickets, a bone disease in children that we now know is caused by a lack of vitamin D. However, prior to the 20th century, it was nearly impossible to simply identify biological forms of vitamins or hormones (Holick, 2010). It was inconceivable to set forth a list of dietary essentials and their roles in the human body. With the aid of modern technology, the ability to ascertain vitamin D’s chemical form and origins became a reality. Today, a large fraction of the field of endocrine research aims to find links between vitamin D and diseases. The purpose of this paper is to list some of the associated ailments that transpire alongside inadequate levels of vitamin D, and in turn, emphasize the importance of supplementation to prevent such occurrences.