Michigan Esthetician State Board Practice Exam

Why is vitamin D referred to as the sunshine vitamin?

1. The body can produce it when exposed to sunlight

2. It is primarily sourced from fish

3. It helps in the absorption of calcium

4. It functions as an antioxidant

The correct answer is: The body can produce it when exposed to sunlight

Vitamin D is referred to as the sunshine vitamin because the body has the ability to synthesize it when the skin is exposed to ultraviolet (UV) rays from sunlight. This unique characteristic highlights the importance of sunlight for the body's production of essential nutrients. When UV rays penetrate the skin, they trigger a chemical reaction that converts a form of cholesterol found in the skin into vitamin D3, which is then further processed by the liver and kidneys to become active vitamin D. This process emphasizes the natural relationship between sunlight and the synthesis of vitamin D in the human body, underlining why it is often called the sunshine vitamin. Other options mention functions or sources related to vitamin D, but they do not address the primary reason for its nickname. For instance, while vitamin D does indeed help with calcium absorption and is found in certain foods, including fish, the defining characteristic linking it to sunlight is the body's capability to produce it through sun exposure. Similarly, its function as an antioxidant is not relevant to the term "sunshine vitamin," as this term specifically revolves around its synthesis through sunlight.