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Vitamin D3

Generic Name
Vitamin D3
Brand Names
Adrovance, Animi-3 With Vitamin D, Citranatal B-calm Kit, Citranatal Harmony, Fosamax Plus D, Fosavance, Infuvite, Infuvite Pediatric, Mvc-fluoride, Natafort, Pregvit, Vidextra, Vantavo (previously Alendronate sodium and colecalciferol, MSD)
Drug Type
Small Molecule
Chemical Formula
C27H44O
CAS Number
67-97-0
Unique Ingredient Identifier
1C6V77QF41

Overview

Vitamin D, in general, is a secosteroid generated in the skin when 7-dehydrocholesterol located there interacts with ultraviolet irradiation - like that commonly found in sunlight . Both the endogenous form of vitamin D (that results from 7-dehydrocholesterol transformation), vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol), and the plant-derived form, vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol), are considered the main forms of vitamin d and are found in various types of food for daily intake . Structurally, ergocalciferol differs from cholecalciferol in that it possesses a double bond between C22 and C23 and has an additional methyl group at C24 . Finally, ergocalciferol is pharmacologically less potent than cholecalciferol, which makes vitamin D3 the preferred agent for medical use . Appropriate levels of vitamin D must be upheld in the body in order to maintain calcium and phosphorus levels in a healthy physiologic range to sustain a variety of metabolic functions, transcription regulation, and bone metabolism . However, studies are also ongoing to determine whether or not cholecalciferol may also play certain roles in cancer, autoimmune disorders, cardiovascular disease, and other medical conditions that may be associated with vitamin D deficiency .

Indication

Cholecalciferol use is indicated for the treatment of specific medical conditions like refractory rickets (or vitamin D resistant rickets), hypoparathyroidism, and familial hypophosphatemia . Concurrently, as one of the most commonly utilized forms of vitamin D, cholecalciferol is also very frequently used as a supplement in individuals to maintain sufficient vitamin d levels in the body or to treat vitamin D deficiency, as well as various medical conditions that can be associated directly or indirectly with vitamin d insufficiency like osteoporosis and chronic kidney disease, among others .

Associated Conditions

  • Bone Fractures
  • Calcium and Vitamin D Deficiencies
  • Deficiency of Vitamin D3
  • Deficiency, Vitamin A
  • Deficiency, Vitamin D
  • Hip Fracture
  • Hypoparathyroidism
  • Hypophosphatemia, Familial
  • Menopause
  • Osteomalacia
  • Osteoporosis
  • Postmenopausal Osteoporosis
  • Vertebral Fractures
  • Vitamin D Resistant Rickets
  • Vitamin Deficiency
  • Severe Bone Resorption
  • Spine fracture

Research Report

Published: Jul 14, 2025

A Comprehensive Monograph on Cholecalciferol (Vitamin D3): From Molecular Structure to Clinical Application

Executive Summary

Cholecalciferol, commonly known as Vitamin D3, is a fat-soluble secosteroid that functions as a critical prohormone within the human body. While historically classified as a vitamin, its endogenous synthesis in the skin upon exposure to sunlight and its subsequent multi-organ activation into a potent hormone underscore its central role in a complex endocrine system. The primary and undisputed function of the Vitamin D system is the maintenance of calcium and phosphate homeostasis, which is essential for normal bone mineralization. Consequently, Cholecalciferol is a cornerstone therapy for the prevention and treatment of a range of skeletal disorders arising from its deficiency, including rickets in children, osteomalacia in adults, and as an adjunct with calcium for osteoporosis management.

A significant body of scientific evidence has established the clinical superiority of Cholecalciferol (D3) over its plant-derived counterpart, Ergocalciferol (D2). Studies consistently demonstrate that D3 is more potent and has a longer duration of action in raising and sustaining serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, the key indicator of vitamin D status. This has led to a broad consensus that Cholecalciferol should be the preferred form for both supplementation and therapeutic repletion.

Continue reading the full research report

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