What substance is maufactured in the skin that plays a role in calcium absortion elsewhere in the body?

Answer 1

Vitamin D?

No. Vitamin D is not manufactured, rather, it is chemically altered by UV rays on the skin, and thereby, capable of utilization by the liver, and then by the kidneys; the organ responsible for maintenance of calcium levels. Interestingly enough, however, the active form of vitamin D is plentiful in the western diet, and only about 5-10% of vitamin D is actually utilized by the UV ray induced alteration from the skin.

The skin produces many substances, however, most substances are consider paracrine (affecting neighboring cells) rather than endocrine (affecting distant organ systems). More commonly, hormones or endocrine substances, affect the skin, causing pathologic states. An example of paracrine:

- Inflammatory markers- Sites of trauma, or areas of potential infection; cells within the skin induce several chemicals that increase the migration of specialized cells of the immune system, as well as cells from the vasculature (platelts) and other cells that are responsible for healing

- Endocrine: Insulin (acanthosis nigricans) immune complexes (vitiligo, bullae)

Answer 2

Vitamin D is the substance manufactured in the skin that plays a crucial role in the absorption of calcium in the body. When UV light reacts with a form of cholesterol in the skin, it produces vitamin D, which then helps in the absorption of calcium by the intestines.

Answer 3

vitamin d ( it actually produces modified cholesterol molecules that synthesize the vitamin D produced by the sun)

Answer 4

Vitamin D is manufactured in the skin when the skin is exposed to the sunshine. This vitamin D is then used by the body to help with the deposition of of calcium in the bones.

Answer 5

Vitamin D, from sunlight.

Answer 6

Vitamin D

Answer 7

Vitamin D!

Answer 8

vitamin D.