Question

Which vitamin is synthesized by the skin?

Answer 1

The skin is responsible for producing vitamin D. During exposure to sunlight, ultraviolet radiation penetrates into the epidermis and photolyzes provitamin D3 to previtamin D3. Therefore, the skin is the site for the synthesis of vitamin D and target tissue for its active metabolite. In the presence of sunlight, a form of vitamin D3 called cholecalciferol is synthesized from a derivative of the steroid cholesterol in the skin.