Vitamin D is a true vitamin because humans can synthesize it through sun exposure.

Understand the Problem

The question is asking whether the statement 'Vitamin D is a true vitamin because humans can synthesize it through sun exposure' is true or false. A true vitamin cannot be synthesized by the body, so vitamin D does not fall under this category.

More Information

Vitamin D is unique because it can be obtained through diet and synthesized in the skin upon exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation from sunlight. The amount of vitamin D produced in the skin depends on several factors, including the time of day, season, latitude, and skin pigmentation.

Tips

A common mistake is to assume that because the body can produce vitamin D, it automatically qualifies as a true vitamin. However, the defining characteristic of a vitamin is that it cannot be synthesized by the body and must be obtained from external sources.

Sources

• Vitamin D (also referred to as calciferol) is a fat-soluble vitamin that is naturally present in a few foods, added to others, and available as a dietary supplement. It is also produced endogenously when ultraviolet (UV) rays from sunlight strike the skin and trigger vitamin D synthesis. - ods.od.nih.gov
• Sunlight and Vitamin D: A global perspective for health - PMC - pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
• Vitamin D Myths 'D'-bunked > News > Yale Medicine - yalemedicine.org