The Connection Between Cholesterol and Vitamin D Production

Is Cholesterol in the Skin Related to Vitamin D?

Yes, cholesterol plays a crucial role in the body's production of vitamin D.

Our skin contains a precursor molecule called 7-dehydrocholesterol, which is derived from cholesterol. When our skin is exposed to ultraviolet (UVB) radiation from sunlight, this 7-dehydrocholesterol is converted into vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). This is the initial and vital step in vitamin D synthesis. Therefore, cholesterol is a necessary component for the body's natural vitamin D production.

Several sources confirm this relationship:

• Yale Medicine: "[Cholesterol in the skin, produce vitamin D3 when they...]"¹
• Healthline: "The natural type [of vitamin D] is produced in the skin from a universally present form of cholesterol, 7-dehydrocholesterol."²
• ScienceDirect: "In the skin, 7-dehydrocholesterol is converted to cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) by UVB radiation."³
• NCBI: "Cholecalciferol, the form of vitamin D named D3, is synthetized in the skin from 7-dehydrocholesterol upon irradiation with ultraviolet waves..."⁴

While low vitamin D levels have been associated with high cholesterol in some population studies, this correlation doesn't necessarily imply causation. The primary link is that cholesterol is a necessary precursor for vitamin D synthesis in the skin.

References:

1. Yale Medicine. Vitamin D Myths 'D'-bunked. https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/vitamin-d-myths-debunked
2. Healthline. Vitamin D and Cholesterol: What's the Relationship. https://www.healthline.com/health/high-cholesterol/vitamin-d-relationship
3. ScienceDirect. 7-Dehydrocholesterol - an overview. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/7-dehydrocholesterol
4. NCBI. Vitamin D and Its Role in the Lipid Metabolism and the Development. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7916166/