Which of the following vitamin is synthesised in the body?
**Vitamin Synthesis in the Body**
**Core Concept**
The human body has the ability to synthesize certain vitamins from other compounds, which is essential for maintaining optimal health. This process involves a series of biochemical reactions that convert precursor molecules into the final vitamin product.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
Vitamin D is synthesized in the skin upon exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation from the sun. This process involves the conversion of 7-dehydrocholesterol into pre-vitamin D3, which then undergoes isomerization to form vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). Vitamin D3 is then transported to the liver and kidneys, where it undergoes further hydroxylation to form the active form of the vitamin, calcitriol. This process is essential for maintaining calcium homeostasis and bone health.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
* **Option A:** Vitamin C is an essential nutrient that cannot be synthesized in the human body. It must be obtained through the diet.
* **Option B:** Vitamin B12 is a complex vitamin that requires a series of enzymatic reactions to synthesize in the body, but it ultimately requires a dietary source of vitamin B12 from animal products.
* **Option D:** Vitamin K is synthesized by bacteria in the gut, but it is not synthesized in the body itself.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
The skin synthesizes vitamin D3 in response to UVB radiation, but this process is impaired in individuals with darker skin pigmentation, elderly individuals, and those with limited sun exposure.
**Correct Answer: C. Vitamin D**