Vitamin D helps your body use calcium. It helps your body get the calcium or absorb it from the food you eat. It also helps put the calcium in your bones and teeth for use by your body later on.
Vitamin D is made when our skin is exposed to the sun.
In addition, if you are elderly or dark-skinned you need longer periods of sun to make the Vitamin D your body needs. Talk to your doctor about Vitamin D supplements if you don't eat foods fortified with Vitamin D or if you are dark-skinned. It is important to choose supplements that do not give you very high doses since Vitamin D is fat-soluble and can be toxic. Babies whose only source of Vitamin D is breast milk after 4 - 6 months of age and who aren't exposed to the sun may also need a supplement. Talk to your health care provider about this.