Vitamin D3 affects our health in an astonishing number of ways. Not getting enough of the required amount of this important nutrient can lead to some serious and wide ranging health conditions.

Mostly, health conditions that arise as a result of Vitamin D3 deficiency are due to inadequate sunlight (UVB) exposure, inadequate intake as well as due to insufficient calcium absorption.

Vitamin D3 deficiency can result in impaired bone mineralization that generally leads to bone softening diseases such as rickets as well as other bone disorders such as osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis. Vitamin D3 deficiency can also affect the immune system, especially T cell-mediated immunity, weakening the body's natural resistance.

Liver or kidney disorders can also have an adverse effect on the conversion of Vitamin D3 into active metabolites. Lower levels of Vitamin D3 increase the risk for diabetes, multiple sclerosis, Crohn's disease, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. Prolonged and severe D3 deficiency can also have an adverse effect on our mental health resulting in depression and schizophrenia. D3 deficiency can increase risk of colon, prostate, ovarian and breast cancer.

Studies suggest that dark skinned people are more prone to prostate cancer as they require 20 - 30 times more exposure to sunlight as fair-skinned people to generate the same amount of vitamin D. People living at higher altitude are also at risk of developing Hodgkin's Lymphoma due to insufficient sunlight exposure resulting in Vitamin D3 deficiency. Seasonal Affective Disorder is caused by a melatonin imbalance initiated by lack of exposure to sunlight.