Aldosterone and Vitamin D

Hormones are a diverse group of molecules that regulate several functions in your body. Hormones can be divided into those that act outside target cells and those that enter the target cell. Vitamin D and aldosterone are hormones that belong to the latter group. Although, vitamin D and aldosterone are both hormones, they differ from one another in their function and chemical structure.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D exists in two forms called vitamin D3, or cholecalciferol, and vitamin D2, or ergocalciferol. Your body can synthesize vitamin D3 in your skin after exposure to ultraviolet B radiation. You can also get both vitamin D3 and vitamin D2 in your diet. Vitamin D has several essential functions in your body, including maintaining blood calcium levels, bone density, cell differentiation and healthy immune system. If you do not get enough exposure to sunlight, you need to get vitamin D from your diet to avoid deficiency.

Active Vitamin D Hormone

Vitamin D is a precursor of vitamin D hormone called calcitriol. The vitamin D you get from diet or synthesize in your skin is an inactive molecule that needs to be metabolized in your body to its active forms. According to the Linus Pauling Institute, vitamin D is first metabolized to calcidiol in your liver. Calcidiol travels in your blood to your kidneys, where it is metabolized to calcitriol. Calcitriol is the most potent form of vitamin D. Calcitriol is the form of vitamin D that regulates blood calcium concentration, bone density, cell differentiation and modulates immunity.

Aldosterone

Aldosterone is a steroid hormone made from cholesterol. Steroid hormones include adrenocortical hormones, such as cortisol and aldosterone, and sex hormones, such as testosterone and estradiol. According to the "Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry," aldosterone is a mineralcorticoid that has an essential role in regulating blood electrolyte concentrations. Because aldosterone is made from cholesterol, it is important you have adequate levels of cholesterol in your body. Cholesterol is first metabolized to progesterone and then aldosterone or other hormones.

Good and Bad Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a fat-like substance manufactured from fatty acids in your body. You can also absorb cholesterol from food. Not all cholesterol is good for you. Your body makes two main types of cholesterol: low-density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein. LDL is considered as "bad" cholesterol that is made from saturated fatty acids. High blood levels of LDL can increase your risk of heart disease. HDL is considered as "good" cholesterol that is made from unsaturated fatty acids. HDL can help lower your blood LDL levels and reduce your risk of heart disease. Besides being important precursor of aldosterone, cholesterol is also essential in building healthy cells.