Vitamin D is actually a steroid hormone. The main role associated with vitamin D is that of calcium regulation, but as more is understood about the compounds the more roles are discovered. Because vitamin D is a steroid hormone, it can interact directly with the DNA of cells and cause cellular changes, and this explains its wide ranging functions. One role for vitamin D that has been investigated is that of reproduction. For example, in one study, healthy males aged 20 to 49 years with low levels of vitamin D and low level of testosterone were administered 83 μ g (3332 IU) vitamin D daily for 1 year. During this time circulating 25(OH)D concentrations increased significantly by 53.5 nmol / L in the vitamin D group, but stayed the same in controls. At the same time the increase in vitamin D was associated with increases in total testosterone, bioactive testosterone, and free testosterone levels. However, there was no change in the control group. Therefore, testosterone may significantly be affected by levels of vitamin D and supplements of vitamin D may have beneficial effects on testosterone levels.
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