Vitamin D in health and disease: a literature review

Abstract

Vitamin D, a fat-soluble prohormone, is synthesised in response to sunlight. Vitamin D requires two metabolic conversions, 25-hydroxylation in the liver and 1alpha-hydroxylation in the kidney, to become active hormone. The active form, 1alpha,25-(OH)2D, binds to the vitamin D receptor (VDR) to modulate gene transcription and regulate mineral ion homeostasis. Vitamin D plays several roles in the body, influencing bone health as well as serum calcium and phosphate levels. Furthermore, vitamin D may modify immune function, cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with numerous health outcomes, including risk of rickets in children or osteomalacia in adults, increased risk of fractures, falls, cancer, autoimmune disease, infectious disease, type 1 and type 2 diabetes, hypertension and heart disease, and other diseases such as multiple sclerosis. Here, vitamin D physiology and metabolism, its genomic action and association of polymorphisms in vitamin D pathway genes with different diseases are reviewed by focusing on new findings published in the literature.

Prednisolone and vitamin D(3) modulate oxidative metabolism and cell death pathways in blood and bone marrow mononuclear cells

“…The recent discovery of VDR in different cell types has expanded the known function of 1,25(OH) 2 D 3 from a role in calcium homeostasis to physiological process of bone formation/resorption and immune cell modulation. Vitamin D 3 acting via VDR has been implicated in the mechanisms by which cells proliferate, differentiate, become functionally active or die [6]. Nevertheless, the possible pathogenetic role of impaired vitamin D 3 metabolism in the mechanism of GCinduced side effects on bone tissue remodeling still requires better understanding.…”

Validity of an FFQ assessing the vitamin D intake of young Serbian women living in a region without food fortification: the method of triads model

“…It has been shown that vitamin D has important benefits during fetal and neonatal development (2) . Vitamin D, a fat-soluble vitamin, can be attained through diet, supplements or exposure to sunlight.…”

Association Between Elevated Serum Uric Acid and Vitamin D Insufficiency Among the Middle-Aged and Elderly Population

“…Accruing evidence in recent years showed that vitamin D might modify immune function, cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. As such, vitamin D deficiency has been associated with numerous health outcomes, including rickets and osteomalacia, increased risk of fractures, cancer, autoimmune disease, infectious disease, type 1 and 2 diabetes, hypertension and heart disease (1). Naturally occurring vitamin Ds, cholecalciferol and ergocalciferol, are mainly obtained from sun exposure and to some extent from the diet.…”