Vitamin D and Bone Health

The vitamin D3 molecule, or cholecalciferol, is now considered a hormone that acts on multiple homeostatic fronts, either skeletal or extra-skeletal. After 100 years since from its identification as a protective and curative factor of rickets, during the last decade the interest in vitamin D among scientists and general public increased substantially and the use of vitamin D supplements has increased nearly exponentially in many countries. The aim of the present review is to clarify the mechanisms of action of vitamin D compounds on bone health through well-known concepts identified, and readily available, in the scientific literature. Taking advantage of our multi-year and consolidated experience in the pathophysiology of bone and mineral metabolism, we aim to briefly describe those few “hot” topics that we have perceived not to be easy to understand both for health professionals engaged on metabolic bone disorders and for those that are non-experts in this field and who should approach it. We describe, through basic pathophysiology concepts, the relationships between vitamin D and skeletal health: the main sources of vitamin D in humans, the vitamin D metabolites, evaluation of vitamin D status, tissue distribution of vitamin D, natural factors affecting the half-life of vitamin D3, the effects of cholecalciferol on calcium homeostasis and bone tissue, the relationship between vitamin D3 and bone cells and physical performance in the elderly, the effects of low vitamin D3 levels on bone loss and increased risk of fracture. Although currently different international institutional-academic positions exist about which is the best threshold value of serum vitamin D to be considered as adequate, it is important to bring out and lay a solid foundation supporting at least the crucial role played by it in the pathophysiology of skeletal tissue, despite the difficulties arising from the current lack of the specific molecular basis that clearly explain the balance between bone formation, mineralization and skeletal resorption. Finally, it should be also taken into consideration also the numerous reports, more recently identifiable in PubMed, in which, even in presence of very high levels of circulating values of 25OHD, clinically and biochemically observable toxic effects are not reported.

Advances in Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms of Vitamin D Metabolic Pathway Genes and Respiratory Diseases

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin.It is an essential vitamin for human body.It has a classical effect on regulating calcium and phosphorus metabolism.Participate in cellular and humoral immune processes by regulating the growth,differentiation and metabolism of immune cells.A large number of studies in recent years have shown that vitamin D deficiency increases the incidence of respiratory diseases.Respiratory diseases mainly include bronchial asthma,chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,tuberculosis,acute upper respiratory tract infection and pneumonia.Vitamin D metabolic pathway genes play a very important regulatory role in the transformation of vitamin D into active vitamin D,including CYP2R1,CYP27B1,CYP24A1,VDBP,VDR five genes.Genetic polymorphism of genes is the molecular basis of individual differences and disease development.Therefore,this paper summarizes the research on single nucleotide polymorphism of vitamin D metabolic pathway gene and respiratory diseases.In order to provide a new idea for future treatment.

Research Progress on the Relationship between Polymorphism and SLE of Vitamin D Metabolic Pathway Related Gene

Vitamin D is a class of hormones necessary to maintain normal physiological activities of the body.A large number of studies have shown that vitamin D,as a fat-soluble vitamin,is not only related to calcium and phosphorus metabolism,but also closely related to immune regulation,humoral regulation,cell cycle and so on.Systemic Lupus erythema-Tosus(SLE)is a specific autoimmune diffuse connective tissue disease that causes tissue and organ damage under the joint action of multiple factors such as environment and heredity.Among many factors,the vitamin D metabolism pathway gene is particularly important for its influence.Some literature has shown that the genetic polymorphism of vitamin D metabolic pathway genes is correlated with SLE.Therefore,by referring to relevant literature,this paper summarized the progress in the research on the mechanism of genetic polymorphism of vitamin metabolism pathway genes and the development of SLE.