Document Detail


Vitamin D: evolutionary, physiological and health perspectives.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20795941     Owner:  NLM     Status:  In-Process    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Vitamin D, the sunshine vitamin, has been important not only for the evolution of a healthy calcified vertebrate skeleton but it also evolved into a hormone that has a wide diversity of biologic effects. During exposure to sunlight the ultraviolet B radiation converts 7-dehydrocholesterol to previtamin D(3) which in turn rapidly isomerizes to vitamin D(3). Once formed, vitamin D(3) is metabolized in the liver to 25-hydroxyvitamin D(3) and in the kidneys to its active form 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3). 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) interacts with its vitamin D receptor in calcium regulating tissues to regulate calcium metabolism and bone health. It is now recognized that most cells in the body have a vitamin D receptor and they also have the capability of producing 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) which in turn is capable of regulating a wide variety of genes that have important functions in regulating cell growth, modulating immune function and cardiovascular health. Epidemiologic evidence and prospective studies have linked vitamin D deficiency with increased risk of many chronic diseases including autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular disease, deadly cancers, type II diabetes and infectious diseases. Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency have been defined as a 25-hydroxyvitamin D <20 ng/ml and 21-29 ng/ml respectively. For every 100 IU of vitamin D ingested the blood level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, the measure vitamin D status, increases by 1 ng/ml. It is estimated that children need at least 400-1000 IU of vitamin D a day while teenagers and adults need at least 2000 IU of vitamin D a day to satisfy their body's vitamin D requirement. It is estimated that 1 billion people worldwide are vitamin D deficient or insufficient. Correcting and preventing this deficiency could have an enormous impact on reducing health costs worldwide.
Authors:
Michael F Holick
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Current drug targets     Volume:  12     ISSN:  1873-5592     ISO Abbreviation:  Curr Drug Targets     Publication Date:  2011 Jan 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-12-06     Completed Date:  -     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  100960531     Medline TA:  Curr Drug Targets     Country:  Netherlands    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  4-18     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, Section of Endocrinology, Nutrition, and Diabetes, Vitamin D, Skin and Bone Research Laboratory, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA. mfholick@bu.edu
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Grant Support
ID/Acronym/Agency:
1UL1RR025771/RR/NCRR NIH HHS

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