The renaissance of vitamin D.

Abstract

There is no doubt that vitamin D plays a crucial role in the maintenance of musculoskeletal system. But the function of this ancient molecule presumably ranges far beyond hormone-like regulation, as it could be generated by simple unicellular organisms. First, we are going to discuss the role of vitamin D as a global regulator of homeostasis from a historical perspective, but later we will focus on current views and its relevance to human physiology and pathology. Three milestones are defining the impact of vitamin D on science and humanity. Firstly, discovery that vitamin D is the cure for rickets, brought us supplementation programs and rapid irradiation of this devastating disease. Secondly, detail description of photoproduction of vitamin D, its subsequent metabolism and interaction with vitamin D receptor VDR, provided mechanistic background for future discoveries. Finally, recent large epidemiological studies provided indirect, but strong evidence that optimal level of vitamin D in serum has beneficial effects on our health and protects us from multiple diseases, including cancer. Furthermore, existence of alternative pathways of vitamin D metabolism and multiple intracellular targets broadens our understanding of its physiological activities and offers new and very promising tools for prophylactics and treatment of many diseases of civilization. Although vitamin D (and its derivatives) should not be regarded as a cure-all for every human disease, its beneficial effects on the human health have to be taken under consideration.

• Authors: Justyna Wierzbicka, Anna Piotrowska, Michał A Żmijewski
• Journal: Acta biochimica Polonica (Acta Biochim Pol) Vol. 61 Issue 4 Pg. 679-86 ( 2014) ISSN: 1734-154X [Electronic] Poland
• PMID: 25566549 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)

Chemical References

• Receptors, Calcitriol
• Vitamin D

Topics

• Humans
• Receptors, Calcitriol (metabolism)
• Vitamin D (metabolism)
• Vitamin D Deficiency (metabolism)