Novel roles of vitamin D in disease: What is new in 2011?

• Published in: European journal of internal medicine Vol. 22; no. 4; pp. 355 - 362
• Main Authors: Makariou, Stefania, Liberopoulos, Evangelos N, Elisaf, Moses, Challa, Anna
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.08.2011
• Subjects: Cancer; Cardiovascular disease; Cardiovascular Diseases - epidemiology; Cardiovascular Diseases - etiology; Cardiovascular Diseases - metabolism; Homeostasis; Humans; Immune system; Internal Medicine; Metabolic syndrome; Morbidity - trends; Mortality; Risk Factors; Vitamin D; Vitamin D - metabolism; Vitamin D Deficiency - complications; Vitamin D Deficiency - epidemiology; Vitamin D Deficiency - metabolism; Cardiovascular disease; Vitamin D; Metabolic syndrome; Mortality; Immune system; Cancer
• ISSN: 0953-6205; 1879-0828
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejim.2011.04.012

Abstract Vitamin D is a steroid molecule, mainly produced in the skin that regulates the expression of a large number of genes. Until recently its main known role was to control bone metabolism and calcium and phosphorus homeostasis. During the last 2 decades it has been realized that vitamin D deficiency, which is really common worldwide, could be a new risk factor for many chronic diseases, such as the metabolic syndrome and its components, the whole spectrum of cardiovascular diseases, several auto-immune conditions, and many types of cancer as well as all-cause mortality. Except for the great number of epidemiological studies that support the above presumptions, vitamin D receptors (VDRs) have been identified in many tissues and cells. The effect of vitamin D supplementation remains controversial and the need for more persuasive study outcomes is intense.