The primary natural source of vitamin D is the synthesis of cholecalciferol in the lower layers of the skin’s epidermis, triggered by a photochemical reaction with ultraviolet B (UV-B) radiation from sunlight or UV-B lamps.[1] Cholecalciferol and ergocalciferol can also be obtained through diet and supplements.[1][2] Foods such as the flesh of fatty fish are good sources of vitamin D, though there are few other foods where it naturally appears in significant amounts.[2][4] In the U.S. and other countries, cow's milk and plant-based milk substitutes are fortified with vitamin D, as are many breakfast cereals.[1] Mushrooms exposed to ultraviolet light also provide useful amounts of vitamin D2.[2][5] Dietary recommendations typically assume that all of a person's vitamin D is taken by mouth, given the variability in sunlight exposure among the population and uncertainties regarding safe levels of sunlight exposure, particularly due to the associated risk of skin cancer.[2]
Vitamin D obtained from the diet or synthesised in the skin is biologically inactive. It becomes active by two enzymatic hydroxylation steps, the first occurring in the liver and the second in the kidneys.[1][3] Since most mammals can synthesise sufficient vitamin D with adequate sunlight exposure, it is technically not essential in the diet and thus not a true vitamin. Instead it functions as a hormone; the activation of the vitamin D pro-hormone produces calcitriol, the active form. Calcitriol then exerts its effects via the vitamin D receptor, a nuclear receptor found in various tissues throughout the body.[6]
Cholecalciferol is converted in the liver to calcifediol (also known as calcidiol or 25-hydroxycholecalciferol), while ergocalciferol is converted to ercalcidiol (25-hydroxyergocalciferol).[1] These two vitamin D metabolites, collectively referred to as 25-hydroxyvitamin D or 25(OH)D, are measured in serum to assess a person's vitamin D status.[7][8] Calcifediol is further hydroxylated by the kidneys and certain immune cells to form calcitriol (1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol), the biologically active form of vitamin D.[9][10] Calcitriol circulates in the blood as a hormone, playing a major role in regulating calcium and phosphate concentrations, as well as promoting bone health and bone remodeling.[1] Additionally, calcitriol has other effects, including influencing cell differentiation, neuromuscular and immune functions, and reducing inflammation.[2]
Vitamin D has a significant role in calcium homeostasis and metabolism.[1] Its discovery was due to effort to identify the dietary deficiency in children with rickets, the childhood form of osteomalacia.[11] Vitamin D supplements are commonly used to treat or to prevent osteomalacia and rickets.[1] The evidence for other health benefits of vitamin D supplementation in individuals who are already vitamin D sufficient is inconsistent.[2] The effect of vitamin D supplementation on morbidity and mortality is also unclear, with one meta-analysis finding a small decrease in mortality in elderly people.[12] Except for the prevention of rickets and osteomalacia in high-risk groups, any benefit of vitamin D supplements to musculoskeletal or general health may be small and in some cases, may have adverse effects on health.[13][14][15]
Several forms (vitamers) of vitamin D exist, with the two major forms being vitamin D2 or ergocalciferol, and vitamin D3 or cholecalciferol.[1] The term 'vitamin D' refers to either D2 or D3, or both, and is known collectively as calciferol.[16]
Vitamin D2 was chemically characterized in 1931. In 1935, the chemical structure of vitamin D3 was defined and shown to result from the ultraviolet irradiation of 7-dehydrocholesterol. Although a chemical nomenclature for vitamin D forms was recommended in 1981,[17] alternative names remain commonly used.[3]
Chemically, the various forms of vitamin D are secosteroids, meaning that one of the bonds in the steroid rings is broken.[18] The structural difference between vitamin D2 and vitamin D3 lies in the side chain: vitamin D2 has a double bond between carbons 22 and 23, and a methyl group on carbon 24.[3] Numerous vitamin D analogues have also been synthesized.[3]
Biology
The role of active vitamin D or calcitriol (orange) in calcium metabolism in the human body.
The active vitamin D metabolite, calcitriol, exerts its biological effects by binding to the vitamin D receptor (VDR), which is primarily located in the nuclei of target cells.[1][18] When calcitriol binds to the VDR, it enables the receptor to act as a transcription factor, modulating the gene expression of transport proteins involved in calcium absorption in the intestine, such as TRPV6 and calbindin.[20] The VDR is part of the nuclear receptor superfamily of steroid hormone receptors, which are hormone-dependent regulators of gene expression. These receptors are expressed in cells across most organs.
One of the most important functions of vitamin D is to maintain skeletal calcium balance by promoting calcium absorption in the intestines, promoting bone resorption by increasing osteoclast numbers, maintaining calcium and phosphate levels necessary for bone formation, and facilitating the proper function of parathyroid hormone to sustain serum calcium levels.[1]Vitamin D deficiency can lead to decreased bone mineral density, increasing the risk of osteoporosis and bone fractures due to its impact on mineral metabolism.[1][22] Consequently, vitamin D is also important for bone remodeling, acting as a potent stimulator of bone resorption.[22]
A diet insufficient in vitamin D, combined with inadequate sunlight exposure, can lead to vitamin D deficiency, which is defined as a blood 25-hydroxyvitamin D or 25(OH)D level below 12 ng/mL (30 nmol/liter). Vitamin D insufficiency, on the other hand, is characterized by a blood 25(OH)D level between 12–20 ng/mL (30–50 nmol/liter).[2][25] It is estimated that one billion adults worldwide are either vitamin D insufficient or deficient, including those in developed countries across Europe.[26] Severe vitamin D deficiency in children, although rare in the developed world, can cause a softening and weakening of growing bones, leading to a condition known as rickets.[27]
Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent globally, particularly among the elderly, and remains common in both children and adults.[28][29][30] This deficiency impairs bone mineralization and causes bone damage, leading to bone-softening diseases such as rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults.[31] Low blood calcifediol (25-hydroxyvitamin D3) levels can result from limited sun exposure.[32] When vitamin D levels are deficient, the total absorption of dietary calcium can decrease from the normal range of 60–80% to 15%.[21]
Dark-skinned individuals living in temperate climates are more likely to have low vitamin D levels.[33][34][35] This is because melanin in the skin, which hinders vitamin D synthesis, makes dark-skinned individuals less efficient at producing vitamin D.[36] In the U.S., vitamin D deficiency is particularly common among Hispanic and African-American populations, with levels dropping significantly in the winter due to melanin’s protective effect against sun exposure.[25]
Vitamin D deficiency has also been associated with an increased risk of developing various types of cancer, including melanoma.[37]
Rickets, a childhood disease, is characterized by impeded growth and soft, weak, deformed long bones that bend and bow under their weight as children start to walk. Rickets typically appear between 3 and 18 months of age.[38] Cases continue to be reported in North American and other Western Countries and is primarily seen in breastfed infants and those with darker skin complexions.[38] This condition is characterized by bow legs,[31] which can be caused by calcium or phosphorus deficiency, as well as a lack of vitamin D; in the 21st century, it is largely found in low-income countries in Africa, Asia, or the Middle East[39] and in those with genetic disorders such as pseudo-vitamin-D-deficiency rickets.[40]
Maternal vitamin D deficiency may cause overt bone disease from before birth and impairment of bone quality after birth.[41][42] Nutritional rickets exists in countries with intense year-round sunlight such as Nigeria and can occur without vitamin D deficiency.[43][44]
Although rickets and osteomalacia are now rare in the United Kingdom, outbreaks have happened in some immigrant communities in which people with osteomalacia included women with seemingly adequate daylight outdoor exposure wearing Western clothing.[45] Having darker skin and reduced exposure to sunshine did not produce rickets unless the diet deviated from a Western omnivore pattern characterized by high intakes of meat, fish, and eggs.[46][47][48] The dietary risk factors for rickets include abstaining from animal foods.[45][49]
Vitamin D deficiency remains the main cause of rickets among young infants in most countries because breast milk is low in vitamin D and social customs and climatic conditions can prevent adequate sun exposure. In sunny countries such as Nigeria, South Africa, and Bangladesh, where rickets occurs among older toddlers and children, it has been attributed to low dietary calcium intakes, which are characteristic of cereal-based diets with limited access to dairy products.[48]
Rickets was formerly a major public health problem among the US population. In Denver, almost two-thirds of 500 children had mild rickets in the late 1920s.[50] An increase in the proportion of animal protein[49][51] in the 20th century American diet coupled with increased consumption of milk[52][53] fortified with relatively small quantities of vitamin D coincided with a dramatic decline in the number of rickets cases.[21] Also, in the United States and Canada, vitamin D-fortified milk, infant vitamin supplements, and vitamin supplements have helped to eradicate the majority of cases of rickets for children with fat malabsorption conditions.[31]
Osteomalacia is a disease in adults that results from vitamin D deficiency.[1] Characteristics of this disease are softening of the bones, leading to bending of the spine, proximal muscle weakness, bone fragility, and increased risk for fractures.[1] Osteomalacia reduces calcium absorption and increases calcium loss from bone, which increases the risk for bone fractures. Osteomalacia is usually present when 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels are less than about 10ng/mL.[54] Although the effects of osteomalacia are thought to contribute to chronic musculoskeletalpain, there is no persuasive evidence of lower vitamin D levels in people with chronic pain[55] or that supplementation alleviates chronic nonspecific musculoskeletal pain.[56] Osteomalacia progress to osteoporosis, a condition of reduced bone mineral density with increased bone fragility and risk of bone fractures. Osteoporosis can be a long-term effect of calcium and/or vitamin D insufficiency, the latter contributing by reducing calcium absorption.[2]
Use of supplements
Supplementation with vitamin D is a reliable method for preventing or treating rickets.[1] On the other hand, the effects of vitamin D supplementation on non-skeletal health are uncertain.[57][58] A review did not find any effect from supplementation on the rates of non-skeletal disease, other than a tentative decrease in mortality in the elderly.[59] Vitamin D supplements do not alter the outcomes for myocardial infarction, stroke or cerebrovascular disease, cancer, bone fractures or knee osteoarthritis.[14][60]
A US Institute of Medicine (IOM) report states: "Outcomes related to cancer, cardiovascular disease and hypertension, and diabetes and metabolic syndrome, falls and physical performance, immune functioning and autoimmune disorders, infections, neuropsychological functioning, and preeclampsia could not be linked reliably with intake of either calcium or vitamin D, and were often conflicting."[61]:5 Some researchers claim the IOM was too definitive in its recommendations and made a mathematical mistake when calculating the blood level of vitamin D associated with bone health.[62] Members of the IOM panel maintain that they used a "standard procedure for dietary recommendations" and that the report is solidly based on the data.[62]
Mortality, all-causes
Vitamin D3 supplementation has been tentatively found to lead to a reduced risk of death in the elderly,[12][59] but the effect has not been deemed pronounced, or certain enough, to make taking supplements recommendable.[14] Other forms (vitamin D2, alfacalcidol, and calcitriol) do not appear to have any beneficial effects with regard to the risk of death.[12] High blood levels appear to be associated with a lower risk of death, but it is unclear if supplementation can result in this benefit.[63] Both an excess and a deficiency in vitamin D appear to cause abnormal functioning and premature aging.[64][65][66] The relationship between serum calcifediol concentrations and all-cause mortality is "U-shaped": mortality is elevated at high and low calcifediol levels, relative to moderate levels.[61] Harm from vitamin D appears to occur at a lower vitamin D level in the dark skinned Canadian and United States populations which have been studied than in the light skinned Canadian and United States populations which have been studied. Whether this is so with dark skinned populations in other parts of the world is unknown.[61]:435
Bone health
In general, no good evidence supports the commonly held belief that vitamin D supplements can help prevent osteoporosis.[14] Its general use for prevention of this disease in those without vitamin D deficiency is thus likely not needed.[13] For older people with osteoporosis, taking vitamin D with calcium may help prevent hip fractures, but it also slightly increases the risk of stomach and kidney problems.[67] A study found that supplementation with 800IU or more daily, in those older than 65 years was "somewhat favorable in the prevention of hip fracture and non-vertebral fracture".[68] The effect is small or none for people living independently.[69][70] Low serum vitamin D levels have been associated with falls, and low bone mineral density.[71] Taking extra vitamin D, however, does not appear to change the risk.[72]
Athletes who are vitamin D deficient are at an increased risk of stress fractures and/or major breaks, particularly those engaging in contact sports. The greatest benefit with supplementation is seen in athletes who are deficient (25(OH)D serum levels <30ng/mL), or severely deficient (25(OH)D serum levels <25ng/mL). Incremental decreases in risks are observed with rising serum 25(OH)D concentrations plateauing at 50ng/mL with no additional benefits seen in levels beyond this point.[73]
A 2020 Cochranesystematic review has found limited evidence that vitamin D plus calcium, but not independently can improve healing in children with nutritional rickets, but the evidence was not conclusive for reducing fractures.[74]
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has required manufacturers to declare the amount of vitamin D on nutrition facts labels, as "nutrients of public health significance", since May 2016. By a proposed deadline extension, some manufacturers had until 1 July 2021, to comply.[75]
Cancer
Potential associations have been found between low vitamin D levels and the risk of developing several types of cancer.[37][76][77] Meta-analyses of observational studies have found reduced risk of cancer incidence related to vitamin D intake and 25(OH)D levels, particularly for colorectal cancer, although the strength of the associations was classified as weak.[77][78]Vitamin D receptor and SNAI2 are found to be involved in the metastastic process of osteosarcoma.[79] While randomized controlled trials have not confirmed that vitamin D supplements reduce the risk of cancer incidence, the relative risk of cancer deaths was lower by up to 16% in several meta-analyses.[80][78]
Low levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, a routinely used marker for vitamin D, have been suggested as a contributing factor in increasing the risk the development and progression of various types of cancer, including melanoma. Vitamin D requires activation by cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes to become active and bind to the VDR. Specifically, CYP27A1, CYP27B1, and CYP2R1 are involved in the activation of vitamin D, while CYP24A1 and CYP3A4 are responsible for the degradation of the active vitamin D. CYP24A1, the primary catabolic enzyme of calcitriol, is overexpressed in melanoma tissues and cells. This overexpression could lead to lower levels of active vitamin D in tissues, potentially promoting the development and progression of melanoma. Several drug classes and natural health products can modulate vitamin D-related CYP enzymes, potentially causing lower levels of vitamin D and its active metabolites in tissues, suggesting that maintaining adequate vitamin D levels, that is, avoiding vitamin D deficiency, either through dietary supplements or by modulating CYP metabolism, could be beneficial in decreasing the risk of melanoma development.[37]
In general, vitamin D functions to activate the innate and dampen the adaptive immune systems with antibacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects.[86][87] Low levels of vitamin D appear to be a risk factor for tuberculosis,[88] and historically it was used as a treatment.[89]
Vitamin D supplementation in low doses (400 to 1000 IU/day) may slightly decrease the overall risk of acute respiratory tract infections.[90] The benefits were found in young children and adolescents (ages 1 up to 16 years) and were not confirmed with higher doses (>1000 IU per day or more).[90] Vitamin D supplementation substantially reduces the rate of moderate or severe exacerbations of COPD in people with baseline 25(OH)D levels under 25nmol/L, but not in those with less severe deficiency.[91]
Asthma
Vitamin D supplementation does not help prevent asthma attacks or alleviate their symptoms.[92]
Inflammatory bowel disease
Low levels of vitamin D are associated with two major forms of human inflammatory bowel disease: Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.[93] Deficiencies in vitamin D have been linked to the severity of the case of inflammatory bowel disease, however, whether vitamin D deficiency causes inflammatory bowel disease or is a symptom of the disease is not clear.[94]
There is some evidence that vitamin D supplementation therapy for people with inflammatory bowel disease may be associated with improvements in scores for clinical inflammatory bowel disease activity and biochemical markers.[95][94] Vitamin D treatment may be associated with less frequent relapse of symptoms in IBD.[94] It is not clear if this treatment improves the person's quality of life or the clinical response to vitamin D treatment.[94] The ideal treatment regime and dose of vitamin D therapy has not been well enough studied.[94]
Other conditions
Diabetes
A meta-analysis reported that vitamin D supplementation significantly reduced the risk of type 2 diabetes for non-obese people with prediabetes.[96] Another meta-analysis reported that vitamin D supplementation significantly improved glycemic control [homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR)], hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C), and fasting blood glucose (FBG) in individuals with type 2 diabetes.[97] In prospective studies, high versus low level of vitamin D was respectively associated with significant decrease in risk of type 2 diabetes, combined type 2 diabetes and prediabetes, and prediabetes.[98] A 2011 Cochranesystematic review examined one study that showed vitamin D together with insulin maintained levels of fasting C-peptide after 12 months better than insulin alone. However, it is important to highlight that the studies available to be included in this review presented considerable flaws in quality and design.[99]
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
A meta-analysis of observational studies showed that children with ADHD have lower vitamin D levels, and that there was a small association between low vitamin D levels at the time of birth and later development of ADHD.[100] Several small, randomized controlled trials of vitamin D supplementation indicated improved ADHD symptoms such as impulsivity and hyperactivity.[101]
Depression
Clinical trials of vitamin D supplementation for depressive symptoms have generally been of low quality and show no overall effect, although subgroup analysis showed supplementation for participants with clinically significant depressive symptoms or depressive disorder had a moderate effect.[102]
Cognition and dementia
A systematic review of clinical studies found an association between low vitamin D levels with cognitive impairment and a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. However, lower vitamin D concentrations are also associated with poor nutrition and spending less time outdoors. Therefore, alternative explanations for the increase in cognitive impairment exist and hence a direct causal relationship between vitamin D levels and cognition could not be established.[103]
Schizophrenia
Trials have demonstrated lower vitamin D levels are highly prevalent in people with schizophrenia, particularly those with acute episodes.[104]
Pregnancy
Low levels of vitamin D in pregnancy are associated with gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, and small (for gestational age) infants.[105] Although taking vitamin D supplements during pregnancy raises blood levels of vitamin D in the mother at term,[106] the full extent of benefits for the mother or baby is unclear.[105][106][107][108] Pregnant women often do not take the recommended amount of vitamin D,[109] however, the benefits and risk of vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy have not been well studied.[108]
Weight loss
Though hypothesized that vitamin D supplementation may be an effective treatment for obesity apart from calorie restriction, one systematic review found no association of supplementation with body weight or fat mass.[110] A 2016 meta-analysis found that circulating vitamin D status was improved by weight loss, indicating that fat mass may be inversely associated with blood levels of vitamin D.[111]
Allowable health claims
Governmental regulatory agencies stipulate for the food and dietary supplement industries certain health claims as allowable as statements on packaging.
"Adequate calcium and regular exercise may help to achieve strong bones in children and adolescents and may reduce the risk of osteoporosis in older adults. An adequate intake of vitamin D is also necessary."[115]
Other possible agencies with claim guidance: Japan FOSHU[116] and Australia-New Zealand.[117]
Various institutions have proposed different recommendations for the amount of daily intake[122] of vitamin D. These vary according to precise definition, age, pregnancy or lactation, and the extent assumptions are made regarding skin synthesis of vitamin D.[61][117][118][119][120] Conversion: 1μg (microgram) = 40IU (international unit).[118]
United Kingdom
The UK National Health Service (NHS) recommends that people at risk of vitamin D deficiency, breast-fed babies, formula-fed babies taking less than 500ml/day, and children aged 6 months to 4 years, should take daily vitamin D supplements throughout the year to ensure sufficient intake.[118] This includes people with limited skin synthesis of vitamin D, who are not often outdoors, are frail, housebound, living in a care home, or usually wearing clothes that cover up most of the skin, or with dark skin, such as having an African, African-Caribbean or south Asian background. Other people may be able to make adequate vitamin D from sunlight exposure from April to September. The NHS and Public Health England recommend that everyone, including those who are pregnant and breastfeeding, consider taking a daily supplement containing 10μg (400 IU) of vitamin D during autumn and winter because of inadequate sunlight for vitamin D synthesis.[123]
United States
The dietary reference intake for vitamin D issued in 2010 by the Institute of Medicine (IoM) (renamed National Academy of Medicine in 2015), superseded previous recommendations which were expressed in terms of adequate intake. The recommendations were formed assuming the individual has no skin synthesis of vitamin D because of inadequate sun exposure. The reference intake for vitamin D refers to total intake from food, beverages and supplements, and assumes that calcium requirements are being met.[61]:5 The tolerable upper intake level (UL)[124] is defined as "the highest average daily intake of a nutrient that is likely to pose no risk of adverse health effects for nearly all persons in the general population."[61]:403 Although ULs are believed to be safe, information on the long-term effects is incomplete and these levels of intake are not recommended for long-term consumption.[61]:403:433
For US food and dietary supplement labeling purposes, the amount in a serving is expressed as a percent of Daily Value (%DV). For vitamin D labeling purposes, 100% of the daily value was 400IU (10μg), but in May 2016, it was revised to 800IU (20μg) to bring it into agreement with the recommended dietary allowance (RDA).[125][126] Compliance with the updated labeling regulations was required by 1 January 2020 for manufacturers with US$10million or more in annual food sales, and by 1 January 2021 for manufacturers with lower volume food sales.[75][127] A table of the old and new adult daily values is provided at Reference Daily Intake.
Canada
Health Canada published recommended dietary intakes (DRIs) and tolerable upper intake levels (ULs) for vitamin D based on the jointly commissioned and funded Institute of Medicine 2010 report.[61][119]
Australia and New Zealand
Australia and New Zealand published nutrient reference values including guidelines for dietary vitamin D intake in 2006.[117] About a third of Australians have vitamin D deficiency.[128][129]
European Union
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in 2016[120] reviewed the current evidence, finding the relationship between serum 25(OH)D concentration and musculoskeletal health outcomes is widely variable. They considered that average requirements and population reference intakes values for vitamin D cannot be derived, and that a serum 25(OH)D concentration of 50nmol/L was a suitable target value. For all people over the age of 1, including women who are pregnant or lactating, they set an adequate intake of 15μg/day (600IU).[120]
The EFSA reviewed safe levels of intake in 2012,[121] setting the tolerable upper limit for adults at 100μg/day (4000IU), a similar conclusion as the IOM.
The Swedish National Food Agency recommends a daily intake of 10μg (400IU) of vitamin D3 for children and adults up to 75 years, and 20μg (800IU) for adults 75 and older.[130]
Non-government organisations in Europe have made their own recommendations. The German Society for Nutrition recommends 20μg.[131] The European Menopause and Andropause Society recommends postmenopausal women consume 15μg (600IU) until age 70, and 20μg (800IU) from age 71. This dose should be increased to 100μg (4,000IU) in some patients with very low vitamin D status or in case of co-morbid conditions.[132]
Sources
Although vitamin D is present naturally in only a few foods,[2] it is commonly added as a fortification in manufactured foods. In some countries, staple foods are artificially fortified with vitamin D.[133]
In general, vitamin D3 is found in animal source foods, particularly fish, meat, offal, egg and dairy.[136] Vitamin D2 is found in fungi and is produced by ultraviolet irradiation of ergosterol.[137] The vitamin D2 content in mushrooms and Cladina arbuscula, a lichen, increases with exposure to ultraviolet light,[135][138] and is stimulated by industrial ultraviolet lamps for fortification.[137] The United States Department of Agriculture reports D2 and D3 content combined in one value.
In 2016 in the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) amended food additive regulations for milk fortification,[141] stating that vitamin D3 levels not exceed 42IU vitamin D per 100g (400IU per US quart) of dairy milk, 84IU of vitamin D2 per 100g (800IU per quart) of plant milks, and 89IU per 100g (800IU per quart) in plant-based yogurts or in soy beverage products.[142][143][144] Plant milks are defined as beverages made from soy, almond, rice, among other plant sources intended as alternatives to dairy milk.[145]
While some studies have found that vitamin D3 raises 25(OH)D blood levels faster and remains active in the body longer,[146][147] others contend that vitamin D2 sources are equally bioavailable and effective as D3 for raising and sustaining 25(OH)D.[137][148][149]
Food preparation
Vitamin D content in typical foods is reduced variably by cooking. Boiled, fried and baked foods retained 69–89% of original vitamin D.[150]
Global vitamin D serum levels among adults (nmol/L).
> 75
50-74
25-49
Recommendations on recommended 25(OH)D serum levels vary across authorities, and vary based on factors like age.[2] US labs generally report 25(OH)D levels in ng/mL.[153] Other countries often use nmol/L.[153] Oneng/mL is approximately equal to 2.5nmol/L.[154]
A 2014 review concluded that the most advantageous serum levels for 25(OH)D for all outcomes appeared to be close to 30ng/mL (75nmol/L).[155] The optimal vitamin D levels are still controversial and another review concluded that ranges from 30 to 40ng/mL (75 to 100nmol/L) were to be recommended for athletes.[156] Part of the controversy is because numerous studies have found differences in serum levels of 25(OH)D between ethnic groups; studies point to genetic as well as environmental reasons behind these variations.[157] Supplementation to achieve these standard levels could cause harmful vascular calcification.[35]
A 2012 meta-analysis showed that the risk of cardiovascular diseases increases when blood levels of vitamin D are lowest in a range of 8 to 24ng/mL (20 to 60nmol/L), although results among the studies analyzed were inconsistent.[158]
In 2011 an IOM committee concluded a serum 25(OH)D level of 20ng/mL (50nmol/L) is needed for bone and overall health. The dietary reference intakes for vitamin D are chosen with a margin of safety and 'overshoot' the targeted serum value to ensure the specified levels of intake achieve the desired serum 25(OH)D levels in almost all persons. No contributions to serum 25(OH)D level are assumed from sun exposure and the recommendations are fully applicable to people with dark skin or negligible exposure to sunlight. The Institute found serum 25(OH)D concentrations above 30ng/mL (75nmol/L) are "not consistently associated with increased benefit". Serum 25(OH)D levels above 50ng/mL (125nmol/L) may be cause for concern. However, some people with serum 25(OH)D between 30 and 50ng/mL (75nmol/L-125nmol/L) will also have inadequate vitamin D.[61]
Vitamin D toxicity is rare.[30] It is caused by supplementing with high doses of vitamin D rather than sunlight. The threshold for vitamin D toxicity has not been established; however, according to some research:
100μg/day (4kIU), have been shown to not cause toxic levels. ages 9–71[159]
240 μg/day (10k IU), over 5 months have been shown not to cause toxicity.[30]
1250μg/day (50k IU) over several months can increase serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels to 150ng/mL.[30][160]
Those with certain medical conditions, such as primary hyperparathyroidism,[161] are far more sensitive to vitamin D and develop hypercalcemia in response to any increase in vitamin D nutrition, while maternal hypercalcemia during pregnancy may increase fetal sensitivity to effects of vitamin D and lead to a syndrome of intellectual disability and facial deformities.[161][162]
Idiopathic infantile hypercalcemia is caused by a mutation of the CYP24A1 gene, leading to a reduction in the degradation of vitamin D. Infants who have such a mutation have an increased sensitivity to vitamin D and in case of additional intake a risk of hypercalcaemia.[163][164] The disorder can continue into adulthood.[165]
A review published in 2015 noted that adverse effects have been reported only at 25(OH)D serum concentrations above 200nmol/L.[156]
Published cases of toxicity involving hypercalcemia in which the vitamin D dose and the 25-hydroxy-vitamin D levels are known all involve an intake of ≥40,000IU (1,000μg) per day.[161]
Those who are pregnant or breastfeeding should consult a doctor before taking a vitamin D supplement. The FDA advised manufacturers of liquid vitamin D supplements that droppers accompanying these products should be clearly and accurately marked for 400 international units (1IU is the biological equivalent of 25ng cholecalciferol/ergocalciferol). In addition, for products intended for infants, the FDA recommends the dropper hold no more than 400IU.[166] For infants (birth to 12 months), the tolerable upper limit (maximum amount that can be tolerated without harm) is set at 25μg/day (1,000IU). One thousand micrograms per day in infants has produced toxicity within one month.[160] After being commissioned by the Canadian and American governments, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) as of 30November2010[update], has increased the tolerable upper limit (UL) to 2,500IU per day for ages 1–3 years, 3,000IU per day for ages 4–8 years and 4,000IU per day for ages 9–71+ years (including pregnant or lactating women).[159]
A study published in 2017 assessed the prevalence of high daily intake levels of supplemental vitamin D among adults ages 20+ in the United States, based on publicly available NHANES data from 1999 through 2014. Its data shows the following:
Over 18% of the population exceeds the NIH daily recommended allowance (RDA) of 600–800 IU,[2] by taking over 1000 IU, which suggests intentional supplement intake.[168]
Over 3% of the population exceeds the NIH daily tolerable upper intake level (UL) of 4000 IU,[2] above which level the risk of toxic effects increases.[169][168]
The percentage of the population taking over 1000 IU/day, as well as the percentage taking over 4000 IU/day, have both increased since 1999, according to trend analysis.[168]
Effect of excess
Vitamin D overdose causes hypercalcemia, which is a strong indication of vitamin D toxicity – this can be noted with an increase in urination and thirst. If hypercalcemia is not treated, it results in excess deposits of calcium in soft tissues and organs such as the kidneys, liver, and heart, resulting in pain and organ damage.[30][31][170]
The main symptoms of vitamin D overdose are hypercalcemia including anorexia, nausea, and vomiting. These may be followed by polyuria, polydipsia, weakness, insomnia, nervousness, pruritus and ultimately kidney failure. Furthermore, proteinuria, urinary casts, azotemia, and metastatic calcification (especially in the kidneys) may develop.[160] Other symptoms of vitamin D toxicity include intellectual disability in young children, abnormal bone growth and formation, diarrhea, irritability, weight loss, and severe depression.[30][170]
Vitamin D toxicity is treated by discontinuing vitamin D supplementation and restricting calcium intake. Kidney damage may be irreversible. Exposure to sunlight for extended periods of time does not normally cause vitamin D toxicity. The concentrations of vitamin D precursors produced in the skin reach an equilibrium, and any further vitamin D produced is degraded.[161]
Biosynthesis
Synthesis of vitamin D in nature is dependent on the presence of UV radiation and subsequent activation in the liver and in the kidneys. Many animals synthesize vitamin D3 from 7-dehydrocholesterol, and many fungi synthesize vitamin D2 from ergosterol.[137][171]
Interactive pathway
Click on icon in lower right corner to open.
Click on genes, proteins and metabolites below to link to respective articles.[§ 1]
The photochemistry of vitamin D biosynthesis in animal and fungiThermal isomerization of previtaminD3 to vitamin D3
The transformation that converts 7-dehydrocholesterol to vitamin D3 occurs in two steps.[172][173] First, 7-dehydrocholesterol is photolyzed by ultraviolet light in a 6-electron conrotatory ring-opening electrocyclic reaction; the product is previtaminD3. Second, previtaminD3 spontaneously isomerizes to vitaminD3 (cholecalciferol) in an antarafacialsigmatropic [1,7] hydride shift. At room temperature, the transformation of previtaminD3 to vitamin D3 in an organic solvent takes about 12 days to complete. The conversion of previtaminD3 to vitamin D3 in the skin is about 10 times faster than in an organic solvent.[174]
The conversion from ergosterol to vitamin D2 follows a similar procedure, forming previtaminD2 by photolysis, which isomerizes to vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol).[175] The transformation of previtaminD2 to vitamin D2 in methanol has a rate comparable to that of previtaminD3. The process is faster in white button mushrooms.[137]:fig. 3
Synthesis in the skin
In the epidermal strata of the skin, vitamin D production is greatest in the stratum basale (colored red in the illustration) and stratum spinosum (colored light brown).
Vitamin D3 is produced photochemically from 7-dehydrocholesterol in the skin of most vertebrate animals, including humans.[176] The precursor of vitamin D3, 7-dehydrocholesterol is produced in relatively large quantities. 7-Dehydrocholesterol reacts with UVB light at wavelengths of 290–315nm.[177] These wavelengths are present in sunlight, as well as in the light emitted by the UV lamps in tanning beds (which produce ultraviolet primarily in the UVA spectrum, but typically produce 4% to 10% of the total UV emissions as UVB, some tanning beds can use only separate UVB light bulbs specifically for vitamin D production). Exposure to light through windows is insufficient because glass almost completely blocks UVB light.[178]
Adequate amounts of vitamin D can be produced with moderate sun exposure to the face, arms and legs (for those with the least melanin), averaging 5–30 minutes twice per week, or approximately 25% of the time for minimal sunburn. The darker the skin on the Fitzpatrick scale and the weaker the sunlight, the more minutes of exposure are needed. It also depends on parts of body exposed, all three factors affect minimal erythema dose (MED).[179] Vitamin D overdose from UV exposure is impossible: the skin reaches an equilibrium where the vitamin D degrades as fast as it is created.[30][180]
The skin consists of two primary layers: the inner layer called the dermis, and the outer, thinner epidermis. Vitamin D is produced in the keratinocytes of two innermost strata of the epidermis, the stratum basale and stratum spinosum, which also are able to produce calcitriol and express the VDR.[181]
Evolution
Vitamin D can be synthesized only by a photochemical process. Its production from sterols would have started very early in the evolution of life around the origin of photosynthesis, possibly helping to prevent DNA damage by absorbing UVB, making vitamin D an inactive end product. The familiar vitamin D endocrine machinery containing vitamin D receptor (VDR), various CYP450 enzymes for activation and inactivation, and a vitamin D binding protein (DBP) is found in vertebrates only. Primitive marine vertebrates are thought to absorb calcium from the ocean into their skeletons and eat plankton rich in vitamin D, although the function in those without a calcified cartilage is unclear.[182] Phytoplankton in the ocean (such as coccolithophore and Emiliania huxleyi) have been photosynthesizing vitamin D for more than 500million years.
Land vertebrates required another source of vitamin D other than plants for their calcified skeletons. They had to either ingest it or be exposed to sunlight to photosynthesize it in their skin.[171][174] Land vertebrates have been photosynthesizing vitamin D for more than 350million years.[183]
In birds and fur-bearing mammals, fur or feathers block UV rays from reaching the skin. Instead, vitamin D is created from oily secretions of the skin deposited onto the feathers or fur, and is obtained orally during grooming.[184] However, some animals, such as the naked mole-rat, are naturally cholecalciferol-deficient, as serum 25-OH vitamin D levels are undetectable.[185] Dogs and cats are practically incapable of vitamin D synthesis due to high activity of 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase, but get vitamin D from prey animals.[186]
Industrial synthesis
Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) is produced industrially by exposing 7-dehydrocholesterol to UVB and UVC light, followed by purification.[187][137] The 7-dehydrocholesterol is a natural substance in fish organs, especially the liver,[188] in wool grease (lanolin) from sheep and in some plants,[189] and lichen (Cladonia rangiferina).[190][191] Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) is produced in a similar way using ergosterol from yeast or mushrooms as a starting material.[187][137]
Vitamin D is carried via the blood to the liver, where it is converted into the prohormonecalcifediol. Circulating calcifediol may then be converted into calcitriol– the biologically active form of vitamin D – in the kidneys.[192]
Whether synthesized in the skin or ingested, vitamin D is hydroxylated in the liver at position 25 (upper right of the molecule) to form 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (calcifediol or 25(OH)D).[3] This reaction is catalyzed by the microsomal enzyme vitamin D 25-hydroxylase, the product of the CYP2R1 human gene, and expressed by hepatocytes.[193] Once made, the product is released into the plasma, where it is bound to an α-globulin carrier protein named the vitamin D-binding protein.[194]
Calcifediol is transported to the proximal tubules of the kidneys, where it is hydroxylated at the 1-α position (lower right of the molecule) to form calcitriol (1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol, 1,25(OH)2D).[1] The conversion of calcifediol to calcitriol is catalyzed by the enzyme 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 1-alpha-hydroxylase, which is the product of the CYP27B1 human gene.[1] The activity of CYP27B1 is increased by parathyroid hormone, and also by low calcium or phosphate.[1] Following the final converting step in the kidney, calcitriol is released into the circulation. By binding to vitamin D-binding protein, calcitriol is transported throughout the body, including to the intestine, kidneys, and bones.[18] Calcitriol is the most potent natural ligand of the vitamin D receptor, which mediates most of the physiological actions of vitamin D.[1][192] In addition to the kidneys, calcitriol is also synthesized by certain other cells, including monocyte-macrophages in the immune system. When synthesized by monocyte-macrophages, calcitriol acts locally as a cytokine, modulating body defenses against microbial invaders by stimulating the innate immune system.[192]
Inactivation
The activity of calcifediol and calcitriol can be reduced by hydroxylation at position 24 by vitamin D3 24-hydroxylase, forming secalciferol and calcitetrol, respectively.[3]
Difference between substrates
VitaminD2 (ergocalciferol) and vitaminD3 (cholecalciferol) share a similar mechanism of action as outlined above.[3] Metabolites produced by vitamin D2 are named with an er- or ergo- prefix to differentiate them from the D3-based counterparts (sometimes with a chole- prefix).[17]
Metabolites produced from vitaminD2 tend to bind less well to the vitamin D-binding protein.[3]
VitaminD3 can alternatively be hydroxylated to calcifediol by sterol 27-hydroxylase (CYP27A1), but vitaminD2 cannot.[3]
Ergocalciferol can be directly hydroxylated at position 24 by CYP27A1.[3] This hydroxylation also leads to a greater degree of inactivation: the activity of calcitriol decreases to 60% of original after 24-hydroxylation,[195] whereas ercalcitriol undergoes a 10-fold decrease in activity on conversion to ercalcitetrol.[196]
It is disputed whether these differences lead to a measurable drop in efficacy (see §Food fortification).
Calcitriol enters the target cell and binds to the vitamin D receptor in the cytoplasm. This activated receptor enters the nucleus and binds to vitamin D response elements (VDRE) which are specific DNA sequences on genes.[1] Transcription of these genes is stimulated and produces greater levels of the proteins which mediate the effects of vitamin D.[3]
Some reactions of the cell to calcitriol appear to be too fast for the classical VDRE transcription pathway, leading to the discovery of various non-genomic actions of vitamin D. The membrane-bound PDIA3 likely serves as an alternate receptor in this pathway.[197] The classical VDR may still play a role.[198]
Vitamin D was discovered in 1922 following on from previous research.[199] American researchers Elmer McCollum and Marguerite Davis in 1914[11] discovered a substance in cod liver oil which later was called "vitamin A". British doctor Edward Mellanby noticed dogs that were fed cod liver oil did not develop rickets and concluded vitamin A, or a closely associated factor, could prevent the disease. In 1922, Elmer McCollum tested modified cod liver oil in which the vitamin A had been destroyed.[11] The modified oil cured the sick dogs, so McCollum concluded the factor in cod liver oil which cured rickets was distinct from vitamin A. He called it vitamin D because he thought it was the fourth vitamin to be named.[200][201] It was not initially realized that vitamin D can be synthesized by humans (in the skin) through exposure to UV light, and therefore is technically not a vitamin, but rather can be considered to be a hormone.
In 1925,[11] it was established that when 7-dehydrocholesterol is irradiated with light, a form of a fat-soluble substance is produced (now known as D3). Alfred Fabian Hess stated: "Light equals vitamin D."[202]Adolf Windaus, at the University of Göttingen in Germany, received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1928 for his work on the constitution of sterols and their connection with vitamins.[203] In 1929, a group at NIMR in Hampstead, London, were working on the structure of vitamin D, which was still unknown, as well as the structure of steroids. A meeting took place with J.B.S. Haldane, J.D. Bernal, and Dorothy Crowfoot to discuss possible structures, which contributed to bringing a team together. X-ray crystallography demonstrated the sterol molecules were flat, not as proposed by the German team led by Windaus. In 1932, Otto Rosenheim and Harold King published a paper putting forward structures for sterols and bile acids which found immediate acceptance.[204] The informal academic collaboration between the team members Robert Benedict Bourdillon, Otto Rosenheim, Harold King, and Kenneth Callow was very productive and led to the isolation and characterization of vitamin D.[205] At this time, the policy of the Medical Research Council was not to patent discoveries, believing the results of medical research should be open to everybody. In the 1930s, Windaus clarified further the chemical structure of vitamin D.[206]
In 1923, American biochemist Harry Steenbock at the University of Wisconsin demonstrated that irradiation by ultraviolet light increased the vitamin D content of foods and other organic materials.[207] After irradiating rodent food, Steenbock discovered the rodents were cured of rickets. Using US$300 of his own money, Steenbock patented his invention. His irradiation technique was used for foodstuffs, most notably for milk. By the expiration of his patent in 1945, rickets had been all but eliminated in the US.[208]
In 1969, a specific binding protein for vitamin D called the vitamin D receptor was identified.[209] Shortly thereafter, the conversion of vitamin D to calcifediol and then to calcitriol, the biologically active form, was confirmed.[9][10][210] The photosynthesis of vitamin D3 in skin via previtamin D3 and its subsequent metabolism was described in 1980.[211]
Research
There is conflicting evidence about the benefits of interventions with vitamin D. Supplementation of between 800 and 1,000 IU is safe, but higher levels leading to blood levels of more than 50ng/mL (125nmol/L) may cause adverse effects.[2][212]
Some preliminary studies link low vitamin D levels with disease later in life.[214] One meta-analysis found a decrease in mortality in elderly people.[12] Another meta-analysis covering over 350,000 people concluded that vitamin D supplementation in unselected community-dwelling individuals does not reduce skeletal (total fracture) or non-skeletal outcomes (myocardial infarction, ischemic heart disease, stroke, cerebrovascular disease, cancer) by more than 15%, and that further research trials with similar design are unlikely to change these conclusions.[14] As of 2022, there is insufficient evidence for an effect of vitamin D supplementation on the risk of cancer.[2][215][216] A 2019 meta-analysis found a small increase in risk of stroke when calcium and vitamin D supplements were taken together.[217]
As of September 2022[update] the US National Institutes of Health state there is insufficient evidence to recommend for or against using vitamin D supplementation to prevent or treat COVID-19.[218] The UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) does not recommend to offer a vitamin D supplement to people solely to prevent or treat COVID-19.[219][220] Both organizations included recommendations to continue the previous established recommendations on vitamin D supplementation for other reasons, such as bone and muscle health, as applicable. Both organizations noted that more people may require supplementation due to lower amounts of sun exposure during the pandemic.[218][219]
Several systematic reviews and meta-analyses of multiple studies have described the associations of vitamin D deficiency with adverse outcomes in COVID-19.[221][222][223][224][225][226] In the largest analysis, with data from 76 observational studies including almost two million adults, vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency significantly increased the susceptibility to becoming infected with COVID-19 and having severe COVID-19, with odds ratios of 1.5 and 1.9 respectively, but these findings had high risk of bias and heterogeneity. A two-fold greater mortality was found, but this analysis was less robust.[226] These findings confirm smaller, earlier analyses,[222][223][224][225] one of which, in reporting that people with COVID-19 tend to have lower 25(OH)D levels than healthy subjects, stated that the trend for associations with health outcomes was limited by the low quality of the studies and by the possibility of reverse causality mechanisms.[224]
A meta-analysis of three studies on the effect of oral vitamin D or calcifediol supplementation indicated a lower intensive care unit (ICU) admission rate (odds ratio: 0.36) compared to those without supplementation, but without a change in mortality.[227] A Cochrane review, also of three studies, found the evidence for the effectiveness of vitamin D supplementation for the treatment of COVID-19 to be very uncertain.[228] They found there was substantial clinical and methodological heterogeneity in the three studies that were included, mainly because of different supplementation strategies, vitamin D formulations (one using calcifediol), pre-treatment status and reported outcomes.[228] Another meta-analysis stated that the use of high doses of vitamin D in people with COVID-19 is not based on solid evidence although calcifediol supplementation may have a protective effect on ICU admissions.[224]
Other animals
Fish
Fish do not synthesise vitamin D in a natural setting and rely on dietary sources. As with mammals, vitamin D3 is more bioavailable than vitamin D2.[229] Unlike mammals, both hydroxylation steps from vitamin D3 to the active form 1,25 hydroxyvitamin D3 occur in the liver, so plasma levels of 25 hydroxyvitamin D3 is not an accurate measure of vitamin D3 levels.[229]
Related Research Articles
Rickets, scientific nomenclature: rachitis, is a condition that results in weak or soft bones in children and is caused by either dietary deficiency or genetic causes. Symptoms include bowed legs, stunted growth, bone pain, large forehead, and trouble sleeping. Complications may include bone deformities, bone pseudofractures and fractures, muscle spasms, or an abnormally curved spine.
Tocopherols are a class of organic compounds comprising various methylated phenols, many of which have vitamin E activity. Because the vitamin activity was first identified in 1936 from a dietary fertility factor in rats, it was named tocopherol, from Greek τόκοςtókos 'birth' and φέρεινphérein 'to bear or carry', that is 'to carry a pregnancy', with the ending -ol signifying its status as a chemical alcohol.
Folate, also known as vitamin B9 and folacin, is one of the B vitamins. Manufactured folic acid, which is converted into folate by the body, is used as a dietary supplement and in food fortification as it is more stable during processing and storage. Folate is required for the body to make DNA and RNA and metabolise amino acids necessary for cell division and maturation of blood cells. As the human body cannot make folate, it is required in the diet, making it an essential nutrient. It occurs naturally in many foods. The recommended adult daily intake of folate in the U.S. is 400 micrograms from foods or dietary supplements.
A dietary supplement is a manufactured product intended to supplement a person's diet by taking a pill, capsule, tablet, powder, or liquid. A supplement can provide nutrients either extracted from food sources, or that are synthetic. The classes of nutrient compounds in supplements include vitamins, minerals, fiber, fatty acids, and amino acids. Dietary supplements can also contain substances that have not been confirmed as being essential to life, and so are not nutrients per se, but are marketed as having a beneficial biological effect, such as plant pigments or polyphenols. Animals can also be a source of supplement ingredients, such as collagen from chickens or fish for example. These are also sold individually and in combination, and may be combined with nutrient ingredients. The European Commission has also established harmonized rules to help insure that food supplements are safe and appropriately labeled.
Cholecalciferol, also known as vitamin D3 or colecalciferol, is a type of vitamin D that is produced by the skin when exposed to UVB light; it is found in certain foods and can be taken as a dietary supplement.
Ergocalciferol, also known as vitamin D2 and nonspecifically calciferol, is a type of vitamin D found in food and used as a dietary supplement. As a supplement it is used to prevent and treat vitamin D deficiency. This includes vitamin D deficiency due to poor absorption by the intestines or liver disease. It may also be used for low blood calcium due to hypoparathyroidism. It is taken by mouth or via injection into a muscle.
Osteomalacia is a disease characterized by the softening of the bones caused by impaired bone metabolism primarily due to inadequate levels of available phosphate, calcium, and vitamin D, or because of resorption of calcium. The impairment of bone metabolism causes inadequate bone mineralization.
A multivitamin is a preparation intended to serve as a dietary supplement with vitamins, dietary minerals, and other nutritional elements. Such preparations are available in the form of tablets, capsules, pastilles, powders, liquids, or injectable formulations. Other than injectable formulations, which are only available and administered under medical supervision, multivitamins are recognized by the Codex Alimentarius Commission as a category of food.
Vegetarian nutrition is the set of health-related challenges and advantages of vegetarian diets.
Calcitriol is a hormone and the active form of vitamin D, normally made in the kidney. It is also known as 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol. It binds to and activates the vitamin D receptor in the nucleus of the cell, which then increases the expression of many genes. Calcitriol increases blood calcium mainly by increasing the uptake of calcium from the intestines.
Vitamin D toxicity, or hypervitaminosis D, is the toxic state of an excess of vitamin D. The normal range for blood concentration in adults is 20 to 50 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL).
Nutrition and pregnancy refers to the nutrient intake, and dietary planning that is undertaken before, during and after pregnancy. Nutrition of the fetus begins at conception. For this reason, the nutrition of the mother is important from before conception as well as throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding. An ever-increasing number of studies have shown that the nutrition of the mother will have an effect on the child, up to and including the risk for cancer, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and diabetes throughout life.
Calcifediol, also known as calcidiol, 25-hydroxycholecalciferol, or 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (abbreviated 25(OH)D3), is a form of vitamin D produced in the liver by hydroxylation of vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) by the enzyme vitamin D 25-hydroxylase. Calcifediol can be further hydroxylated by the enzyme 25(OH)D-1α-hydroxylase, primarily in the kidney, to form calcitriol (1,25-(OH)2D3), which is the active hormonal form of vitamin D.
Vitamin D deficiency or hypovitaminosis D is a vitamin D level that is below normal. It most commonly occurs in people when they have inadequate exposure to sunlight, particularly sunlight with adequate ultraviolet B rays (UVB). Vitamin D deficiency can also be caused by inadequate nutritional intake of vitamin D; disorders that limit vitamin D absorption; and disorders that impair the conversion of vitamin D to active metabolites, including certain liver, kidney, and hereditary disorders. Deficiency impairs bone mineralization, leading to bone-softening diseases, such as rickets in children. It can also worsen osteomalacia and osteoporosis in adults, increasing the risk of bone fractures. Muscle weakness is also a common symptom of vitamin D deficiency, further increasing the risk of fall and bone fractures in adults. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with the development of schizophrenia.
Exposure of skin to ultraviolet radiation from sunlight presents both positive and negative health effects. On the positive side, UV exposure enables the synthesis of vitamin D3, which is essential for bone health and potentially plays a role in inhibiting certain cancers. While vitamin D can also be obtained through dietary supplements, UV exposure offers benefits such as enhanced subdermal nitric oxide production and improved endorphin levels, which are not achievable through supplementation alone. Additionally, exposure to visible light supports melatonin synthesis, maintains circadian rhythms, and reduces the risk of seasonal affective disorder.
Michael F. Holick is an American adult endocrinologist, specializing in vitamin D, such as the identification of both calcidiol, the major circulating form of vitamin D, and calcitriol, the active form of vitamin D. His work has been the basis for diagnostic tests and therapies for vitamin D-related diseases. He is a professor of medicine at the Boston University Medical Center and editor-in-chief of the journal Clinical Laboratory.
Vegan nutrition refers to the nutritional and human health aspects of vegan diets. A well-planned vegan diet is suitable to meet all recommendations for nutrients in every stage of human life. Vegan diets tend to be higher in dietary fiber, magnesium, folic acid, vitamin C, vitamin E, and phytochemicals; and lower in calories, saturated fat, iron, cholesterol, long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, calcium, zinc, and vitamin B12.
Associations have been shown between vitamin D levels and several respiratory tract infections suggesting that vitamin D deficiency may predispose to infection. Outbreaks of respiratory infections occur predominantly during months associated with lower exposure to the sun. The Institute of Medicine concluded in a 2011 report that the existing data were "not consistently supportive of a causal role" for vitamin D in reducing the risk of infection. Other studies suggest that vitamin D supplementation can provide a protective role in reducing the incidence or severity of respiratory infections.
Vitamin D deficiency has become a worldwide health epidemic with clinical rates on the rise. In the years of 2011–12, it was estimated that around 4 million adults were considered deficient in Vitamin D throughout Australia. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) found 23%, or one in four Australian adults suffer from some form of Vitamin D deficiency. Outlined throughout the article are the causes of increase through subgroups populations, influencing factors and strategies in place to control deficiency rates throughout Australia.
Calcium supplements are salts of calcium used in a number of conditions. Supplementation is generally only required when there is not enough calcium in the diet. By mouth they are used to treat and prevent low blood calcium, osteoporosis, and rickets. By injection into a vein they are used for low blood calcium that is resulting in muscle spasms and for high blood potassium or magnesium toxicity.
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↑ Agarwal SC, Stout SD (28 June 2011). Bone Loss and Osteoporosis: An Anthropological Perspective. Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN978-1-4419-8891-1. Archived(PDF) from the original on 29 January 2006. The high 25(OH)D concentrations, and relatively high vitamin D requirements of apes and monkeys are understandable in light of their biology—their body surface area relative to mass is generally greater than for humans, and they are inveterate groomers, consuming by mouth the vitamin D generated from the oils secreted by skin into fur. Although much of the vitamin D produced within human skin is absorbed directly, birds and furbearing animals acquire most of their vitamin D orally, as they groom themselves (Bicknell and Prescott, 1946; Carpenter and Zhao, 1999). Vitamin D is generated from the oily secretions of skin into fur. The oral consumption of UV-exposed dermal excretion is the way many animals acquire the "nutrient," vitamin D. Although Fraser (1983) has argued that dermal absorption of vitamin D may be more natural, what we know from animals indicates that oral consumption is equally physiological. Since vitamin D can be extracted from UV-exposed human sweat and skin secretions (Bicknell and Prescott, 1946), it is also reasonable to think that early humans obtained some of their vitamin D by mouth as well, by licking the skin.
1 2 Holick MF (November 2005). "The vitamin D epidemic and its health consequences"(PDF). The Journal of Nutrition. 135 (11): 2739S–2748S. doi:10.1093/jn/135.11.2739S. PMID16251641. Archived(PDF) from the original on 18 November 2017. Retrieved 24 November 2011. [Vitamin D3] is produced commercially by extracting 7-dehydrocholesterol from wool fat, followed by UVB irradiation and purification [...] [Vitamin D2] is commercially made by irradiating and then purifying the ergosterol extracted from yeast
↑ Göring H (November 2018). "Vitamin D in Nature: A Product of Synthesis and/or Degradation of Cell Membrane Components". Biochemistry. Biokhimiia. 83 (11): 1350–1357. doi:10.1134/S0006297918110056. PMID30482146. S2CID53437216.
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↑ Askew FA, Bourdillon RB, Bruce HM, Callow RK, St. L. Philpot J, Webster TA (1932). "Crystalline Vitamin D". Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Containing Papers of a Biological Character. 109 (764): 488–506. doi:10.1098/rspb.1932.0008. JSTOR81571.
↑ "ODS Vitamin D Initiative". Office of Dietary Supplements, US National Institutes of Health. 2018. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
↑ Pyrżak B, Witkowska-Sędek E, Krajewska M, Demkow U, Kucharska AM (2015). "Metabolic and immunological consequences of vitamin D deficiency in obese children". Body Metabolism and Exercise. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology. Vol.840. Springer. pp.13–9. doi:10.1007/5584_2014_81. ISBN978-3-319-10249-8. PMID25315624. S2CID13296456.
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1 2 "Vitamin D". Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Treatment Guidelines. National Institutes of Health (NIH). 26 September 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2023. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
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