title: The effects of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency on the endocrine and paracrine systems.
abstract: Individuals are capable of producing vitamin D with proper exposure to sunlight. However, several factors can interfere with the effectiveness of this process. Most sunscreens filter out UVB light, thus inhibiting vitamin D production. Individuals with more darkly pigmented skin have greater difficulty producing vitamin D because melanin acts as an effective natural sunscreen, requiring longer sun exposure to produce an adequate daily allotment of vitamin D. Additionally, solely breastfed infants whose mothers suffered from vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency when pregnant have smaller reserves of the nutrient and are at greater risk of developing nutritional rickets. Vitamin D deficiency leads to rickets, osteomalacia, and osteoporosis. Long-term vitamin D insufficiency can lead to paracrine effects such as type 1 diabetes, cancer, and multiple sclerosis. This article reviews the current literature on vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency and their relation to different disease states. Potential areas for research are discussed.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, USA. patricia.alpert@unlv.edu
authors.forename: Patricia T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Alpert
authors.forename: Ulfat
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Shaikh
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D002762:Cholecalciferol / Q000378:metabolism; D004700:Endocrine System Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004872:Ergocalciferols / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009753:Nutritive Value; D019899:Paracrine Communication / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D004872:Ergocalciferols; D002762:Cholecalciferol