title: Calcium and vitamin D: skeletal and extraskeletal health.
abstract: Vitamin D is known for its role in calcium homeostasis for optimal skeletal health. It was previously believed that only elderly or hospitalized patients were at risk for vitamin D insufficiency, but many people in the general US population have insufficient levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25D). According to the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 61% of white and 91% of black Americans suffer from vitamin D insufficiency (25D < 32 ng/mL). Recent studies have demonstrated that a minimum 25(OH)D level of 32 ng/mL is necessary for optimal protection from fracture and intestinal absorption of calcium. Recently, vitamin D has been recognized as important for extraskeletal functions such as immune function, cancer prevention, and hypertension prevention. We review the role of vitamin D in skeletal health and present data on vitamin D in other extraskeletal diseases, with special emphasis on the rheumatology patient.
authors.affiliation: Woodruff Memorial Research Building, Room 1301, 101 Woodruff Circle Northeast, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
authors.forename: Natasha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Khazai
authors.forename: Suzanne E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Judd
authors.forename: Vin
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tangpricha
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004872:Ergocalciferols / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000150:complications; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D004872:Ergocalciferols; D002118:Calcium