The noncalciotropic actions of vitamin D: recent clinical developments.
OBJECTIVE
This review summarizes recently described actions of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D beyond its function in calcium homeostasis and bone metabolism.


RESULTS
1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D stimulates the innate immune system, facilitating the clearance of infections such as tuberculosis. Hypovitaminosis D has been associated with several autoimmune disorders, various malignancies, and cardiovascular risk factors in a number of recent epidemiologic reports. Based on these observational reports, vitamin D and its analogues are being evaluated for the prevention and treatment of a variety of conditions, with early findings showing mixed results.


CONCLUSIONS
The broad tissue distribution of the 25-hydroxyvitamin D 1alpha-hydroxylase enzyme and the vitamin D receptor establish a role for 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D in the pathophysiology of various disease states and provide new therapeutic targets for vitamin D and its analogues.
Maalouf
Naim M
NM
Charles and Jane Pak Center of Mineral Metabolism and Clinical Research, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390-8885, USA. naim.maalouf@utsouthwestern.edu
D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000502:physiology; D007239:Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000378:metabolism; D012307:Risk Factors; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000502:physiology*; D014815:Vitamins / Q000502:physiology*
D014815:Vitamins; D014807:Vitamin D; D002118:Calcium