Vitamin D: newly discovered actions require reconsideration of physiologic requirements.
Vitamin D is not just for preventing rickets and osteomalacia. Recent findings in animal experiments, epidemiologic studies and clinical trials indicate that adequate vitamin D levels are important for cancer prevention, controlling hormone levels and regulating the immune response. Although 25 hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels >10 ng/ml can prevent rickets and osteomalacia, these levels are not sufficient to provide these more recently discovered clinical benefits. Rather, levels of 25OHD >30 ng/ml are generally recommended. Determining optimal levels of 25OHD and the amount of vitamin D supplementation required to achieve those levels for the numerous actions of vitamin D will only be established with additional trials. In this review, these newer applications are summarized and therapeutic considerations are provided.
Bikle
Daniel D
DD
Veterans Affairs Medical Center and University of California, San Francisco, CA 94121, USA. daniel.bikle@ucsf.edu
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000502:physiology; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol / Q000502:physiology*; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000502:physiology*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000503:physiopathology*
D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol; D014807:Vitamin D