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.
Veterans Affairs Medical Center and University of California, San Francisco, CA 94121, USA. daniel.bikle@ucsf.edu
Daniel D
DD
Bikle
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