title: Health effects related to low vitamin D concentrations: beyond bone metabolism.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vitamin D is essential for a vast number of physiologic processes, and thus adequate levels are necessary or advantageous for optimal health. During childhood and adolescence, an adequate vitamin D status is needed due to its important role in cell growth, skeletal structure, and development.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To review the extraskeletal effects of vitamin D, focusing especially on children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Narrative review.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Low vitamin D concentrations seem to be significantly associated with all-cause mortality. Regular sunlight exposure and vitamin D supplementation in early childhood may offer protection against the development of type 1 diabetes. Epidemiological evidence supports the importance of adequate vitamin D levels for the prevention of a number of cancers, mainly breast and colorectal ones. There seems to be an inverse relation between 25(OH)D serum concentrations and cardiovascular diseases, some components of the metabolic syndrome, and physical fitness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lifestyle and appropriate nutrition may prevent the long-term effect of hypovitaminosis D beyond mineral and bone metabolism.
authors: GENUD (Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development) research group, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain. lmoreno@unizar.es
authors: Luis A
authors: LA
authors: Moreno
authors: Jara
authors: J
authors: Valtueña
authors: Faustino
authors: F
authors: Pérez-López
authors: Marcela
authors: M
authors: González-Gross
mesh_terms: D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000378:metabolism; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002648:Child; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009026:Mortality; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D