title: Vitamin D: beyond bone.
abstract: In recent years, vitamin D has been received increased attention due to the resurgence of vitamin D deficiency and rickets in developed countries and the identification of extraskeletal effects of vitamin D, suggesting unexpected benefits of vitamin D in health and disease, beyond bone health. The possibility of extraskeletal effects of vitamin D was first noted with the discovery of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) in tissues and cells that are not involved in maintaining mineral homeostasis and bone health, including skin, placenta, pancreas, breast, prostate and colon cancer cells, and activated T cells. However, the biological significance of the expression of the VDR in different tissues is not fully understood, and the role of vitamin D in extraskeletal health has been a matter of debate. This report summarizes recent research on the roles for vitamin D in cancer, immunity and autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular and respiratory health, pregnancy, obesity, erythropoiesis, diabetes, muscle function, and aging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, USA.
authors.forename: Sylvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Christakos
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hewison
authors.forename: David G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Gardner
authors.forename: Carol L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: Igor N
authors.initials: IN
authors.lastname: Sergeev
authors.forename: Erica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rutten
authors.forename: Anastassios G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Pittas
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Boland
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ferrucci
authors.forename: Daniel D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Bikle
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D020013:Calcium Signaling; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000503:physiopathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004920:Erythropoiesis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000502:physiology; D007223:Infant; D007774:Lactation / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D009928:Organ Specificity; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000502:physiology; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol / Q000502:physiology; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000502:physiology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol; D014807:Vitamin D