title: The renaissance of vitamin D.
abstract: There is no doubt that vitamin D plays a crucial role in the maintenance of musculoskeletal system. But the function of this ancient molecule presumably ranges far beyond hormone-like regulation, as it could be generated by simple unicellular organisms. First, we are going to discuss the role of vitamin D as a global regulator of homeostasis from a historical perspective, but later we will focus on current views and its relevance to human physiology and pathology. Three milestones are defining the impact of vitamin D on science and humanity. Firstly, discovery that vitamin D is the cure for rickets, brought us supplementation programs and rapid irradiation of this devastating disease. Secondly, detail description of photoproduction of vitamin D, its subsequent metabolism and interaction with vitamin D receptor VDR, provided mechanistic background for future discoveries. Finally, recent large epidemiological studies provided indirect, but strong evidence that optimal level of vitamin D in serum has beneficial effects on our health and protects us from multiple diseases, including cancer. Furthermore, existence of alternative pathways of vitamin D metabolism and multiple intracellular targets broadens our understanding of its physiological activities and offers new and very promising tools for prophylactics and treatment of many diseases of civilization. Although vitamin D (and its derivatives) should not be regarded as a cure-all for every human disease, its beneficial effects on the human health have to be taken under consideration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland.
authors.forename: Justyna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wierzbicka
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piotrowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland.
authors.forename: Michał A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Żmijewski
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol / Q000378:metabolism; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000378:metabolism*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol; D014807:Vitamin D