title: Adrenal disorders: Is there Any role for vitamin D?
abstract: An emerging branch of research is examining the linkage between Vitamin D and nonskeletal disorders, including endocrine diseases. In this regard, a still little studied aspect concerns the involvement of vitamin D in adrenal gland disorders. Adrenal gland disorders, which might be theoretically affected by vitamin D unbalance, include adrenal insufficiency, Cushing's syndrome, adrenocortical tumors and hyperaldosteronism. In this review, we provide an updated document, which tries to collect and discuss the limited evidence to be found in the literature about the relationship between vitamin D and adrenal disorders. We conclude that there is insufficient evidence proving a causal relationship between vitamin D levels and adrenal disorders. Evidence coming from cross-sectional clinical studies can hardly clarify what comes first between vitamin D unbalance and adrenal disease. On the other hand, longitudinal studies monitoring the levels of vitamin D in patients with adrenal disorders or, conversely, the possible development of adrenal pathologies in subjects affected by impaired vitamin D levels would be able to elucidate this still unclear issue.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Umberto I Hospital, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy. tirabassg@yahoo.it.
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-0787-7051
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tirabassi
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Umberto I Hospital, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianmaria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Salvio
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Altieri
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine I, Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, University Hospital of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Cristina L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Ronchi
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Della Casa
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pontecorvi
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Umberto I Hospital, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Balercia
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000307:Adrenal Gland Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000309:Adrenal Insufficiency / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003480:Cushing Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D006929:Hyperaldosteronism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D014807:Vitamin D
keywords: Adrenal gland disorders; Adrenal insufficiency; Adrenal tumors; Cushing’s syndrome; Hyperaldosteronism; Vitamin D