Vitamin D | |
---|---|
Drug class | |
Class identifiers | |
Synonyms | Calciferols |
Use | Rickets, osteoporosis, osteomalacia, vitamin D deficiency |
ATC code | A11CC |
Biological target | vitamin D receptor |
Clinical data | |
Drugs.com | MedFacts Natural Products |
External links | |
MeSH | D014807 |
Legal status | |
In Wikidata |
Vitamin D is a group of structurally related, fat-soluble compounds responsible for increasing intestinal absorption of calcium, magnesium, and phosphate, along with numerous other biological functions.[1][2] In humans, the most important compounds within this group are vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) and vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol).[2][3]
Unlike the other twelve vitamins, vitamin D is only conditionally essential - in a preindustrial society people had adequate exposure to sunlight and the vitamin was a hormone, as the primary natural source of vitamin D was the synthesis of cholecalciferol in the lower layers of the skin’s epidermis, triggered by a photochemical reaction with ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation from sunlight. Cholecalciferol and ergocalciferol can also be obtained through diet and dietary supplements. Foods such as the flesh of fatty fish are good natural sources of vitamin D; there are few other foods where it naturally appears in significant amounts.[2] In the U.S. and other countries, cow's milk and plant-based milk substitutes are fortified with vitamin D3, as are many breakfast cereals. Government dietary recommendations typically assume that all of a person's vitamin D is taken by mouth, given the potential for insufficient sunlight exposure due to urban living, cultural choices for amount of clothing worn when outdoors, and use of sunscreen because of concerns about safe levels of sunlight exposure, including risk of skin cancer.[2][4]: 362–394 The reality is that for most people, skin synthesis contributes more than diet sources.[5]
Cholecalciferol is converted in the liver to calcifediol (also known as calcidiol or 25-hydroxycholecalciferol), while ergocalciferol is converted to ercalcidiol (25-hydroxyergocalciferol). These two vitamin D metabolites, collectively referred to as 25-hydroxyvitamin D or 25(OH)D, are measured in serum to assess a person's vitamin D status. Calcifediol is further hydroxylated by the kidneys and certain immune cells to form calcitriol (1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol; 1,25(OH)2D), the biologically active form of vitamin D.[3] Calcitriol attaches to vitamin D receptors, which are nuclear receptors found in various tissues throughout the body.
The discovery of the vitamin in 1922 was due to effort to identify the dietary deficiency in children with rickets.[6][7] Adolf Windaus received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1928 for his work on the constitution of sterols and their connection with vitamins.”[8] Present day, government food fortification programs in some countries and recommendations to consume vitamin D supplements are intended to prevent or treat vitamin D deficiency rickets and osteomalacia. There are many other health conditions linked to vitamin D deficiency. However, the evidence for health benefits of vitamin D supplementation in individuals who are already vitamin D sufficient is unproven.[2][9][10][11]
Ross_2011
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).Giustina2024
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).Nobelprize
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).reid
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).Futil2014
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).The authors conclude that there is therefore little reason to use vitamin D supplements to maintain or improve musculoskeletal health, except for the prevention of rare conditions such as rickets and osteomalacia in high risk groups, which can be caused by vitamin D deficiency after long lack of exposure to sunshine.