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Vitamin D Receptor in Human Health and Disease

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A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Micronutrients and Human Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (12 February 2023) | Viewed by 42694

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Dr. Jose M. Valdivielso

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Vascular and Renal Translational Research Group, Institut de Recerca Biomèdica de Lleida IRBLleida, 25198 Lleida, Spain
Interests: vitamin D; calcium; phosphate; potassium; chronic kidney disease; mineral metabolism; atherosclerosis; dyslipidemia
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Dear Colleagues,

Vitamin D is a seco-steroid hormone that has long been known for its important role in regulating body levels of calcium and phosphorus and in mineralization of bone. In addition to its endocrine effects, vitamin D has important autocrine/paracrine roles. The last step in the activation of vitamin D, the hydroxylation on carbon 1, takes place mainly in the kidney. However, extrarenal sites showing 1 alpha-hydroxylase activity have been also found. The hormonally active form of vitamin D (1,25(OH)2D3 or calcitriol) mediates its biological effects by binding to the vitamin D receptor, which then translocates to the nucleus of the cell and binds to specific DNA sites to modify the expression of target genes. After activation of the receptor, the protein changes its tridimensional conformation, and this change is the key process in mediating its nuclear actions. Several steps take place to increase or decrease the transcription rate of a target gene. First, homodimerization of the vitamin D receptor or heterodimerization with the retinoid X receptor allows the complex to go into the nucleus and bind to DNA. Then, several proteins are recruited to the complex that either increase or decrease chromatin condensation, thus acting like co-repressors or co-activators, respectively, finally decreasing or increasing the target gene transcription. The co-activators bind several extra proteins that build a bridge to the basal transcription machinery.

In recent decades, a number of basic and clinical studies have pointed to the important role that vitamin D plays in various physiological and pathological processes throughout the body. Thus, it has been shown that vitamin D exerts its pleiotropic effects in a variety of target cells, where it is involved in a wide array of new functions that are unrelated to its actions on mineral metabolism. For instance, vitamin D has been involved in the regulation of vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and calcification, in the modulation of the renin–angiotensin system and, in general, in cardiovascular health. Furthermore, Vitamin D negatively regulates the growth of breast, prostate, and colon cancer cells. It is also known that vitamin D functions as a general suppressor of the immune system, including the activated B- and T- lymphocytes, especially the T-helper cells. There are also some studies showing that 1,25(OH)2D3 affects several major endocrine processes, such as TRH/TSH action and pancreatic insulin secretion with subsequent regulation of glucose homeostasis, and likewise regulates key hepatic genes affecting lipid metabolism. Therefore, vitamin D can be considered an essential nutrient affecting many pathways of mammalian homeostasis.

This Special Issue invites original research and review papers on the role of vitamin D in health and disease.

Dr. Jose M. Valdivielso
Guest Editor

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Keywords

vitamin D
calcitriol
vitamin D receptor
diabetes
cardiovascular risk
immunity

Published Papers (13 papers)

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14 pages, 1060 KiB

Open AccessArticle

25 Hydroxyvitamin D Serum Concentration and COVID-19 Severity and Outcome—A Retrospective Survey in a Romanian Hospital

by Adriana Topan, Mihaela Lupse, Mihai Calin, Cristian Jianu, Daniel-Corneliu Leucuta and Violeta Briciu

Nutrients 2023, 15(5), 1227; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15051227 - 28 Feb 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1450

Abstract

Interest in the immunomodulatory function of vitamin D has grown since the COVID-19 pandemic started. Our study investigated the possible association between vitamin D deficiency and COVID-19 severity, intensive care needs, and mortality in patients hospitalized with COVID-19. A prospective cohort study was performed on 2342 COVID-19 hospitalized patients between April 2020 and May 2022 in a Romanian tertiary hospital for infectious diseases. A multivariate generalized linear model for binary data was fit with dependent variables: severe/critical form of COVID-19, intensive care need, and fatal outcome as a function of vitamin D deficiency, controlling for age, comorbidities, and vaccination status. More than half of the patients (50.9%) were classified with vitamin D deficiency based on a serum concentration of less than 20 ng/mL. There was a negative association between vitamin D and age. Vitamin D-deficient patients presented with more cardiovascular, neurological, and pulmonary diseases, as well as diabetes, and cancer. In multivariate logistic regression models, vitamin D-deficient patients had higher odds of severe/critical forms of COVID-19 [OR = 1.23 (95% CI 1.03–1.47), p = 0.023] and higher odds of death [OR = 1.49 (95% CI 1.06–2.08), p = 0.02]. Vitamin D deficiency was associated with disease severity and death outcome in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vitamin D Receptor in Human Health and Disease)

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15 pages, 1694 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Pivotal Role of Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor-Regulated Tight Junction Proteins and Innate Immunity on the Synergistic Effects of Postbiotic Butyrate and Active Vitamin D3 to Defense against Microbial Invasion in Salmonella Colitis

by Fu-Chen Huang and Shun-Chen Huang

Nutrients 2023, 15(2), 305; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15020305 - 07 Jan 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2164

Abstract

Our recent report illustrated the unitedly advantageous effects of postbiotic butyrate on active vitamin D3 (VD3)-orchestrated innate immunity in Salmonella colitis. There is growing awareness that aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) can regulate intestinal immunity and barrier function, through modulating cecal inflammation and junction proteins expression. Hence, we researched the participation of AhR-regulated tight junction functions on the united effects of butyrate and VD3 on intestinal defense to Salmonella infection. Salmonella colitis model were elicited by oral gavage with 1 × 10⁸ CFU of a S. typhimurium wild-type strain SL1344 in C57BL/6 mice. Before and after the colitis generation, mice were fed with butyrate and/or VD3 by oral gavage in the absence or presence of intraperitoneal injection of AhR inhibitor for 4 and 7 days, respectively. We observed that butyrate and VD3 could concert together to reduce the invasion of Salmonella in colitis mice by enhancing cecal cytokines and antimicrobial peptides expression and reducing zonulin and claudin-2 protein expressions in mucosal stain, compared to single treatment, which were counteracted by AhR inhibitor. It implies that AhR is involved in the united effects of butyrate and VD3 on the intestinal defense to Salmonella infection in colitis mice. This study discloses the promising alternative therapy of combining postbiotic and VD3 for invasive Salmonellosis and the pivotal role of AhR pathway. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vitamin D Receptor in Human Health and Disease)

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11 pages, 1223 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Association between Circulating Levels of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D₃ and Matrix Metalloproteinase-10 (MMP-10) in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

by Daria Abasheva, Marta M. Dolcet-Negre, María A. Fernández-Seara, José María Mora-Gutiérrez, Josune Orbe, Francisco Javier Escalada and Nuria Garcia-Fernandez

Nutrients 2022, 14(17), 3484; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14173484 - 24 Aug 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1530

Abstract

Background: Matrix metalloproteinase-10 (MMP-10) levels increase progressively starting from early diabetic kidney disease (DKD) stages. Vitamin D₃ (vitD₃) deficit is associated with a higher risk of diabetic microangiopathy. Reduced MMP-10 expression has been observed after exposure to vitD₃. Aim: to assess how vitD₃ status is related to MMP-10 levels in patients with Type 2 diabetes (T2D). Methods: 256 patients with T2D were included in this cross-sectional study. Demographic, clinical and serum MMP-10 and 25-hydroxyvitamin D₃ (25(OH)D₃) levels were collected from each patient. The association between MMP-10 and (25(OH)D₃) levels was assessed using a correlation analysis and fitting a multivariate linear regression model. Results: Serum MMP-10 levels were inversely correlated with circulating 25(OH)D₃ (rho = −0.25; p < 0.001). In the subgroup analysis this correlation was significant in patients with DKD (rho = −0.28; p = 0.001) and in subjects with vitD₃ deficit (rho = −0.24; p = 0.005). In the regression model adjusted for kidney function, body adiposity, smoking and vitD supplementation MMP-10 levels were 68.7 pg/mL lower in patients with 25(OH)D₃ > 20 ng/mL, with respect to ≤20 ng/mL (p = 0.006). Conclusions: vitD₃ repletion status is an independent predictor of MMP-10 levels in T2D patients. Perhaps, high 25(OH)D₃ values should be targeted in these patients in order to prevent vascular complications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vitamin D Receptor in Human Health and Disease)

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13 pages, 1209 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Influence of Maternal Vitamin D Supplementation in Pregnancies Associated with Preeclampsia: A Case-Control Study

by George Dahma, Radu Neamtu, Razvan Nitu, Adrian Gluhovschi, Felix Bratosin, Mirela Loredana Grigoras, Carmen Silaghi, Cosmin Citu, Igwe Nwobueze Orlu, Sanket Bhattarai, Adelina Geanina Mocanu, Marius Craina and Elena Bernad

Nutrients 2022, 14(15), 3008; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14153008 - 22 Jul 2022

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3112

Abstract

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific illness that is hypothesized to occur due to vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy. Therefore, vitamin D supplementation in early pregnancy should be explored for preventing preeclampsia and promoting neonatal well-being. The present study follows a case-control analysis that aims to determine the effect of vitamin D supplements on reducing the probability of recurrent preeclampsia. We identified 59 patients for the control group without vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy, while 139 patients were included in the cases group of pregnant women with a history of preeclampsia who confirmed taking daily vitamin D supplements in either 2000 UI or 4000 UI until the 36th week of pregnancy. There were 61 (80.3%) patients with a normal serum vitamin D level measured at 32 weeks in the pregnant women who took a daily dose of 4000 UI vitamin D and 43 (68.3%) in those who took a 2000 UI dose of vitamin D, compared to just 32 (54.2%) in those who did not take vitamin D at all. Regarding the blood pressure of pregnant women measured at 32 weeks, it was observed that 20.3% were hypertensive in the no supplementation group, compared to only 11.1% and 6.6% in those who were taking vitamin D during pregnancy (p-value = 0.049). Serum vitamin D levels at 32 weeks were measured at an average value of 23.9 ng/mL, compared with 28.4 ng/mL in the group taking a 2000 UI daily dose and 33.6 in those who supplemented with 4000 UI daily (p-value < 0.001). Proteinuria was identified more often in the group at risk for preeclampsia who did not take vitamin D supplements, while systolic blood pressure (p-value = 0.036) as well as diastolic blood pressure (p-value = 0.012), were all identified to have significantly higher values in the pregnant women with a history of preeclampsia that did not take vitamin D during the current pregnancy. The significant risk factors for preeclampsia development in pregnant patients at risk are: insufficient vitamin D serum levels (<20 ng/mL), OR = 2.52; no vitamin D supplementation, OR = 1.46; more than two pregnancies, OR = 1.89; gestational diabetes mellitus, OR = 1.66; and cardiovascular comorbidities, OR = 2.18. These findings imply that vitamin D has a role in the preservation of placental function and, therefore, in the prevention of the development of late preeclampsia. Pregnant mothers who supplemented their diets with vitamin D were protected against preeclampsia recurrence. Vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy may aid in the prevention of gestational hypertension and preeclampsia. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vitamin D Receptor in Human Health and Disease)

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15 pages, 3406 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Valproate and Short-Chain Fatty Acids Activate Transcription of the Human Vitamin D Receptor Gene through a Proximal GC-Rich DNA Region Containing Two Putative Sp1 Binding Sites

by Marta Moreno-Torres, Carla Guzmán, Petar D. Petrov and Ramiro Jover

Nutrients 2022, 14(13), 2673; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14132673 - 28 Jun 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2096

Abstract

The vitamin D receptor (VDR) mediates 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 pleiotropic biological actions through transcription regulation of target genes. The expression levels of this ligand-activated nuclear receptor are regulated by multiple mechanisms both at transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. Vitamin D3 is the natural VDR activator, but other molecules and signaling pathways have also been reported to regulate VDR expression and activity. In this study, we identify valproic acid (VPA) and natural short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) as novel transcriptional activators of the human VDR (hVDR) gene. We further report a comprehensive characterization of VPA/SCFA-responsive elements in the 5′ regulatory region of the hVDR gene. Two alternative promoter DNA regions (of 2.4 and 3.8 kb), as well as subsequent deletion fragments, were cloned in pGL4-LUC reporter vector. Transfection of these constructs in HepG2 and human Upcyte hepatocytes followed by reporter assays demonstrated that a region of 107 bp (from −107 to −1) upstream of the transcription start site in exon 1a is responsible for most of the increase in transcriptional activity in response to VPA/SCFAs. This short DNA region is GC-rich, does not contain an apparent TATA box, and includes two bona fide binding sites for the transcription factor Sp1. Our results substantiate the hypothesis that VPA and SCFAs facilitate the activity of Sp1 on novel Sp1 responsive elements in the hVDR gene, thus promoting VDR upregulation and signaling. Elevated hepatic VDR levels have been associated with liver steatosis and, therefore, our results may have clinical relevance in epileptic pediatric patients on VPA therapy. Our results could also be suggestive of VDR upregulation by SCFAs produced by gut microbiota. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vitamin D Receptor in Human Health and Disease)

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12 pages, 1231 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Vitamin D Treatment Prevents Uremia-Induced Reductions in Aortic microRNA-145 Attenuating Osteogenic Differentiation despite Hyperphosphatemia

by Natalia Carrillo-López, Sara Panizo, Maria Vittoria Arcidiacono, Sandra de la Fuente, Laura Martínez-Arias, Emerenziana Ottaviano, Catalina Ulloa, María Piedad Ruiz-Torres, Isabel Rodríguez, Jorge B. Cannata-Andía, Manuel Naves-Díaz and Adriana S. Dusso

Nutrients 2022, 14(13), 2589; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14132589 - 22 Jun 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2036

Abstract

In chronic kidney disease, systemic inflammation and high serum phosphate (P) promote the de-differentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) to osteoblast-like cells, increasing the propensity for medial calcification and cardiovascular mortality. Vascular microRNA-145 (miR-145) content is essential to maintain VSMC contractile phenotype. Because vitamin D induces aortic miR-145, uremia and high serum P reduce it and miR-145 directly targets osteogenic osterix in osteoblasts, this study evaluated a potential causal link between vascular miR-145 reductions and osterix-driven osteogenic differentiation and its counter-regulation by vitamin D. Studies in aortic rings from normal rats and in the rat aortic VSMC line A7r5 exposed to calcifying conditions corroborated that miR-145 reductions were associated with decreases in contractile markers and increases in osteogenic differentiation and calcium (Ca) deposition. Furthermore, miR-145 silencing enhanced Ca deposition in A7r5 cells exposed to calcifying conditions, while miR-145 overexpression attenuated it, partly through increasing α-actin levels and reducing osterix-driven osteogenic differentiation. In mice, 14 weeks after the induction of renal mass reduction, both aortic miR-145 and α-actin mRNA decreased by 80% without significant elevations in osterix or Ca deposition. Vitamin D treatment from week 8 to 14 fully prevented the reductions in aortic miR-145 and attenuated by 50% the decreases in α-actin, despite uremia-induced hyperphosphatemia. In conclusion, vitamin D was able to prevent the reductions in aortic miR-145 and α-actin content induced by uremia, reducing the alterations in vascular contractility and osteogenic differentiation despite hyperphosphatemia. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vitamin D Receptor in Human Health and Disease)

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16 pages, 2095 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Elimination of Vitamin D Signaling Causes Increased Mortality in a Model of Overactivation of the Insulin Receptor: Role of Lipid Metabolism

by Maria Crespo-Masip, Aurora Perez-Gomez, Alicia Garcia-Carrasco, Ramiro Jover, Carla Guzmán, Xavier Dolcet, Mercé Ibarz, Cristina Martínez, Àuria Eritja, Juan Miguel Diaz-Tocados and José Manuel Valdivielso

Nutrients 2022, 14(7), 1516; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14071516 - 05 Apr 2022

Viewed by 2418

Abstract

Vitamin D (VD) deficiency has been associated with cancer and diabetes. Insulin signaling through the insulin receptor (IR) stimulates cellular responses by activating the PI3K/AKT pathway. PTEN is a tumor suppressor and a negative regulator of the pathway. Its absence enhances insulin signaling leading to hypoglycemia, a dangerous complication found after insulin overdose. We analyzed the effect of VD signaling in a model of overactivation of the IR. We generated inducible double KO (DKO) mice for the VD receptor (VDR) and PTEN. DKO mice showed severe hypoglycemia, lower total cholesterol and increased mortality. No macroscopic tumors were detected. Analysis of the glucose metabolism did not show clear differences that would explain the increased mortality. Glucose supplementation, either systemically or directly into the brain, did not enhance DKO survival. Lipidic liver metabolism was altered as there was a delay in the activation of genes related to β-oxidation and a decrease in lipogenesis in DKO mice. High-fat diet administration in DKO significantly improved its life span. Lack of vitamin D signaling increases mortality in a model of overactivation of the IR by impairing lipid metabolism. Clinically, these results reveal the importance of adequate Vitamin D levels in T1D patients. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vitamin D Receptor in Human Health and Disease)

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12 pages, 1419 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Variants in the VDR Gene May Influence 25(OH)D Levels in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus in a Brazilian Population

by Rafaella S. Ferraz, Caio S. Silva, Giovanna C. Cavalcante, Natércia N. M. de Queiroz, Karem M. Felício, João S. Felício and Ândrea Ribeiro-dos-Santos

Nutrients 2022, 14(5), 1010; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14051010 - 27 Feb 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2005

Abstract

Vitamin D has been considered a strong contributing factor to type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Many studies have investigated polymorphisms in the VDR gene in association with T1DM in different populations, but there are still conflicting findings. This study aimed to evaluate the association of four variants in the VDR gene (rs7975232, rs1544410, rs731236, and rs2228570) with T1DM risk and vitamin D levels within a population from North Region, Brazil, as well as the influence of genomic ancestry on T1DM. A total of 65 T1DM patients and 83 non-T1DM patients were enrolled in this study. VDR gene polymorphisms were assessed using Sanger sequencing analysis. Genomic ancestry was analyzed using a set of 61 ancestry-informative markers. T1DM patients showed higher European genomic contribution and lower Native American genomic contribution when compared to non-T1DM patients. T1DM patients with AA genotype in rs1544410 or CC genotype in rs731236 had significantly lower 25(OH)D levels compared to the other two genotypes (p = 0.013 and p = 0.02, respectively), while T1DM with TT genotype in rs2228570 had higher 25(OH)D levels compared to CC + TC in the same polymorphism (p = 0.011). Our findings suggest that the association between 25(OH)D and T1DM may be modified by VDR variants, possibly influencing the development of this autoimmune disease. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vitamin D Receptor in Human Health and Disease)

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11 pages, 983 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Adequacy and Vitamin D in the Preoperative Period of Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass, Bariatric Surgery, Can Protect Metabolic Health in Metabolically Healthy and Unhealthy Individuals

by Suelem Pereira da Cruz, Sabrina Cruz, Silvia Pereira, Carlos Saboya, Juliana Castelar Lack Veiga and Andréa Ramalho

Nutrients 2022, 14(3), 402; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14030402 - 18 Jan 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1483

Abstract

Evaluating the influence of vitamin D concentrations together with preoperative metabolic phenotypes on remission of chronic noncommunicable diseases (CNCDs) after 6 months of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). Cross-sectional analytical study comprising 30 adult individuals who were assessed preoperatively (T0) and 6 months (T1) after undergoing RYGB. Participants were distributed preoperatively into metabolically healthy obese (MHO) and metabolically unhealthy obese (MUHO) individuals according to HOMA-IR classification and to the adequacy and inadequacy of vitamin D concentrations in the form of 25(OH)D. All participants were assessed for anthropometric characteristics, biochemical variables, and presence of CNCDs. The statistical program used was the SPSS version 21. In face of vitamin D adequacy and regardless of the metabolic phenotype classification in the preoperative period, the means found for HOMA-IR allowed us to define them as metabolically healthy 6 months after RYGB. Only those with vitamin D inadequacy with the MUHO phenotype showed better results regarding the reduction of glucose that accompanied the shift in serum 25(OH)D concentrations from deficient to insufficient. It is possible that preoperative vitamin D adequacy, even in the presence of an unhealthy phenotype, may contribute to the reduction of dyslipidemia and improvement in cholesterol. It is suggested that preoperative vitamin D adequacy in both phenotypes may have a protective effect on metabolic health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vitamin D Receptor in Human Health and Disease)

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17 pages, 1449 KiB

Open AccessReview

Vitamin D, Cellular Senescence and Chronic Kidney Diseases: What Is Missing in the Equation?

by Romina P. Martinelli, Sandra Rayego-Mateos, Matilde Alique, Laura Márquez-Expósito, Lucia Tejedor-Santamaria, Alberto Ortiz, Emilio González-Parra and Marta Ruiz-Ortega

Nutrients 2023, 15(6), 1349; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15061349 - 10 Mar 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2749

Abstract

As life expectancy increases in many countries, the prevalence of age-related diseases also rises. Among these conditions, chronic kidney disease is predicted to become the second cause of death in some countries before the end of the century. An important problem with kidney diseases is the lack of biomarkers to detect early damage or to predict the progression to renal failure. In addition, current treatments only retard kidney disease progression, and better tools are needed. Preclinical research has shown the involvement of the activation of cellular senescence-related mechanisms in natural aging and kidney injury. Intensive research is searching for novel treatments for kidney diseases as well as for anti-aging therapies. In this sense, many experimental shreds of evidence support that treatment with vitamin D or its analogs can exert pleiotropic protective effects in kidney injury. Moreover, vitamin D deficiency has been described in patients with kidney diseases. Here, we review recent evidence about the relationship between vitamin D and kidney diseases, explaining the underlying mechanisms of the effect of vitamin D actions, with particular attention to the modulation of cellular senescence mechanisms. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vitamin D Receptor in Human Health and Disease)

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15 pages, 1813 KiB

Open AccessReview

Vitamin D and Secondary Hyperparathyroidism in Chronic Kidney Disease: A Critical Appraisal of the Past, Present, and the Future

by Vincent Brandenburg and Markus Ketteler

Nutrients 2022, 14(15), 3009; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14153009 - 22 Jul 2022

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 5806

Abstract

The association between vitamin D deficiency and especially critical shortage of active vitamin D (1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, calcitriol) with the development of secondary hyperparathyroidism (sHPT) is a well-known fact in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The association between sHPT and important clinical outcomes, such as kidney disease progression, fractures, cardiovascular events, and mortality, has turned the prevention and the control of HPT into a core issue of patients with CKD and on dialysis. However, vitamin D therapy entails the risk of unwanted side effects, such as hypercalcemia and hyperphosphatemia. This review summarizes the developments of vitamin D therapies in CKD patients of the last decades, from calcitriol substitution to extended-release calcifediol. In view of the study situation for vitamin D insufficiency and sHPT in CKD patients, we conclude that the nephrology community has to solve three core issues: (1) What is the optimal parathyroid hormone (PTH) target level for CKD and dialysis patients? (2) What is the optimal vitamin D level to support optimal PTH titration? (3) How can sHPT treatment support reduction in the occurrence of hard renal and cardiovascular events in CKD and dialysis patients? Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vitamin D Receptor in Human Health and Disease)

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27 pages, 847 KiB

Open AccessReview

Vitamin D, the Vitamin D Receptor, Calcitriol Analogues and Their Link with Ocular Diseases

by Miłosz Caban and Urszula Lewandowska

Nutrients 2022, 14(11), 2353; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14112353 - 05 Jun 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 6207

Abstract

The global prevalence of eye diseases continues to grow, bringing with it a reduction in the activity levels and quality of life of patients, and partial or complete blindness if left untreated. As such, there is considerable interest in identifying more effective therapeutic options and preventive agents. One such agent is vitamin D, known to have a range of anti-cancer, anti-angiogenic, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties, and whose deficiency is linked to the pathogenesis of a range of cardiovascular, cancer, and inflammatory diseases. This review presents the current stage of knowledge concerning the link between vitamin D and its receptor and the occurrence of eye disease, as well as the influence of analogues of calcitriol, an active metabolite of vitamin D. Generally, patients affected by various ocular disorders have vitamin D deficiency. In addition, previous findings suggest that vitamin D modulates the course of eye diseases and may serve as a marker, and that its supplementation could mitigate some disorders. However, as these studies have some limitations, we recommend further randomized trials to clarify the link between vitamin D and its activity with eye disease. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vitamin D Receptor in Human Health and Disease)

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17 pages, 370 KiB

Open AccessReview

Effects of Vitamin D on Fertility, Pregnancy and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome—A Review

by Szabolcs Várbíró, István Takács, László Tűű, Katalin Nas, Réka Eszter Sziva, Judit Réka Hetthéssy and Marianna Török

Nutrients 2022, 14(8), 1649; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14081649 - 15 Apr 2022

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 8036

Abstract

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine reproductive disorders in women. Vitamin D deficiency is also quite common in this condition. The degree of vitamin D deficiency correlates with the severity of PCOS. Both male and female vitamin D levels play a role in fertility and affect the outcomes of in vitro fertilization (IVF). Moreover, fertility and IVF indicators are improved by vitamin D not only in healthy women but in those diagnosed with PCOS. Both vitamin D deficiency and PCOS increase pregnancy-related complications. Vitamin D supplementation and optimal vitamin D levels decrease both maternal and fetal risk for complications and adverse events. Furthermore, vitamin D supplementation may ameliorate or even prevent pregnancy-related reversible bone loss in mothers. This review emphasizes the roles of vitamin D deficiency and vitamin D supplementation and their correlation with PCOS regarding reproductive health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vitamin D Receptor in Human Health and Disease)

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