Search Results

You are looking at 21 - 30 of 136 items for

  • Abstract: Hyperparathyroidism x
  • Abstract: Hypoparathyroidism x
  • Abstract: Menopause x
  • Abstract: Skeleton x
  • Abstract: Vitamin D x
Clear All Modify Search
Mohammed S Razzaque Department of Pathology, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Erie, Pennsylvania, USA

Search for other papers by Mohammed S Razzaque in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close

Fibroblast growth factor‐23 (FGF23) controls the homeostasis of both phosphate and vitamin D. Bone-derived FGF23 can suppress the transcription of 1α‐hydroxylase (1α(OH)ase) to reduce renal activation of vitamin D (1,25(OH)2D3). FGF23 can also activate the transcription of 24‐hydroxylase to enhance the renal degradation process of vitamin D. There is a counter-regulation for FGF23 and vitamin D; 1,25(OH)2D3 induces the skeletal synthesis and the release of FGF23, while FGF23 can suppress the production of 1,25(OH)2D3 by inhibiting 1α(OH)ase synthesis. Genetically ablating FGF23 activities in mice resulted in higher levels of renal 1α(OH)ase, which is also reflected in an increased level of serum 1,25(OH)2D3, while genetically ablating 1α(OH)ase activities in mice reduced the serum levels of FGF23. Similar feedback control of FGF23 and vitamin D is also detected in various human diseases. Further studies are required to understand the subcellular molecular regulation of FGF23 and vitamin D in health and disease.

Open access
Rong Xu Center for Endocrine Metabolism and Immune Diseases, Lu He Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
Beijing Key Laboratory of Diabetes Research and Care, Beijing, China

Search for other papers by Rong Xu in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Difei Lian Center for Endocrine Metabolism and Immune Diseases, Lu He Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
Beijing Key Laboratory of Diabetes Research and Care, Beijing, China

Search for other papers by Difei Lian in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Yan Xie Center for Endocrine Metabolism and Immune Diseases, Lu He Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
Beijing Key Laboratory of Diabetes Research and Care, Beijing, China

Search for other papers by Yan Xie in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Lin Mu Center for Endocrine Metabolism and Immune Diseases, Lu He Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
Beijing Key Laboratory of Diabetes Research and Care, Beijing, China

Search for other papers by Lin Mu in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Yali Wu Center for Endocrine Metabolism and Immune Diseases, Lu He Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
Beijing Key Laboratory of Diabetes Research and Care, Beijing, China

Search for other papers by Yali Wu in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Zhilei Chen Center for Endocrine Metabolism and Immune Diseases, Lu He Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
Beijing Key Laboratory of Diabetes Research and Care, Beijing, China

Search for other papers by Zhilei Chen in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
, and
Baoyu Zhang Center for Endocrine Metabolism and Immune Diseases, Lu He Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
Beijing Key Laboratory of Diabetes Research and Care, Beijing, China

Search for other papers by Baoyu Zhang in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close

Osteoporosis (OP) is a systemic bone disease in which bone density and quality decrease and bone fragility increases due to a variety of causes, making it prone to fractures. The development of OP is closely related to oxidative stress. Uric acid (UA) is the end product of purine metabolism in the human body. Extracellular UA has antioxidant properties and is thought to have a protective effect on bone metabolism. However, the process of UA degradation can lead to intracellular oxidative stress, which together with UA-induced inflammatory factors, leads to increased bone destruction. In addition, UA can inhibit vitamin D production, resulting in secondary hyperparathyroidism and further exacerbating UA-associated bone loss. This review summarizes the relationship between serum UA levels and bone mineral density, bone turnover markers, and so on, in the hope of providing new insights into the pathogenesis and treatment of OP.

Open access
Elisabet Einarsdottir Folkhälsan Institute of Genetics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Molecular Neurology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden

Search for other papers by Elisabet Einarsdottir in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Minna Pekkinen Folkhälsan Institute of Genetics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Children’s Hospital, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland

Search for other papers by Minna Pekkinen in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Kaarel Krjutškov Molecular Neurology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Competence Centre on Health Technologies, Tartu, Estonia

Search for other papers by Kaarel Krjutškov in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Shintaro Katayama Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden

Search for other papers by Shintaro Katayama in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Juha Kere Folkhälsan Institute of Genetics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Molecular Neurology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
School of Basic and Medical Biosciences, King’s College London, Guy’s Hospital, London, United Kingdom

Search for other papers by Juha Kere in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Outi Mäkitie Folkhälsan Institute of Genetics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Children’s Hospital, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery and Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
Department of Clinical Genetics, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden

Search for other papers by Outi Mäkitie in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
, and
Heli Viljakainen Folkhälsan Institute of Genetics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Department of Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

Search for other papers by Heli Viljakainen in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close

Objective

The effect of vitamin D at the transcriptome level is poorly understood, and furthermore, it is unclear if it differs between obese and normal-weight subjects. The objective of the study was to explore the transcriptome effects of vitamin D supplementation.

Design and methods

We analysed peripheral blood gene expression using GlobinLock oligonucleotides followed by RNA sequencing in individuals participating in a 12-week randomised double-blinded placebo-controlled vitamin D intervention study. The study involved 18 obese and 18 normal-weight subjects (of which 20 males) with mean (±s.d.) age 20.4 (±2.5) years and BMIs 36 (±10) and 23 (±4) kg/m2, respectively. The supplemental daily vitamin D dose was 50 µg (2000 IU). Data were available at baseline, 6- and 12-week time points and comparisons were performed between the vitamin D and placebo groups separately in obese and normal-weight subjects.

Results

Significant transcriptomic changes were observed at 6 weeks, and only in the obese subjects: 1724 genes were significantly upregulated and 186 genes were downregulated in the vitamin D group compared with placebo. Further analyses showed several enriched gene categories connected to mitochondrial function and metabolism, and the most significantly enriched pathway was related to oxidative phosphorylation (adjusted P value 3.08 × 10−14). Taken together, our data suggest an effect of vitamin D supplementation on mitochondrial function in obese subjects.

Conclusions

Vitamin D supplementation affects gene expression in obese, but not in normal-weight subjects. The altered genes are enriched in pathways related to mitochondrial function. The present study increases the understanding of the effects of vitamin D at the transcriptome level.

Open access
Kevin D Cashman Cork Centre for Vitamin D and Nutrition Research, School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland

Search for other papers by Kevin D Cashman in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close

Background

Internationally, concern has been repeatedly raised about the little notable progress in the collection, analysis and use of population micronutrient status and deficiency data globally. The need for representative status and intake data for vitamin D has been highlighted as a research priority for well over a decade.

Aim and methods

A narrative review which aims to provide a summary and assessment of vitamin D nutritional status data globally. This review divides the world into the Food and Agriculture Organisation’s (FAO) major regions: the Americas, Europe, Oceania, Africa and Asia. Emphasis was placed on published data on the prevalence of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) < 25/30 and <50 nmol/L (reflecting vitamin D deficiency and inadequacy, respectively) as well as vitamin D intake, where possible from nationally representative surveys.

Results

Collating data from the limited number of available representative surveys from individual countries might suggest a relatively low overall prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in South America, Oceania and North America, whereas there is more moderate prevalence in Europe and Asia, and possibly Africa. Overall, the prevalence of serum 25(OH)D < 25/30 and <50 nmol/L ranges from ~5 to 18% and 24 to 49%, respectively, depending on FAO world region. Usual intakes of vitamin D can also vary by FAO world region, but in general, with a few exceptions, there are very high levels of inadequacy of vitamin D intake.

Conclusions

While the burden of vitamin D deficiency and inadequacy varies by world regions and not just by UVB availability, the global burden overall translates into enormous numbers of individuals at risk.

Open access
Shatha Alharazy Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Search for other papers by Shatha Alharazy in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
M Denise Robertson Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK

Search for other papers by M Denise Robertson in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Susan Lanham-New Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK

Search for other papers by Susan Lanham-New in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Muhammad Imran Naseer Centre of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Search for other papers by Muhammad Imran Naseer in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Adeel G Chaudhary Centre of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Centre for Innovation in Personalized Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Search for other papers by Adeel G Chaudhary in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
, and
Eman Alissa Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Search for other papers by Eman Alissa in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close

Background

Measurement of free 25-hydroyvitamin D (25(OH)D) status has been suggested as a more representative marker of vitamin D status than that of total 25(OH)D. Previously, free 25(OH)D could only be calculated indirectly; however, a newly developed direct assay for the measurement of free 25(OH)D is now available. The aim of this study therefore was to investigate directly measured total and free vitamin D levels association with metabolic health in postmenopausal healthy women living in Saudi Arabia.

Methods

A sample of 302 postmenopausal women aged ≥50 years (n  = 302) living in Saudi Arabia were recruited in a cross-sectional study design. Blood samples were collected from subjects for measurement of serum levels of total 25(OH)D, directly measured free 25(OH)D, metabolic bone parameters, lipid profile, and other biochemical tests.

Results

A positive correlation was found between directly measured free and total 25(OH)D (r = 0.64, P< 0.0001). Total but not free 25(OH)D showed significant association with serum intact parathyroid hormone (P = 0.004), whilst free 25(OH)D but not total 25(OH)D showed a significant association with total cholesterol and LDL-C (P = 0.032 and P = 0.045, respectively).

Conclusions

Free 25(OH)D and total 25(OH)D were found to be consistently correlated but with different associations to metabolic health parameters. Further research is needed to determine which marker of vitamin D status would be the most appropriate in population studies.

Open access
Mengting Yin Sichuan University West China Hospital, Chengdu, China

Search for other papers by Mengting Yin in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Qianhui Liu Sichuan University West China Hospital, Chengdu, China

Search for other papers by Qianhui Liu in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Qingzhong Wang Jintang First People’s Hospital, West China Hospital Sichuan University Jingtang Hospital, Chengdu, China

Search for other papers by Qingzhong Wang in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Yong He Sichuan University West China Hospital, Chengdu, China

Search for other papers by Yong He in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Haolan Song Sichuan University West China Hospital, Chengdu, China

Search for other papers by Haolan Song in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Xin Nie Sichuan University West China Hospital, Chengdu, China

Search for other papers by Xin Nie in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
, and
Guixing Li Sichuan University West China Hospital, Chengdu, China

Search for other papers by Guixing Li in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close

Background

The diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) remains a challenge because of increased asymptomatic PHPT or patients with normocalcaemic PHPT (NPHPT). In addition, some primary hospitals in China have no equipment to measure parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels. Therefore, an additional, simple, and inexpensive laboratory biochemical marker is urgently needed. The calcium/phosphate (Ca/P) ratio and chloride/phosphate (Cl/P) ratio have been proposed as suitable tools to diagnose PHPT in Europe; however, the Ca/P ratio has never been tested in China. We aimed to conduct a confirmatory study to explore the diagnostic performance of the Ca/P ratio for PHPT in China.

Methods

From January 2015 to December 2020, a total of 155 patients who underwent parathyroidectomy (143 PHPT patients and 12 NPHPT patients) and 153 controls were enrolled in this single-center , retrospective study. Serum calcium, phosphate, parathyroid hormone, 25-hydroxyvitamin vitamin D (25(OH) vitamin D), chloride, alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransaminase (AST), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and creatinine levels were recorded for all the study participants. Pairwise comparisons were made between groups, and the diagnostic performance of the Ca/P ratio was determined using receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis.

Results

Patients with PHPT had a higher Ca/P ratio than controls (P < 0.001). A Ca/P ratio above 2.94 with a sensitivity of 95.5% and specificity of 98.7% can distinguish PHPT patients from healthy individuals. This index was positively correlated with the PTH level (r = 0.875, P < 0.001).

Conclusion

The Ca/P ratio is an ideal and inexpensive indicator for diagnosing PHPT in China when using a cut-off value of 2.94.

Open access
Amarjit Saini Division of Clinical Physiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
Unit of Clinical Physiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden

Search for other papers by Amarjit Saini in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Linda Björkhem-Bergman Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Departments of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Neurobiology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

Search for other papers by Linda Björkhem-Bergman in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Johan Boström Division of Clinical Physiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
Unit of Clinical Physiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden

Search for other papers by Johan Boström in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Mats Lilja Division of Clinical Physiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
Unit of Clinical Physiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden

Search for other papers by Mats Lilja in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Michael Melin Division of Clinical Physiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
Unit of Clinical Physiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
Unit of Cardiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden

Search for other papers by Michael Melin in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Karl Olsson Division of Clinical Physiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
Unit of Clinical Physiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden

Search for other papers by Karl Olsson in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Lena Ekström Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

Search for other papers by Lena Ekström in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Peter Bergman Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

Search for other papers by Peter Bergman in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Mikael Altun Division of Clinical Physiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
Unit of Clinical Physiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden

Search for other papers by Mikael Altun in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Eric Rullman Division of Clinical Physiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
Unit of Clinical Physiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
Unit of Cardiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden

Search for other papers by Eric Rullman in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
, and
Thomas Gustafsson Division of Clinical Physiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
Unit of Clinical Physiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden

Search for other papers by Thomas Gustafsson in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close

The CC genotype of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) polymorphism TaqI rs731236 has previously been associated with a higher risk of developing myopathy compared to TT carriers. However, the mechanistic role of this polymorphism in skeletal muscle is not well defined. The effects of vitamin D on patients genotyped for the VDR polymorphism TaqI rs731236, comparing CC and TT carriers were evaluated. Primary human myoblasts isolated from 4 CC carriers were compared with myoblasts isolated from four TT carriers and treated with vitamin D in vitro. A dose-dependent inhibitory effect on myoblast proliferation and differentiation was observed concurrent with modifications of key myogenic regulatory factors. RNA sequencing revealed a vitamin D dose–response gene signature enriched with a higher number of VDR-responsive elements (VDREs) per gene. Interestingly, the greater the expression of muscle differentiation markers in myoblasts, the more pronounced was the vitamin D-mediated response to suppress genes associated with myogenic fusion and myotube formation. This novel finding provides a mechanistic explanation to the inconsistency regarding previous reports of the role of vitamin D in myoblast differentiation. No effects in myoblast proliferation, differentiation or gene expression were related to CC vs TT carriers. Our findings suggest that the VDR polymorphism TaqI rs731236 comparing CC vs TT carriers did not influence the effects of vitamin D on primary human myoblasts and that vitamin D inhibits myoblast proliferation and differentiation through key regulators of cell cycle progression. Future studies need to employ strategies to identify the primary responses of vitamin D that drive the cellular response towards quiescence.

Open access
Jennifer K Y Ko Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong, China

Search for other papers by Jennifer K Y Ko in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Jinghua Shi Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, China

Search for other papers by Jinghua Shi in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Raymond H W Li Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong, China

Search for other papers by Raymond H W Li in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
William S B Yeung Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong, China

Search for other papers by William S B Yeung in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
, and
Ernest H Y Ng Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong, China

Search for other papers by Ernest H Y Ng in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close

Objective

Vitamin D receptors are present in the female reproductive tract. Studies on the association between serum vitamin D level and pregnancy rate of in vitro fertilization (IVF) showed inconsistent results and focused on a single fresh or frozen embryo transfer cycle. The objective of our study was to evaluate if serum vitamin D level before ovarian stimulation was associated with the cumulative live birth rate (CLBR) of the first IVF cycle.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Methods

Women who underwent the first IVF cycle from 2012 to 2016 at a university-affiliated reproductive medicine center were included. Archived serum samples taken before ovarian stimulation were analyzed for 25(OH)D levels using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Results

In total, 1113 had pregnancy outcome from the completed IVF cycle. The median age (25th–75th percentile) of the women was 36 (34–38) years and serum 25(OH)D level was 53.4 (41.9–66.6) nmol/L. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (less than 50 nmol/L) was 42.2%. The CLBR in the vitamin D-deficient group was significantly lower compared to the non-deficient group (43.9%, 208/474 vs 50.9%, 325/639, P  = 0.021, unadjusted), and after controlling for women’s age, BMI, antral follicle count, type and duration of infertility. There were no differences in the clinical/ongoing pregnancy rate, live birth rate and miscarriage rate in the fresh cycle between the vitamin D deficient and non-deficient groups.

Conclusions

Vitamin D deficiency was prevalent in infertile women in subtropical Hong Kong. The CLBR of the first IVF cycle in the vitamin D-deficient group was significantly lower compared to the non-deficient group.

Open access
Jane Fletcher Nutrition Nurses, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Mindelsohn Way, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK
School of Nursing, Institute of Clinical Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK

Search for other papers by Jane Fletcher in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Emma L Bishop Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK

Search for other papers by Emma L Bishop in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Stephanie R Harrison Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, Chapel Allerton Hospital, Leeds, UK

Search for other papers by Stephanie R Harrison in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Amelia Swift School of Nursing, Institute of Clinical Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK

Search for other papers by Amelia Swift in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Sheldon C Cooper Gastroenterology Department, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Mindelsohn Way, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK

Search for other papers by Sheldon C Cooper in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Sarah K Dimeloe Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK

Search for other papers by Sarah K Dimeloe in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Karim Raza Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK

Search for other papers by Karim Raza in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
, and
Martin Hewison Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK

Search for other papers by Martin Hewison in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close

Vitamin D has well-documented effects on calcium homeostasis and bone metabolism but recent studies suggest a much broader role for this secosteroid in human health. Key components of the vitamin D system, notably the vitamin D receptor (VDR) and the vitamin D-activating enzyme (1α-hydroxylase), are present in a wide array of tissues, notably macrophages, dendritic cells and T lymphocytes (T cells) from the immune system. Thus, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25D) can be converted to hormonal 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25D) within immune cells, and then interact with VDR and promote transcriptional and epigenomic responses in the same or neighbouring cells. These intracrine and paracrine effects of 1,25D have been shown to drive antibacterial or antiviral innate responses, as well as to attenuate inflammatory T cell adaptive immunity. Beyond these mechanistic observations, association studies have reported the correlation between low serum 25D levels and the risk and severity of human immune disorders including autoimmune diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis. The proposed explanation for this is that decreased availability of 25D compromises immune cell synthesis of 1,25D leading to impaired innate immunity and over-exuberant inflammatory adaptive immunity. The aim of the current review is to explore the mechanistic basis for immunomodulatory effects of 25D and 1,25D in greater detail with specific emphasis on how vitamin D-deficiency (low serum levels of 25D) may lead to dysregulation of macrophage, dendritic cell and T cell function and increase the risk of inflammatory autoimmune disease.

Open access
S Westra Department of Internal Medicine, Medical Centre Alkmaar, Alkmaar, the Netherlands

Search for other papers by S Westra in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Y H M Krul-Poel Department of Internal Medicine, Medical Centre Alkmaar, Alkmaar, the Netherlands

Search for other papers by Y H M Krul-Poel in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
H J van Wijland Department of General Practice, DIAZON, Alkmaar, the Netherlands

Search for other papers by H J van Wijland in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
M M ter Wee Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, VU Medical Centre, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Search for other papers by M M ter Wee in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
F Stam Department of Internal Medicine, Medical Centre Alkmaar, Alkmaar, the Netherlands

Search for other papers by F Stam in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
P Lips Department of Internal Medicine, Endocrine Section, VU Medical Centre, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Search for other papers by P Lips in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
F Pouwer Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Tilburg University, Tilburg, the Netherlands

Search for other papers by F Pouwer in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
, and
S Simsek Department of Internal Medicine, Medical Centre Alkmaar, Alkmaar, the Netherlands

Search for other papers by S Simsek in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close

Objective

Increased levels of depressive symptoms, fatigue or pain (all dimensions of reduced health-related quality of life (HRQOL)) are common in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Earlier studies have reported associations between low vitamin D status and fatigue and depressive symptoms. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of vitamin D supplementation on dimensions of HRQOL in people with type 2 DM.

Design

Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Methods

The effect of monthly cholecalciferol 50,000 IU vs placebo on HRQOL was assessed in 275 adults with type 2 DM derived from general practices. HRQOL at baseline and after six months using the Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) was collected. Linear regression analyses were used to compare the change in HRQOL over time between the vitamin D and placebo group.

Results

187/275 (68%) completed baseline and follow-up SF-36 and were included in the analysis. Median serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D almost doubled in the intervention group compared to that in the placebo group (58.5–106.0 nmol/L vs 60.0–61.5 nmol/L, respectively). A small significant difference (adjusted B: −8.90; 95% CI: −17.16 to −0.65) between both groups was seen concerning the SF-36 domain role limitations due to physical problems in disadvantage of the vitamin D group.

Conclusions

Six months of vitamin D supplementation did not improve HRQOL in non-vitamin D-deficient people with type 2 DM managed on oral antidiabetic therapy.

Open access