Abstract
Purpose of review This review summarizes recently described actions of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D beyond its function in calcium homeostasis and bone metabolism. Recent findings 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D stimulates the innate immune system, facilitating the clearance of infections such as tuberculosis. Hypovitaminosis D has been associated with several autoimmune disorders, various malignancies, and cardiovascular risk factors in a number of recent epidemiologic reports. Based on these observational reports, vitamin D and its analogues are being evaluated for the prevention and treatment of a variety of conditions, with early findings showing mixed results. Summary The broad tissue distribution of the 25-hydroxyvitamin D 1a-hydroxylase enzyme and the vitamin D receptor establish a role for 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D in the pathophysiology of various disease states and provide new therapeutic targets for vitamin D and its analogues.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 408-415 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Current opinion in nephrology and hypertension |
Volume | 17 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jul 2008 |
Keywords
- 25-Hydroxyvitamin D 1α-hydroxylase
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin D receptor
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Internal Medicine
- Nephrology