From Vitamin D to Hormone D – New Advances
Recent research has shown that the biological sphere of influence of vitamin D is much broader than originally thought as shown by the massive tissue distribution of the vitamin D receptor or VDR. Researchers have now shown that the prohormone vitamin D is active as a pluripotent hormone in 5 physiological arenas where activity of the VDR has clearly been defined. These physiological areas are the adaptive immune system, the innate immune system, insulin secretion by the pancreatic beta cells, multifactorial heart functioning and blood pressure regulation and brain and fetal development. This expands the role of vitamin D from bone homeostasis into many other physiological areas.
Researchers point to the need for a re-evaluation of the nutritional guidelines for vitamin D to determine the adequate intake to achieve good health by involving all 36 target organs rather than the originally focused on 4 target organs (intestine, kidney, bone and parathyroid gland) that are considered for calcium homeostasis. The 36 target organs are defined in the original article linked to this news piece.
This study also concluded that given the fact that vitamin D2 is less biologically active in humans than is vitamin D3 that its use as a supplement be discontinued and its use in clinical studies be replaced as well by D3.
It is predicted that given the large expansion of the vitamin D endocrine system, the number of identified diseases or consequences of vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency will greatly increase to reflect the fact that the number of target organs for vitamin D has increased 9 fold since the discovery of the VDR in the intestine, bone, kidney and parathyroid tissues in the early 70’s.
More research now is needed given this new information to provide evidence based recommendations regarding vitamin D intake relative to a variety of health conditions and good health in general.
About the author
Kathy Shattler received her Master of Science degree from Michigan State University in E. Lansing Michigan in Human Nutrition. Her twenty-two years of practice includes holding positions as a Lecturer, Chief Clinical Dietitian and Program Manager. Kathy is the Founder of Nutri-Care Consulting and is currently the Nutrition Director of www.CEU4U.COM, an online continuing education management company for Registered Dietitians and Dietetic Technicians.
