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Nutrients Aug 2023Apart from developmental disabilities, the prevalence of chronic diseases increases with age especially in those with co-morbidities: vitamin D deficiency plays a major... (Review)
Review
Apart from developmental disabilities, the prevalence of chronic diseases increases with age especially in those with co-morbidities: vitamin D deficiency plays a major role in it. Whether vitamin D deficiency initiates and/or aggravates chronic diseases or vice versa is unclear. It adversely affects all body systems but can be eliminated using proper doses of vitamin D supplementation and/or safe daily sun exposure. Maintaining the population serum 25(OH)D concentration above 40 ng/mL (i.e., sufficiency) ensures a sound immune system, minimizing symptomatic diseases and reducing infections and the prevalence of chronic diseases. This is the most cost-effective way to keep a population healthy and reduce healthcare costs. Vitamin D facilitates physiological functions, overcoming pathologies such as chronic inflammation and oxidative stress and maintaining broader immune functions. These are vital to overcoming chronic diseases and infections. Therefore, in addition to following essential public health and nutritional guidance, maintaining vitamin D sufficiency should be an integral part of better health, preventing acute and chronic diseases and minimize their complications. Those with severe vitamin D deficiency have the highest burdens of co-morbidities and are more vulnerable to developing complications and untimely deaths. Vitamin D adequacy improves innate and adaptive immune systems. It controls excessive inflammation and oxidative stress, generates antimicrobial peptides, and neutralizes antibodies via immune cells. Consequently, vitamin D sufficiency reduces infections and associated complications and deaths. Maintaining vitamin D sufficiency reduces chronic disease burden, illnesses, hospitalizations, and all-cause mortality. Vulnerable communities, such as ethnic minorities living in temperate countries, older people, those with co-morbidities, routine night workers, and institutionalized persons, have the highest prevalence of vitamin D deficiency-they would significantly benefit from vitamin D and targeted micronutrient supplementation. At least now, health departments, authorities, and health insurance companies should start assessing, prioritizing, and encouraging this economical, non-prescription, safe micronutrient to prevent and treat acute and chronic diseases. This approach will significantly reduce morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs and ensure healthy aging.
Topics: Humans; Aged; Vitamin D; Vitamins; Vitamin D Deficiency; Micronutrients; Chronic Disease
PubMed: 37630813
DOI: 10.3390/nu15163623 -
Nutrients Aug 2023Acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) are one of the main reasons that the pediatric population goes to the doctor. The connection between ARTI and vitamin D (VD)... (Review)
Review
Acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) are one of the main reasons that the pediatric population goes to the doctor. The connection between ARTI and vitamin D (VD) is currently debated by the medical community, and so far, there has been little agreement with regard to the ideal level of 25(OH)D concentration that would provide protection for the respiratory tract, or the effectiveness of its administration in the treatment of respiratory infections. The purpose of this literature review was to bring attention to the immunomodulatory and antiviral function of vitamin D and its relation to the respiratory system by examining the main ARTIs, including SARS-CoV-2. The latter has affected the pediatric population in different ways, from asymptomatic patients to severe forms with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). Although there are not much clinical data on the SARS-CoV-2 disease in the pediatric population worldwide, we tried to find out whether there is a connection between the severity of this disease, other ARTIs, and vitamin D supplementation. We also aimed to find out if 25OHD deficiency had an adverse effect on the evolution of the disease and the recovery period in the case of younger patients affected by COVID-19. For this literature review, the PICO framework was selected as the methodological approach. Our results demonstrated many methods by which this vitamin may lower the risk of ARTI with regard to the COVID-19 infection. Despite these significant advancements, more research is needed to support the idea that 25(OH)D concentration can influence the evolution of respiratory tract infections in children.
Topics: Child; Humans; Vitamin D; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Vitamins; Respiratory Tract Infections; Vitamin D Deficiency
PubMed: 37571367
DOI: 10.3390/nu15153430 -
The Journal of Laryngology and Otology Sep 2023Smell impairment affects 60-80 per cent of individuals aged over 80 years. This review aimed to identify any association between vitamin D deficiency and smell... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
Smell impairment affects 60-80 per cent of individuals aged over 80 years. This review aimed to identify any association between vitamin D deficiency and smell impairment, and determine the efficacy of vitamin D to treat smell impairment.
METHODS
A literature search was conducted across four databases between the years 2000 and 2022. The literature screen was performed by two independent reviewers.
RESULTS
Seven articles were included in this review. Four studies examined the association between vitamin D deficiency and smell impairment, with three studies identifying a significant relationship. Three studies investigated the use of vitamin D as treatment for smell impairment, which found complete resolution or significant symptom improvement after vitamin D deficiency was treated.
CONCLUSION
This review identified limited studies on this topic. As vitamin D supplementation is relatively cost-efficient, further large-scale studies should be carried out to investigate the efficacy of vitamin D for treating anosmia.
Topics: Humans; Aged, 80 and over; Vitamin D; Smell; Vitamins; Vitamin D Deficiency; Olfaction Disorders
PubMed: 36341550
DOI: 10.1017/S0022215122002389 -
European Journal of Cancer (Oxford,... Sep 2023Although the associations of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels and vitamin D supplementation with total cancer mortality are well-known, evidence regarding the...
BACKGROUND
Although the associations of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels and vitamin D supplementation with total cancer mortality are well-known, evidence regarding the association of 25(OH)D and cancer site-specific mortality is predominantly limited to common cancer types, and most studies on vitamin D supplementation use have limitations on sample size and the adjustment of important confounding factors.
METHODS
We used cause-specific Cox regression models adjusted for 48 covariates to assess the associations of vitamin D deficiency, insufficiency, and vitamin D supplementation use with mortality from any cancer and 18 specific cancers in 411,436 United Kingdom Biobank participants, aged 40-69 years.
RESULTS
The majority of the study population had either vitamin D deficiency (21.1%) or insufficiency (34.4%). Furthermore, 4.1% and 20.3% of the participants regularly took vitamin D or multivitamin supplements, respectively. During a median follow-up of 12.7 years, vitamin D deficiency was associated with significantly increased mortality from total cancer and four specific cancers: stomach (hazard ratio, 95% confidence interval: 1.42, 1.05-1.92), colorectal (1.27, 1.07-1.50), lung (1.24, 1.10-1.40), and prostate (1.36, 1.06-1.75). Vitamin D insufficiency was associated with increased colorectal (1.14, 1.00-1.30) and lung cancer mortality (1.19, 1.08-1.32). Compared to non-users, vitamin D use was associated with lower lung cancer (0.75, 0.60-0.95) and total cancer mortality. Multivitamin use was associated with lower mortality from melanoma (0.64, 0.43-0.97).
CONCLUSION
Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency were associated with increased mortality from multiple common cancers. The potential to reduce cancer mortality by vitamin D supplementation in populations with low 25(OH)D levels should be further explored.
Topics: Male; Humans; Biological Specimen Banks; Vitamin D; Vitamins; Vitamin D Deficiency; Lung Neoplasms; Dietary Supplements; Colorectal Neoplasms
PubMed: 37549530
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2023.113241 -
European Journal of Epidemiology Sep 2023It is unknown whether the well-known association between vitamin D deficiency and mortality could be explained by the immune system modulating effects of vitamin D,...
About the associations of vitamin D deficiency and biomarkers of systemic inflammatory response with all-cause and cause-specific mortality in a general population sample of almost 400,000 UK Biobank participants.
It is unknown whether the well-known association between vitamin D deficiency and mortality could be explained by the immune system modulating effects of vitamin D, which may protect from a systemic inflammatory response (SIR) to adverse health conditions. This study aims to investigate the interrelationships of vitamin D deficiency, biomarkers of SIR, and mortality. We used multivariate logistic regression with adjustment for 51 covariates to assess the associations of vitamin D deficiency with disadvantageous levels of nine biomarkers of SIR in the UK Biobank cohort. Furthermore, we tested with Cox regression and mediation analysis whether biomarkers of SIR and vitamin D deficiency were independently associated with mortality. We included 397,737 participants aged 37-73 years. Vitamin D deficiency was associated with disadvantageous levels of all blood cell count-based biomarkers, but not with C-reactive protein (CRP)-based biomarkers after adjustment for body weight. Vitamin D deficiency and all biomarkers of SIR were significantly associated with all-cause mortality and mortality from cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory disease. The strength of these associations was unaltered if vitamin D deficiency and biomarkers of SIR were put in the same model. This finding was further supported by the mediation analyses. This study showed that vitamin D deficiency is associated with disadvantageous levels of blood cell count-based but not CRP-based biomarkers of SIR. Vitamin D deficiency and systemic inflammation were independently and strongly associated with mortality. The potential of clinical interventions against both vitamin D deficiency and underlying causes of systemic inflammation should be explored.
Topics: Humans; Cause of Death; Biological Specimen Banks; Vitamin D Deficiency; Vitamin D; Biomarkers; C-Reactive Protein; Inflammation; United Kingdom; Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome
PubMed: 37340242
DOI: 10.1007/s10654-023-01023-2 -
Supportive Care in Cancer : Official... Sep 2023Vitamin D plays a crucial role in skeletal metabolism and holds significant importance in the pathophysiology of multiple myeloma (MM). This study aimed to determine the... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
PURPOSE
Vitamin D plays a crucial role in skeletal metabolism and holds significant importance in the pathophysiology of multiple myeloma (MM). This study aimed to determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among Japanese MM patients and its correlation with clinical outcomes.
METHODS
Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels were assessed in 68 MM patients at a single institution in Japan, analyzing their association with clinical status, laboratory parameters including procollagen type 1 N-propeptide (P1NP) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRACP-5b), health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) scores, and overall survival. Additionally, patients with suboptimal 25(OH)D levels received cholecalciferol supplementation (1000 IU/day), and changes in laboratory parameters were monitored.
RESULTS
The median 25(OH)D level was 22 ng/ml, with 32% and 51% of patients exhibiting vitamin D deficiency (< 20 ng/ml) and insufficiency (20-29 ng/ml), respectively. The 25(OH)D levels were unrelated to sex, age, MM stage, or bone lesions, but the vitamin D-deficient group showed a tendency towards lower HR-QOL scores. Among patients achieving complete remission, vitamin D supplementation increased P1NP, while TRACP-5b remained unchanged. Overall survivals from vitamin D measurement and from MM diagnosis were significantly worse in the vitamin D-deficient group compared to the vitamin D-insufficient/-sufficient group.
CONCLUSION
The study identified a considerable number of Japanese MM patients with insufficient serum vitamin D levels, with one-third being deficient. Additionally, vitamin D deficiency predicted poor overall survival in Japanese MM patients. Further investigation is required to determine whether vitamin D supplementation can improve the frailty and survival of vitamin D-deficient MM patients.
Topics: Humans; Prevalence; Quality of Life; East Asian People; Multiple Myeloma; Tartrate-Resistant Acid Phosphatase; Vitamin D Deficiency; Vitamin D
PubMed: 37656213
DOI: 10.1007/s00520-023-08021-w -
Advances in Food and Nutrition Research 2024Historically vitamin D deficiency had devastating consequences for children causing rickets resulting in severe bone deformities often leading to death. The mystery of... (Review)
Review
Historically vitamin D deficiency had devastating consequences for children causing rickets resulting in severe bone deformities often leading to death. The mystery of the cause of rickets finally came to light when it was observed that cod liver oil and sunlight could prevent and cure rickets. The first vitamin D to be discovered was vitamin D from ergosterol in ultraviolet irradiated yeast. Vitamin D was discovered from UV exposure to the skin. Investigations revealed the two major functions of vitamin D were to increase intestinal calcium and phosphate absorption and mobilize calcium from the skeleton to maintain calcium and phosphorus homeostasis. Later studies demonstrated that vitamin D does not have an active role in bone mineralization. Vitamin D deficiency results in secondary hyperparathyroidism increasing bone resorption. As a result, this decreases bone mineral content and compromises the architectural integrity increasing risk for fracture. Vitamin D deficiency has also been shown to enhance aging of the bone causing cracks and enhancing bone fractures. Vitamin D deficiency also causes osteomalacia. Therefore, vitamin D sufficiency is extremely important to maximize bone health throughout life. It helps to prevent bone loss, but it cannot restore bone loss due to increased bone resorption that can occur under a variety of circumstances including menopause. The Endocrine Society Guidelines recommends for all ages that adequate vitamin D obtained from the sun, foods and supplements is necessary in order to maintain a circulating concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D of at least 30 ng/mL for maximum bone health.
Topics: Humans; Vitamin D; Vitamin D Deficiency; Bone and Bones; Rickets; Bone Density; Osteomalacia; Dietary Supplements
PubMed: 38777417
DOI: 10.1016/bs.afnr.2024.04.002 -
Ageing Research Reviews Apr 2024Confronting the rising tide of ischemic stroke and its associated mortality and morbidity with ageing, prevention and acute management of ischemic stroke is of paramount... (Review)
Review
Confronting the rising tide of ischemic stroke and its associated mortality and morbidity with ageing, prevention and acute management of ischemic stroke is of paramount importance. Mounting observational studies have established a non-linear association of vitamin D status with cardiovascular diseases, including ischemic stroke. Paradoxically, current clinical trials fail to demonstrate the cardiovascular benefits of vitamin D supplementation. We aim to update recent clinical and experimental findings on the role of vitamin D in the disease course of ischemic stroke, from its onset, progression, recovery, to recurrence, and the established and alternative possible pathophysiological mechanisms. This review justifies the necessities to address stroke etiological subtypes and focus on vitamin D-deficient subjects for investigating the potential of vitamin D supplementation as a preventive and therapeutic approach for ischemic stroke. Well-powered clinical trials are warranted to determine the efficacy, safety, timing, target individuals, optimal dosages, and target 25OHD concentrations of vitamin D supplementation in the prevention and treatment of ischemic stroke.
Topics: Humans; Vitamin D; Vitamin D Deficiency; Ischemic Stroke; Stroke; Vitamins
PubMed: 38395199
DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2024.102244 -
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology... Nov 2023Vitamin D status has previously been associated with cardiometabolic risk markers in children and adolescents. In particular, it has been suggested that children with...
CONTEXT
Vitamin D status has previously been associated with cardiometabolic risk markers in children and adolescents. In particular, it has been suggested that children with obesity are more prone to vitamin D deficiency and unfavorable metabolic outcomes compared with healthy-weight children.
OBJECTIVE
To conduct a longitudinal study assessing this association in children and stratify by body mass index (BMI) category.
METHODS
Children from the pan-European IDEFICS/I.Family cohort with at least one measurement of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] at cohort entry or follow-up (n = 2171) were included in this study. Linear mixed-effect models were used to assess the association between serum 25(OH)D as an independent variable and z-scores of cardiometabolic risk markers (waist circumference, systolic [SBP] and diastolic blood pressure [DBP], high- [HDL] and low-density lipoprotein, non-HDL, triglycerides [TRG], apolipoprotein A1 [ApoA1] and ApoB, fasting glucose [FG], homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance [HOMA-IR], and metabolic syndrome score) as dependent variables.
RESULTS
After adjustment for age, sex, study region, smoking and alcohol status, sports club membership, screen time, BMI, parental education, and month of blood collection, 25(OH)D levels were inversely associated with SBP, DBP, FG, HOMA-IR, and TRG. The HOMA-IR z-score decreased by 0.07 units per 5 ng/mL increase in 25(OH)D. The 25(OH)D level was consistently associated with HOMA-IR irrespective of sex or BMI category.
CONCLUSION
Low serum 25(OH)D concentrations are associated with unfavorable levels of cardiometabolic markers in children and adolescents. Interventions to improve vitamin D levels in children with a poor status early in life may help to reduce cardiometabolic risk.
Topics: Humans; Child; Adolescent; Longitudinal Studies; Cardiovascular Diseases; Vitamin D; Vitamins; Metabolic Syndrome; Vitamin D Deficiency; Insulin Resistance; Triglycerides; Body Mass Index
PubMed: 37261399
DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgad310 -
Advances in Food and Nutrition Research 2024Vitamin D has been proposed as a potential strategy to mitigate age-related cognitive decline and dementia, including Alzheimer's dementia, the predominant type of... (Review)
Review
Vitamin D has been proposed as a potential strategy to mitigate age-related cognitive decline and dementia, including Alzheimer's dementia, the predominant type of dementia. Rodent studies have provided insight into the potential mechanisms underlying the role of vitamin D in Alzheimer's disease and dementia. However, inconsistencies with respect to age, sex, and genetic background of the rodent models used poses some limitations regarding scientific rigor and translation. Several human observational studies have evaluated the association of vitamin D status with cognitive decline and dementia, and the results are conflicting. Randomized clinical trials of vitamin D supplementation have included cognitive outcomes. However, most of the available trials have not been designed specifically to test the effect of vitamin D on age-related cognitive decline and dementia, so it remains questionable how much additional vitamin D will improve cognitive performance. Here we evaluate the strengths and limitations of the available evidence regarding the role of vitamin D in AD, cognitive decline, dementia.
Topics: Humans; Alzheimer Disease; Vitamin D; Animals; Dementia; Dietary Supplements; Vitamin D Deficiency
PubMed: 38777413
DOI: 10.1016/bs.afnr.2023.12.003