DESCRIPTION

• Estimated that over 1 billion people worldwide have vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency[7].
• Frank vitamin D deficiency in children (rickets) or adults (osteomalacia) remains rare in developed countries.
• Studies ongoing to determine the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in type 1 diabetes (T1DM) and type 2 diabetes (T2DM); preliminary data suggests prevalence may be as high as 30% in T2DM[13].
• Vitamin D optimizes intestinal calcium and phosphorus absorption to maintain skeletal mineral content.
• Sources of vitamin D include sunlight exposure, dietary intake, dietary supplements.
• Vitamin D derived from sunlight or dietary sources metabolized in the liver to form 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D)
• 25-hydroxyvitamin D metabolized by 1-alpha-hydroxylase in kidneys to active form, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)D)
• Vitamin D deficiency in adults can lead to development of osteopenia, osteoporosis, and/or osteomalacia; muscle weakness; and increased risk of fractures and falls.
• Vitamin D may have other roles in human health including modulation of immune function and reduction of inflammation, though studies are ongoing.
• Interaction between vitamin D status and other conditions including cardiovascular health, cancer, pregnancy outcomes amd neuromuscular/neuropsychiatric function is not yet well elucidated.