Vitamin D
John Melford in Pocket Guide to Cancer, 2017
Vitamin D is a fascinating vitamin that is quite unique. There are four forms of it in the body, only one of which is active. Unlike any other vitamin, the metabolism of vitamin D follows a circuitous route in the body involving the skin, the liver, and the kidney. Fat cells present a problem to obese individuals who require larger doses of vitamin D supplements to achieve serum levels comparable to those of normal weight. Today a number of claims have been made that adequate levels of vitamin D are beneficial for the prevention of a range of health problems, from heart disease and cancer to diabetes. A large and growing number of epidemiological and observational studies show that adequate levels of vitamin D intake or synthesis reduce the risk of developing various cancers. While sunscreens help to protect against skin cancer and aging, they limit vitamin D production, causing a greater risk of other cancers.
Osteoporosis and vitamin D deficiency
Nadia Barghouthi, Jessica Perini in Endocrine Diseases in Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period, 2021
Although vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy is common, osteoporotic fractures in pregnancy and the postpartum period are rare. Fragility fractures may occur due to the demands on the maternal skeleton caused by increasing calcium requirement of the third-trimester fetus and suckling infant, superimposed on prepregnancy risks for skeletal compromise. Treatment involves symptomatic and nutritional support, along with resolution of any correctable underlying risk factors, with osteoporosis medications reserved for select postpartum cases. Maternal vitamin D requirements increase during pregnancy and lactation due to the role of vitamin D in meeting the calcium demand of the fetus and infant. Vitamin D also likely plays a key role in immune regulation in mother and child.
Vitamin D
Howerde E. Sauberlich in Laboratory Tests for the Assessment of Nutritional Status, 2018
Vitamin D is required by humans of all ages for maintenance of skeletal integrity and proper utilization of calcium. Without vitamin D fortification of foods, such as milk, the dietary intake of vitamin D is small. Vitamin D deficiency in infants should not occur in the United States where dairy products are routinely fortified with vitamin D, and prenatal supplements are prescribed that generally contain vitamin D. Measurements of serum alkaline phosphatase have been useful in the investigation of certain bone diseases and as an indirect measure of vitamin D status. Serum levels of calcium, phosphate, and alkaline phosphatase are not reliable indicators of vitamin D deficiency. Osteocalcin levels correlated with lower serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and the higher parathyroid homone levels. The concentration of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D in serum is normally very low and hence its measurement requires a very sensitive analytical procedure.
Examining the Vitamin D Status of Children With Solid Tumors
Published in Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 2020
Orsolya Juhász, Zsuzsanna Jakab, András Szabó, Miklós Garami
Objective: Our aims were to compare the vitamin D status of children with and without cancer and to examine the possible correlation between vitamin D levels in children with cancer before initiating treatment and prognosis. Method: We compared the data of 173 children with cancer with those of 569 children without cancer. Results: We measured a significant difference (p = 1.34E–08) between the vitamin D levels of children with cancer before treatment and children without cancer. There was a significant correlation between the initial vitamin D levels of children with cancer and the prognosis (p = 0.016, odds ratio = 51.33) at 5% significance. Conclusions: The average vitamin D level was 19.76% lower in the population with cancer compared with the average of the control group, and we found a correlation between the lower vitamin D levels in children with cancer and the adverse prognosis. We suggest that supplying vitamin D is reasonable and a prospective study of vitamin D in pediatric patients with cancer is recommended.
Severe 25-OH vitamin D deficiency as a reason for adverse pregnancy outcomes
Published in The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine, 2020
Burcu Kısa, Hatice Kansu-Celik, Tuba Candar, Esin Merve Erol Koc, Umit Yasemin Sert, Ozlem Uzunlar
Objective: There is a growing concern about the unfavorable effects of vitamin D deficiency in general population, including pregnant women, worldwide. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of severe maternal serum 25-OH vitamin D levels on adverse pregnancy outcomes in first trimester. Material and methods: Serum samples of 86 pregnant women in first trimester were collected prospectively from May 2017 to June 2017. Serum 25-OH vitamin D levels were analyzed by enzyme immunoassay method. Patients were classified according to maternal serum 25-OH vitamin D levels as group 1 (n = 34) 10 ng/ml. The two groups were compared in terms of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Results: The mean 25-OH vitamin D levels of the total 86 pregnant women were 13.83 (6–48) ng/ml. 40% of the pregnant women had low level of 25-OH vitamin D levels (
Postpartum evaluation of vitamin D among a sample of Jordanian women
Published in Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 2017
Khitam I. Mohammad, Manal Kassab, Insaf Shaban, Debra K. Creedy, Jenny Gamble
The aims of this study were to explore the vitamin D status among a sample of Jordanian postpartum women and identify factors associated with vitamin D deficiency. A total of 171 postpartum women agreed to participate. Participants completed a questionnaire on factors related to vitamin D deficiency and provided a blood sample to assess their plasma vitamin D (25(OH)D) levels using DIA source Immuno-Assays S.A. analysis. The majority of women (76%, n = 130) had vitamin D deficiency and 24% (n = 41) of participants had vitamin D insufficiency. Factors associated with vitamin D deficiency were younger age (
Related Knowledge Centers
- Ergocalciferol
- Rickets
- Skin
- Vitamin
- Cholecalciferol
- Cholecalciferols
- Receptors