1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25-OH-vitamin D3)

Reference values

D Effect of vitamin on health

Bone health and osteoporosis

Bone tissue undergoes constant renewal. With age, especially in menopausal women, bone resorption processes prevail over renewal processes. Over time, bone density decreases and osteoporosis develops, which is characterized by a decrease in bone mass, deterioration of the structure, tendency to fragility and an increase in the probability of fractures. Osteoporosis is the result of long-term calcium deficiency, however, vitamin D deficiency accelerates this process.

Bone health also depends on the condition of its surrounding muscles, which are involved in maintaining movement and balance. Vitamin D is also an important factor for the normal growth and development of muscle fibers. Vitamin D deficiency can cause muscle weakness, which in turn manifests itself in balance disorders and myopathic pain.

D The effect of vitamin on the elderly

Clinical studies have established that the concentration of calcium and vitamin D in both postmenopausal women and elderly men has a significant impact on their quality of life, although the effect of taking vitamin D as a supplement in osteoporosis has not been fully clinically confirmed.

Cardiovascular diseases

According to current clinical studies, vitamin D participates in the pressure regulation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, in the renewal of blood vessel wall cells, in inflammatory and fibrotic processes. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with vascular dysfunction, arteriosclerosis, left ventricular hypertrophy, and hyperlipidemia. This is why vitamin D deficiency is associated with cardiovascular disease risks.

Depression

Vitamin D is also involved in the functioning of the central nervous system. Its receptors have been found in both brain neurons and neuroglia, and it is believed to play a role in the pathophysiology of depression. According to research, there may be some association between low serum vitamin D levels and depression. However, clinical data do not confirm the effect of vitamin D supplementation in the treatment of depression.

multiple sclerosis

It is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) that damages the myelin sheath around the nerve fibers. Damage to myelin inhibits the flow of impulses, which manifests itself in the form of such disorders as: visual impairment, muscle weakness, spasticity, coordination disorders, tremors, sensory changes, cognitive (mental) changes, and others.

There are a number of epidemiological studies on the presence of multiple sclerosis and serum vitamin D deficiency. There is no clinical study that would confirm a direct link between vitamin D deficiency and multiple sclerosis, however, according to current data (prospective and randomized studies), the degree of disease progression and disability is higher when the concentration of vitamin D is low.

Type 2 diabetes

Vitamin D plays a role in glucose metabolism. It stimulates insulin secretion by acting on D receptors of pancreatic β cells and reduces peripheral insulin resistance by acting on the same D receptors in muscle and liver.

weight

Systematic studies have shown a relationship between excess body weight and vitamin D deficiency. However, studies have shown a relationship between vitamin D supplementation and the degree of weight loss

D Risks associated with excess vitamin

Too much vitamin D is toxic. It enhances the absorption of calcium from the gastrointestinal tract, therefore hypervitaminosis D causes hypercalcemia, hypercalciuria. Hypercalcemia causes calcification (clotting) of soft tissues, including coronary arteries, cardiac arrhythmias, kidney stone disease, dehydration, muscle weakness, and sometimes even death.

Long-term exposure to the sun cannot cause an excess of vitamin D, because the thermal activity of the sun in the skin produces other inactive forms in addition to vitamin D3, or D3 is converted into an inactive form.

Long-term, high-dose administration of calcium and vitamin D preparations may cause hypercalcemia-hypercalciuria and, in some cases, kidney stone disease.