ROBERTA CAZZOLA*, BENVENUTO CESTARO
*Corresponding author
University of Milan, Graduate School of Nutrition Science, Dept. Biomedical and Clinical Sciences “L. Sacco”, Via G. B. Grassi, 74 – 20157 Milan, Italy

Abstract

Vitamin D is the precursor of the steroid hormones 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D (1,25(OH)2D). Most of the biological effects of 1,25(OH)2D derive from its interaction with vitamin D receptor (VDR), an intracellular transcription receptor. VDR regulates genes that influence bone mineral homeostasis, immunomodulation, insulin secretion, cell cycle and the detoxification of exogenous and endogenous compounds. The most investigated function of 1,25(OH)2D is the regulation of calcium and phosphate homeostasis and, in turn, the bone turnover rate in skeletal tissue. Recently, also the extra-osseous activity of 1.25 (OH) 2D has received increasing attention. Nevertheless, the lack of definition of optimal status and dosage of vitamin D limits the knowledge derived from available studies and highlights the need for further studies on these topics.

INTRODUCTION

Vitamin D is a group of fat-soluble seco-sterols of which the most common in foods are cholecalciferol or vitamin D3 and ergocalciferol or vitamin D2. Nutritionally, the two forms are similarly metabolized in humans and for a long time were considered equivalent, however, recent studies have revealed a different half-life of resulting metabolites (see below).
Cholecalciferol is produced in the skin of animals, including humans, when light energy is absorbed by a precursor molecule, the 7-dehydrocholesterol, however, because any excess previtamin D3 or vitamin D3 is destroyed by sunlight, excessive exposure to sunlight does not cause vitamin D3 intoxication (1). Ergocalciferol is the vegetable form of the vitamin, is obtained also from the UV irradiation of the yeast sterol ergosterol and is found naturally in sun-exposed mushrooms (2). Both vitamin D2 and vitamin D3 are used for food fortification and in vitamin D supplements (3). Vitamin D is thus not a true vitamin, because individuals with adequate exposure to sunlight do not require dietary supplementation (4), however, the use of sunscreen with a sun protection factor of 30 redu ...