Vitamin D: Musculoskeletal health.

Perhaps the role of Vitamin D supplementation has been most exhaustively studied in calcium absorption, skeletal wellbeing, muscular potency, balance and risk of falling. Nonetheless, new data has emerged and the recent research on sarcopenia makes the topic increasingly interesting. Given the socioeconomic burden of the musculoskeletal consequences of hypovitaminosis D it is vital to keep abreast with the latest literature in the field. The recommended Vitamin D supplementation dose should suffice to increase the serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D level to 30 ng/mL (75 nmol/L) and this level should be optimally maintained with a maintenance dose, particularly for those diagnosed with osteoporosis.

Analysis of vitamin D3 metabolites in survivors of infantile idiopathic hypercalcemia caused by CYP24A1 mutation or SLC34A1 mutation.

Infantile hypercalcemia (IH), is a rare disorder caused by CYP24A1 or SLC34A1 variants which lead to disturbed catabolism of 25(OH)D3 and 125(OH)2D3 or increased generation of 125(OH)2D3. AIM OF STUDY: To assess the status of 2425(OH)2D3 and other markers of vitamin D in IH survivors, in whom variants of CYP24A1 or SLC34A1 gene were found and to compare these unique biochemical features with those obtained from subjects who were diagnosed in the first year of life with hypercalcemia, elevated 25(OH)D3 and low PTH but in whom neither CYP24A1 nor SLC34A1 variant was found. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 16 IH survivors in whom CYP24A1 (n = 13) or SLC34A1 (n = 3) variants were found and 41 subjects in whom hypercalcemia was diagnosed in the first year of life but in whom CYP24A1 or SLC34A1 variants were not found were included in the study. 25(OH)D3, 3-epi-25(OH)D3, 25(OH)D2, 2425(OH)2D3 were assessed by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. 125(OH)2D3 concentrations were assessed by chemiluminescence. RESULTS: Subjects with CYP24A1 variants, despite normal 25(OH)D3 levels, had higher 25(OH)D3/2425(OH)2D3 ratio values (487; 265-1073 ng/mL) when compared to subjects with SLC34A1 variants (16; 16-23 ng/mL) and with subjects in whom CYP24A1 or SLC34A1 were not found (56; 9-56 ng/mL) (p = 0.00003). Separation of interfering metabolite further increased differences between subjects with and without CYP24A1 mutation. CONCLUSIONS: Survivors of IH with CYP24A1 variant, despite being normocalcemic, still presented extremely high 25(OH)D3/2425(OH)2D3 ratio values. Separation of interfering compound further increased differences between subjects with CYP24A1 mutation and without this mutation.

Vitamin D supplementation guidelines.

Research carried out during the past two-decades extended the understanding of actions of vitamin D, from regulating calcium and phosphate absorption and bone metabolism to many pleiotropic actions in organs and tissues in the body. Most observational and ecological studies report association of higher serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations with improved outcomes for several chronic, communicable and non-communicable diseases. Consequently, numerous agencies and scientific organizations have developed recommendations for vitamin D supplementation and guidance on optimal serum 25(OH)D concentrations. The bone-centric guidelines recommend a target 25(OH)D concentration of 20ng/mL (50nmol/L), and age-dependent daily vitamin D doses of 400-800IU. The guidelines focused on pleiotropic effects of vitamin D recommend a target 25(OH)D concentration of 30ng/mL (75nmol/L), and age-, body weight-, disease-status, and ethnicity dependent vitamin D doses ranging between 400 and 2000IU/day. The wise and balanced choice of the recommendations to follow depends on one's individual health outcome concerns, age, body weight, latitude of residence, dietary and cultural habits, making the regional or nationwide guidelines more applicable in clinical practice. While natural sources of vitamin D can raise 25(OH)D concentrations, relative to dietary preferences and latitude of residence, in the context of general population, these sources are regarded ineffective to maintain the year-round 25(OH)D concentrations in the range of 30-50ng/mL (75-125nmol/L). Vitamin D self-administration related adverse effects, such as hypercalcemia and hypercalciuria are rare, and usually result from taking extremely high doses of vitamin D for a prolonged time.