Description
Vitamin D, which is obtained mainly form the effect of
sunlight on the skin, is important for the regulation of
calcium metabolism Studies over the last two decades have
shown that all most cells in the body have receptors for the
active metabolite of vitamin D, 1,25 di-hydroxy vitamin
D and in addition many tissues have the enzyme 1-
hydroxylase which converts 25-hydroxy vitamin D to the
active metabolite. These observations suggest that vitamin
D has actions other than traditionally described in calcium
metabolism. Epidemiological studies have now shown
strong association of poor vitamin status with increased
risk of cancer, diabetes mellitus, infection and autoimmune
diseases. The evidence for such associations and the possible
mechanisms will be described in this article.
