Vitamin D and its metabolites in the pathogenesis and treatment of osteoporosis

Gennari, Luigi and Merlotti, Daniela and Martini, Giuseppe and Valleggi, Fabrizio and De Paola, Vincenzo and Nuti, Ranuccio (2006) Vitamin D and its metabolites in the pathogenesis and treatment of osteoporosis. Clinical cases in mineral and bone metabolism, 3 (1). pp. 23-34. ISSN 1971-3266

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Abstract

Vitamin D and calcium are essential for normal skeletal growth and for maintaining the mechanical and structural integrity of the skeleton. Reduced intake of calcium and vitamin D may be associated with reduced bone mass and osteoporosis while a chronic and severe vitamin D deficiency may lead to osteomalacia. 1,25(OH)2D (calcitriol) is the major active metabolite of vitamin D and promotes intestinal calcium absorption and the mineralization of bone matrix and reduces PTH secretion. Despite vitamin D and calcium are considered essential components of management strategies for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, many people do not have adequate vitamin D levels. Vitamin D insufficiency is particularly common in the elderly due to reduced exposition to sunlight, declined synthesis of vitamin D in the skin and impaired renal hydroxylation. Even though secure inferences from randomized controlled trials on the prevention of osteoporotic fracture with vitamin D or its metabolites are limited, these compounds have been demonstrated to be pharmacologically active, safe and cost-effective for the prevention of age-related bone loss. Their use should be encouraged expecially in elderly subjects or in condition of dietary deficiencies. Interestingly, health benefits of vitamin D and its analogues may go beyond osteoporosis, including prevention of cancer and autoimmune diseases and improvement of neuromuscular function.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Vitamin D, calcitriol, alfacalcidiol, osteoporosis, fracture
Subjects:	600 Tecnologia - Scienze applicate > 610 Medicina e salute (Classificare qui la tecnologia dei servizi medici) > 612 Fisiologia umana > 612.7 Sistema muscoloscheletrico, tegumento
Depositing User:	Danilo Dezzi
Date Deposited:	24 Jan 2014 13:58
Last Modified:	24 Jan 2014 13:58
URI:	http://eprints.bice.rm.cnr.it/id/eprint/4680

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