How to Cite
Abstract
Vitamin D is a steroid hormone responsible for regulating calcium and phosphorus metabolism. Cutaneous synthesis of vitamin D3 requires exposure to UVB light, with a wavelength of 290-315 nm. Physiologically, it is expected that humans generate more than 80% of their vitamin D needs through the sun's ultraviolet rays, since their dietary intake is minimal.
In recent decades there have been major behavioral changes and more and more people work indoors and avoid the sun. Consequently, clinically relevant vitamin D deficiency has become a global pandemic that increases the burden of acute and chronic diseases and health care costs, making it a major global public health problem in all age groups. It is estimated that one billion people worldwide are vitamin D deficient or insufficient. In addition, vitamin D deficiency is the most common cause of rickets and osteomalacia, and can exacerbate osteoporosis. It is also associated with chronic musculoskeletal pain, muscle weakness and an increased risk of falls.
References
Domínguez LJ, Farruggia M, Veronese N, Barbagallo M. Vitamin D sources, metabolism, and deficiency: available compounds and guidelines for its treatment. Metabolites. 2021;11(4):255. https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo11040255
Holick MF. High prevalence of vitamin D inadequacy and implications for health. Mayo Clin Proc. 2006;81(3):353-73. https://doi.org/10.4065/81.3.353
Janousek J, Pilarová V, Macáková K, Nomura A, Veiga-Matos J, da Silva DD, et al. Vitamin D: sources, physiological role, biokinetics, deficiency, therapeutic use, toxicity, and overview of analytical methods for detection of vitamin D and its metabolites. Crit Rev Clin Lab Sci. 2022;59(8):517-54. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408363.2022.2070595
Neville JJ, Palmieri T, Young AR. Physical determinants of vitamin D photosynthesis: a review. JBMR Plus. 2021;5(1):e10460. https://doi.org/10.1002/jbm4.10460
Wimalawansa SJ. Physiology of vitamin D-focusing on disease prevention. Nutrients. 2024;16(11):1666. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16111666
Lips P. Vitamin D deficiency and secondary hyperparathyroidism in the elderly: consequences for bone loss and fractures and therapeutic implications. Endocr Rev. 2001;22(4):477-501. https://doi.org/10.1210/edrv.22.4.0437
Kota S, Jammula S, Kota S, Meher L, Modi K. Correlation of vitamin D, bone mineral density and parathyroid hormone levels in adults with low bone density. Indian J Orthop. 2013;47(4):402-7. https://doi.org/10.4103/0019-5413.114932
Rosen CJ, Adams JS, Bikle DD, Black DM, Demay MB, Manson JE, et al. The nonskeletal effects of vitamin D: an Endocrine Society scientific statement. Endocr Rev. 2012;33(3):456-92. https://doi.org/10.1210/er.2012-1000
Charoenngam N, Shirvani A, Holick MF. Vitamin D for skeletal and non-skeletal health: what we should know. J Clin Orthop Trauma. 2019;10(6):1082-93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcot.2019.07.004
Vargas-Uricoechea H, Palacios-Bayona KL, Castellanos Pinedo A, Builes-Barrera CA, Restrepo Erazo K, Medina Orjuela A, et al. Consenso colombiano de vitamina D: recomendaciones de un panel de expertos de la Asociación Colombiana de Endocrinología, Diabetes y Metabolismo (ACE), 2025. Rev Colomb Endocrinol Diabet Metab. 2025;12(1):e937. https://doi.org/10.53853/encr.12.1.937
Holick MF, Binkley NC, Bischoff-Ferrari HA, Gordon CM, Hanley DA, Heaney RP, et al. Evaluation, treatment, and prevention of vitamin D deficiency: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011;96(7):1911-30. https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2011-0385
Gómez O, Campusano C, Cerdas-P S, Mendoza B, Páez-Talero A, de la Peña-Rodríguez MP, et al. Clinical Practice Guidelines of the Latin American Federation of Endocrinology for the use of vitamin D in the maintenance of bone health: recommendations for the Latin American context. Arch Osteoporos. 2024;19(1):46. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11657-024-01398-z
Umar M, Sastry KS, Chouchane AI. Role of vitamin D beyond the skeletal function: a review of the molecular and clinical studies. Int J Mol Sci. 2018;19(6):1618. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19061618
Wimalawansa SJ. Vitamin D deficiency: effects on oxidative stress, epigenetics, gene regulation, and aging. Biology. 2019;8(2):30. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology8020030
Holick MF. Vitamin D deficiency. N Engl J Med. 2007;357(3):266-81. https://doi.org/10.1056/nejmra070553
Manson JE, Cook NR, Lee IM, Christen W, Bassuk SS, Mora S, et al. Vitamin D supplements and prevention of cancer and cardiovascular disease. N Engl J Med. 2019;380(1):33-44. https://doi.org/10.1056/nejmoa1809944
Wimalawansa SJ. Global epidemic of coronavirus-COVID-19: what can we do to minimize risks? Eur J Biomed. 2020;7:432-8.
Wimalawansa SJ. COVID is predicted to be a pandemic that could be stopped by high doses of vitamin D - Feb 2020. Eur J Biomed Pharm Sci. 2020;7(3):432-8. https://vitamindwiki.com/COVID+predicted+to+be+a+pandemic+that+could+be+stopped+by+high+dose+vitamin+D+-+Feb+2020
Wimalawansa SJ. Decoding the paradox: Understanding elevated hospitalization and reduced mortality in SARS-CoV-2 variants. Int J Front Sci Technol Res. 2024;6(2):1-20. https://doi.org/10.53294/ijfstr.2024.6.2.0031
Liu G, Hong T, Yang J. A single large dose of vitamin D could be used as a means of coronavirus disease 2019 prevention and treatment. Drug Des Devel Ther. 2020;14: 3429-34. https://doi.org/10.2147/dddt.s271754
Argano C, Mirarchi L, Amodeo S, Orlando V, Torres A, Corrao S. The role of vitamin D and its molecular bases in insulin resistance, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease: state of the art. Int J Mol Sci. 2023;24(20):15485. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms242015485
Song S, Yuan Y, Wu X, Zhang D, Qi Q, Wang H, et al. Additive effects of obesity and vitamin D insufficiency on all-cause and cause-specific mortality. Front. Nutr. 2022;9:999489. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2022.999489
Malihi Z, Wu Z, Mm Lawes C, Scragg R. Noncalcemic adverse effects and withdrawals in randomized controlled trials of long-term vitamin D2 or D3 supplementation: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutr Rev. 2017;75(12):1007-34. https://doi.org/10.1093/nutrit/nux059
Marcinowska-Suchowierska E, Kupisz-Urbanska M, Lukaszkiewicz J, Pludowski P, Jones G. Vitamin D toxicity-a clinical perspective. Front Endocrinol. 2018;9:550. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2018.00550
McCullough PJ, Lehrer DS, Amend J. Daily oral dosing of vitamin D3 using 5000 TO 50,000 international units a day in long-term hospitalized patients: Insights from a seven year experience. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2019;189:228-39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsbmb.2018.12.010
Binkley N, Lewiecki EM. Vitamin D and common sense. J Clin Densitom. 2011;14(2):95-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jocd.2011.03.006
Mavar M, Sori? T, Bagari? E, Sari? A, Matek Sari? M. The power of vitamin D: is the future in precision nutrition through personalized supplementation plans? Nutrients. 2024;16(8):1176. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16081176
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2025 Revista Colombiana de Endocrinología, Diabetes & Metabolismo