Nutrients

Editorial

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4 pages, 194 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

The Effect of Vitamin D on Metabolic Bone Disease and Chronic Diseases

by Salvatore Minisola and Daniela Merlotti

Nutrients 2023, 15(22), 4775; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15224775 - 14 Nov 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1445

Abstract

The history of vitamin D begins more than 100 years ago, with the initial documentation of rickets in industrialized cities of England [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effect of Vitamin D on Metabolic Bone Disease and Chronic Diseases)

Research

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10 pages, 5752 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Protective Effects of Vitamin D on Proteoglycans of Human Articular Chondrocytes through TGF-β1 Signaling

by Jian Guan, Zhuoxin Li, Guodong Niu, Siwei Li, Weishi Li, Chunli Song and Huijie Leng

Nutrients 2024, 16(17), 2991; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16172991 - 4 Sep 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1090

Abstract

The extracellular matrix of cartilage primarily constitutes of collagen and aggrecan. Cartilage degradation starts with aggrecan loss in osteoarthritis (OA). Vitamin D (VD) plays an essential role in several inflammation-related diseases and can protect the collagen in cartilage during OA. The present study [...] Read more.

The extracellular matrix of cartilage primarily constitutes of collagen and aggrecan. Cartilage degradation starts with aggrecan loss in osteoarthritis (OA). Vitamin D (VD) plays an essential role in several inflammation-related diseases and can protect the collagen in cartilage during OA. The present study focused on the role of VD in aggrecan turnover of human articular chondrocytes treated with tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and the possible mechanism. Treatment with different doses of VD and different periods of intervention with TNF-α and TGF-β1 receptor (TGFβR1) inhibitor SB525334 were investigated. The viability of human chondrocytes and extracellular secretion of TGF-β1 were measured. The expression of intracellular TGFβR1 and VD receptor was examined. Transcriptional and translational levels of aggrecan and the related metabolic factors were analyzed. The results showed that TNF-α markedly reduced the viability, TGFβR1 expressions and aggrecan levels of human chondrocytes, and increased disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs. The alterations were partially inhibited by VD treatment. Furthermore, the effects of VD were blocked by the TGFβR1 inhibitor SB525334 in TNF-α-treated cells. VD may prevent proteoglycan loss due to TNF-α via TGF-β1 signaling in human chondrocytes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effect of Vitamin D on Metabolic Bone Disease and Chronic Diseases)

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17 pages, 1518 KiB

Open AccessArticle

No Impairment in Bone Turnover or Executive Functions in Well-Treated Preschoolers with Phenylketonuria—A Pilot Study

by Beatrice Hanusch, Michael Falkenstein, Stefan Volkenstein, Stefan Dazert, Thomas Lücke and Kathrin Sinningen

Nutrients 2024, 16(13), 2072; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16132072 - 28 Jun 2024

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Abstract

Patients with phenylketonuria (PKU) present signs of impaired executive functioning and bone health in adolescence and adulthood, depending in part on the success of therapy in childhood. Therefore, nine children with well-treated PKU (4–7 years old, 22.2% ♀, seven with a full set [...] Read more.

Patients with phenylketonuria (PKU) present signs of impaired executive functioning and bone health in adolescence and adulthood, depending in part on the success of therapy in childhood. Therefore, nine children with well-treated PKU (4–7 years old, 22.2% ♀, seven with a full set of data, two included into partial analysis) and 18 age-, gender- and season-matched controls were analyzed for differences in executive functioning and bone parameters in plasma. Plasma was analyzed with commercially available kits. Cognitive performance in tonic alertness, visuo-spatial working memory, inhibitory control and task switching was assessed by a task battery presented on a touch screen. Regarding cognition, only the performance in incongruent conditions in inhibitory control was significantly better in children with PKU than in controls. No further differences in cognitive tests were detected. Furthermore, no significant difference in the bone turnover markers osteocalcin, undercarboxylated osteocalcin and CTX were detected between children with PKU and controls, while children with PKU had a significantly higher vitamin D concentration (69.44 ± 12.83 nmol/L vs. 41.87 ± 15.99 nmol/L, p < 0.001) and trended towards lower parathyroid hormone concentrations than controls (48.27 ± 15.16 pg/mL vs. 70.61 ± 30.53 pg/mL, p = 0.066). In this small group of well-treated preschoolers with PKU, no impairments in cognitive performance and bone turnover were observed, while vitamin D supplementation of amino acid supplements seems to be sufficient to achieve good vitamin D status. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effect of Vitamin D on Metabolic Bone Disease and Chronic Diseases)

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9 pages, 504 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Establishing the Prevalence of Osteomalacia in Arab Adolescents Using Biochemical Markers of Bone Health

by Nasser M. Al-Daghri, Sobhy Yakout, Shaun Sabico, Kaiser Wani, Syed Danish Hussain, Naji Aljohani, Suma Uday and Wolfgang Högler

Nutrients 2022, 14(24), 5354; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14245354 - 16 Dec 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3203

Abstract

Nutrition-acquired osteomalacia is a bone mineralization disorder associated with dietary calcium and/or solar vitamin D deficiency, risk factors considered common in the Middle Eastern region. Establishing less invasive, cheap, and widely available diagnostic markers for this underdiagnosed entity is essential, in particular for [...] Read more.

Nutrition-acquired osteomalacia is a bone mineralization disorder associated with dietary calcium and/or solar vitamin D deficiency, risk factors considered common in the Middle Eastern region. Establishing less invasive, cheap, and widely available diagnostic markers for this underdiagnosed entity is essential, in particular for screening in high-risk groups. This study assessed the prevalence of biochemical osteomalacia in Arab adolescents. In this cross-sectional study performed between September 2019 and March 2021, adolescents aged 12–17 years from 60 different secondary and preparatory year schools in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia were included. Anthropometrics and fasting blood samples were collected. Biochemical osteomalacia was defined as any two of the following four serum markers of hypomineralization, namely low 25 hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD < 30 nmol/L), high alkaline phosphatase (ALP), low calcium (Ca), and/or inorganic phosphorous (Pi). A total of 2938 Arab adolescents [1697 girls; mean age (years) 14.8 ± 1.8; 1241 boys; mean age 15.1 ± 1.6] were recruited. Vitamin D deficiency was noted in 56.2% (n = 953) of girls and 27.1% (n = 336) of boys (p < 0.001). The overall prevalence of biochemical osteomalacia was 10.0% (n = 295/2938) and was higher in girls than boys (14.7% vs. 3.6%, p < 0.001). The prevalence of low serum Ca and/or Pi was also higher in girls than in boys (24.2% vs. 12.5%, respectively, p < 0.001), as well as elevated ALP (5.1% vs. 1.5%, p < 0.001). Overall, girls were 4.6 times (95% CI 3.3–6.4) more likely to have biochemical osteomalacia than boys. Screening of apparently healthy Arab adolescents revealed a high prevalence of deranged mineralization markers suggestive of biochemical osteomalacia, which was significantly more common in girls than boys and was likely associated with Arab traditional clothing and diet. The proposed combination of typically altered mineralization markers for the diagnosis of osteomalacia is, at best, suggestive until further comparisons with established diagnostic tools (histological analysis of bone biopsies) are conducted. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effect of Vitamin D on Metabolic Bone Disease and Chronic Diseases)

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Review

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14 pages, 1730 KiB

Open AccessReview

Calcifediol: Mechanisms of Action

by Simone Donati, Gaia Palmini, Cinzia Aurilia, Irene Falsetti, Francesca Marini, Francesca Giusti, Teresa Iantomasi and Maria Luisa Brandi

Nutrients 2023, 15(20), 4409; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15204409 - 17 Oct 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3002

Abstract

Due to its essential role in calcium and phosphate homeostasis, the secosteroid hormone calcitriol has received growing attention over the last few years. Calcitriol, like other steroid hormones, may function through both genomic and non-genomic mechanisms. In the traditional function, the interaction between [...] Read more.

Due to its essential role in calcium and phosphate homeostasis, the secosteroid hormone calcitriol has received growing attention over the last few years. Calcitriol, like other steroid hormones, may function through both genomic and non-genomic mechanisms. In the traditional function, the interaction between the biologically active form of vitamin D and the vitamin D receptor (VDR) affects the transcription of thousands of genes by binding to repeated sequences present in their promoter region, named vitamin D-responsive elements (VDREs). Non-transcriptional effects, on the other hand, occur quickly and are unaffected by inhibitors of transcription and protein synthesis. Recently, calcifediol, the immediate precursor metabolite of calcitriol, has also been shown to bind to the VDR with weaker affinity than calcitriol, thus exerting gene-regulatory properties. Moreover, calcifediol may also trigger rapid non-genomic responses through its interaction with specific membrane vitamin D receptors. Membrane-associated VDR (mVDR) and protein disulfide isomerase family A member 3 (Pdia3) are the best-studied candidates for mediating these rapid responses to vitamin D metabolites. This paper provides an overview of the calcifediol-related mechanisms of action, which may help to better understand the vitamin D endocrine system and to identify new therapeutic targets that could be important for treating diseases closely associated with vitamin D deficiency. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effect of Vitamin D on Metabolic Bone Disease and Chronic Diseases)

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24 pages, 428 KiB

Open AccessReview

Definition, Assessment, and Management of Vitamin D Inadequacy: Suggestions, Recommendations, and Warnings from the Italian Society for Osteoporosis, Mineral Metabolism and Bone Diseases (SIOMMMS)

by Francesco Bertoldo, Luisella Cianferotti, Marco Di Monaco, Alberto Falchetti, Angelo Fassio, Davide Gatti, Luigi Gennari, Sandro Giannini, Giuseppe Girasole, Stefano Gonnelli, Nazzarena Malavolta, Salvatore Minisola, Mario Pedrazzoni, Domenico Rendina, Maurizio Rossini and Iacopo Chiodini

Nutrients 2022, 14(19), 4148; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14194148 - 6 Oct 2022

Cited by 50 | Viewed by 8656

Abstract

In the recent years, both the prescriptions of serum 25(OH)D levels assay, and vitamin D supplementation are constantly increasing, as well as the costs to be incurred relating to these specific aspects. As in many other countries, the risk of vitamin D deficiency [...] Read more.

In the recent years, both the prescriptions of serum 25(OH)D levels assay, and vitamin D supplementation are constantly increasing, as well as the costs to be incurred relating to these specific aspects. As in many other countries, the risk of vitamin D deficiency is particularly high in Italy, as recently confirmed by cohort studies in the general population as well as in patients with metabolic bone disorder. Results confirmed the North-South gradient of vitamin D levels described among European countries, despite the wide use of supplements. Although vitamin D supplementation is also recommended by the Italian Medicine Agency for patients at risk for fragility fracture or for initiating osteoporotic medication, the therapeutic gap for osteoporosis in Italy is very high. There is a consistent proportion of osteoporotic patients not receiving specific therapy for osteoporosis following a fragility fracture, with a poor adherence to the recommendations provided by national guidelines and position paper documents. The failure or inadequate supplementation with vitamin D in patients on antiresorptive or anabolic treatment for osteoporosis is thought to further amplify the problem and exposes patients to a high risk of re-fracture and mortality. Therefore, it is important that attention to its possible clinical consequences must be given. Thus, in light of new evidence from the literature, the SIOMMMS board felt the need to revise and update, by a GRADE/PICO system approach, its previous original recommendations about the definition, prevention, and treatment of vitamin D deficiency in adults, released in 2011. Several key points have been here addressed, such as the definition of the vitamin D status: normality values and optimal values; who are the subjects considered at risk of hypovitaminosis D; opportunity or not of performing the biochemical assessment of serum 25(OH)D levels in general population and in subjects at risk of hypovitaminosis D; the need or not to evaluate baseline serum 25(OH)D in candidate subjects for pharmacological treatment for osteoporosis; how and whether to supplement vitamin D subjects with hypovitaminosis D or candidates for pharmacological treatment with bone active agents, and the general population; how and whether to supplement vitamin D in chronic kidney disease and/or chronic liver diseases or under treatment with drugs interfering with hepatic metabolism; and finally, if vitamin D may have toxic effects in the subject in need of supplementation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effect of Vitamin D on Metabolic Bone Disease and Chronic Diseases)

Other

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2 pages, 181 KiB

Open AccessReply

Reply to Wimalawansa, S.J. Comment on “Bertoldo et al. Definition, Assessment, and Management of Vitamin D Inadequacy: Suggestions, Recommendations, and Warnings from the Italian Society for Osteoporosis, Mineral Metabolism and Bone Diseases (SIOMMMS). Nutrients 2022, 14, 4148”

by Francesco Bertoldo, Luisella Cianferotti, Marco Di Monaco, Alberto Falchetti, Angelo Fassio, Davide Gatti, Luigi Gennari, Sandro Giannini, Giuseppe Girasole, Stefano Gonnelli, Nazzarena Malavolta, Salvatore Minisola, Mario Pedrazzoni, Domenico Rendina, Maurizio Rossini and Iacopo Chiodini

Nutrients 2023, 15(3), 499; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15030499 - 18 Jan 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1836

Abstract

With regard to Dr. Wimalawansa’s comment [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effect of Vitamin D on Metabolic Bone Disease and Chronic Diseases)

3 pages, 204 KiB

Open AccessComment

Comment on Bertoldo et al. Definition, Assessment, and Management of Vitamin D Inadequacy: Suggestions, Recommendations, and Warnings from the Italian Society for Osteoporosis, Mineral Metabolism and Bone Diseases (SIOMMMS). Nutrients 2022, 14, 4148

by Sunil J. Wimalawansa

Nutrients 2023, 15(3), 498; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15030498 - 18 Jan 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1984

Abstract

We are responding to a report by Bertoldo et al. in October 2022 in Nutrients [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effect of Vitamin D on Metabolic Bone Disease and Chronic Diseases)

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