Vitamin D Receptors are important for health (technical)– May 2015

Pleiotropic Activities of Vitamin D Receptors – Adequate Activation for Multiple Health Outcomes

Clin Biochem Rev. 2015 May; 36(2): 53–61.
Jackson W Ryan,1 Paul H Anderson,1 and Howard A Morris 1,2

The vitamin D receptor (VDR), a nuclear transcription factor, elicits physiological regulation of gene transcription following binding of its ligand, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D. The major biological activities of vitamin D contribute to regulation of plasma calcium and phosphate homeostasis and bone remodeling, although recent evidence suggests that vitamin D, like other steroid hormone receptors, can regulate a diverse range of biological activities across many tissues. Such properties raise the notion that vitamin D deficiency may not only be detrimental to bone and muscular health, but also a risk factor for a number of adverse health outcomes including increased risk of cardiovascular disease, inflammation, immune system disorders and cancer. Advances in transcriptional research provide data not only on ligand-dependent activities of the VDR, but other activities of vitamin D extending to rapid modulation of intra-cellular signaling pathways as well as apparent ligand-independent interactions between the VDR and other transcriptionally active proteins.

In this review, we detail the chief molecular activities of the VDR in

• regulating gene transcription,
• intracellular signaling and
• actions of VDR via binding to transcriptional regulating proteins.

The breadth of biological activities attributed to vitamin D informs clinical biochemists and health care professionals on the implications of vitamin D deficiency for health.

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See also Vitamin D Life

• All items in category Vitamin D Receptor 384 items
• Health outcomes of vitamin D. Parts I (VDR) and II – 2014
• Resveratol helps vitamin D bind to cells – Dec 2014
• Some people need more vitamin D to get the same response – perhaps due to genes – Nov 2014
• Obesity strongly associated with vitamin D receptor in Saudia Arabia – July 2014
• Role of Vitamin D in human Diseases and Disorders – An Overview – DBP, VDR June 2014
• Melanoma risk 2X to 4X higher if Vitamin D receptor genes had morphed – March 2014
• Vitamin D Receptor role in Autoimmune Diseases and or cancers – Nov 2013