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Role of Skin in Vitamin D Synthesis01:23

Role of Skin in Vitamin D Synthesis

The skin plays a crucial role in the synthesis of vitamin D, a vital nutrient for various physiological processes in the body. Vitamin D is unique because it can be synthesized in the skin through a series of chemical reactions triggered by exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation from sunlight.
The solar UV B rays (290-315 nm) are absorbed by the skin, and 7-dehydrocholesterol (provitamin D3) photolyzes it to previtamin D3, which undergoes a rapid transformation to vitamin D3(cholecalciferol).
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Vitamin D and the brain.

Lauren R Harms1, Thomas H J Burne, Darryl W Eyles

  • 1Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia. l.harms@uq.edu.au

Best Practice & Research. Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism
|August 30, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Vitamin D is increasingly recognized as a neurosteroid, influencing brain development and function. This review explores its presence in the brain and potential roles in neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroendocrinology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Vitamin D, a steroid hormone, regulates numerous genes.
  • Other neurosteroids like thyroid hormones and glucocorticoids have defined roles in brain function.
  • Vitamin D's neurosteroid function is a recent area of investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the evidence for vitamin D's role as a neurosteroid.
  • To examine the presence of vitamin D and its receptor in the brain.
  • To discuss vitamin D's potential impact on brain development and neurological disorders.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and data collation.
  • Analysis of studies on vitamin D metabolites and receptors in the brain.
  • Synthesis of evidence regarding vitamin D's neurobiological effects.

Main Results:

  • Vitamin D metabolites and receptors are present in the brain.
  • Evidence suggests vitamin D modulates brain development.
  • Potential links between vitamin D and neurological/neuropsychiatric conditions are emerging.

Conclusions:

  • Vitamin D exhibits characteristics of a neurosteroid.
  • Further research is warranted to fully elucidate vitamin D's neurobiological functions.
  • Vitamin D may represent a novel therapeutic target for brain disorders.