Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 27, 2026

A Method of Trigonometric Modelling of Seasonal Variation Demonstrated with Multiple Sclerosis Relapse Data
Published on: December 9, 2015
Health effects related to low vitamin D concentrations: beyond bone metabolism
Luis A Moreno1, Jara Valtueña, Faustino Pérez-López
1GENUD (Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development) research group, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain. lmoreno@unizar.es
Background:
Vitamin D is essential for a vast number of physiologic processes, and thus adequate levels are necessary or advantageous for optimal health. During childhood and adolescence, an adequate vitamin D status is needed due to its important role in cell growth, skeletal structure, and development.
Aims:
To review the extraskeletal effects of vitamin D, focusing especially on children.
Methods:
Narrative review.
Results:
Low vitamin D concentrations seem to be significantly associated with all-cause mortality. Regular sunlight exposure and vitamin D supplementation in early childhood may offer protection against the development of type 1 diabetes. Epidemiological evidence supports the importance of adequate vitamin D levels for the prevention of a number of cancers, mainly breast and colorectal ones. There seems to be an inverse relation between 25(OH)D serum concentrations and cardiovascular diseases, some components of the metabolic syndrome, and physical fitness.
Conclusions:
Lifestyle and appropriate nutrition may prevent the long-term effect of hypovitaminosis D beyond mineral and bone metabolism.
Related Concept Videos
Vitamins
Role of Vitamins in Maintaining Bone Health
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is involved in the process of bone remodeling. Retinoic acid, the active metabolite of Vitamin A, has nuclear receptors in osteoblasts and osteoclasts, which are involved in bone remodeling.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 acts as a cofactor during the formation of osteoblast-related proteins, such as osteocalcin. Vitamin B12 plays a role...
Role of Skin in Vitamin D Synthesis
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).
Essential Minerals for Bone Health
Calcium and Phosphorus
Calcium is a critical component of bones, especially in the form of calcium phosphate and calcium carbonate. Since the body cannot make calcium, it must be obtained from the diet. However, calcium cannot be absorbed from the small intestine without...
Bone Disorders
Bone deposition is also affected by the levels of sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone that promote osteoblast activity and bone matrix synthesis. When the level of these hormones decreases due to aging, it causes a reduction in bone deposition. As a result, bone resorption by osteoclasts...
Skeleton and Calcium Homeostasis
