Measurement of vitamin D status: background, clinical use, and methodologies.

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Hart GR, Furniss JL, Laurie D, Durham SK

Measurement of vitamin D status: background, clinical use, and methodologies.

Clin Lab. 2006;52(7-8):335-43.

PubMed ID

16955631 [ View in PubMed

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Abstract

Vitamin D and its metabolites are crucial to the overall health and well-being of humans and animals, having important functions in calcium homeostasis and bone metabolism. Exposure of the skin to sunlight may provide adequate levels of vitamin D; however, there are numerous reports of vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency. 25-hydroxyvitamin D (calcidiol, 25(OH)D) is regarded as the best measurement of overall vitamin D status. 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (calcitriol, 1,25(OH)2D) is the most biologically active vitamin D metabolite. 25(OH)D has higher affinity for vitamin D binding protein (VDBP) than 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D; whereas, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D has higher affinity for the vitamin D receptor (VDR) than 25-hydroxyvitamin D. HPLC and immunoassays allow the determination of vitamin D status, as measured by 25(OH)D, and 1,25(OH)2D. Recently it has been shown that the vitamin D requirements have been underestimated and that vitamin D2 is much less potent than vitamin D3. Future studies will determine the amount of vitamin D3 necessary for optimal health and well-being.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drug Enzymes

Drug	Enzyme	Kind	Organism	Pharmacological Action	Actions
Calcifediol	25-hydroxyvitamin D-1 alpha hydroxylase, mitochondrial	Protein	Humans	Unknown	Substrate	Details