Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of contributors
- Preface
- Part 1 Molecular and cellular environment of bone
- Part II Determinants of peak bone mass
- Part III Pathophysiology of the aging skeleton
- Part IV Clinical aspects of osteoporosis
- 17 Biochemical markers of bone turnover
- 18 Radiologic assessment of osteoporosis
- 19 Bone mineral density measurements
- 20 Hormone replacement therapy
- 21 Selective estrogen receptor modulators
- 22 Bisphosphonate therapy of osteoporosis
- 23 The action of fluoride on bone
- 24 PTH peptides as anabolic agents in bone
- 25 Vitamin D and vitamin D analogs as therapeutic agents
- Index
25 - Vitamin D and vitamin D analogs as therapeutic agents
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 June 2011
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of contributors
- Preface
- Part 1 Molecular and cellular environment of bone
- Part II Determinants of peak bone mass
- Part III Pathophysiology of the aging skeleton
- Part IV Clinical aspects of osteoporosis
- 17 Biochemical markers of bone turnover
- 18 Radiologic assessment of osteoporosis
- 19 Bone mineral density measurements
- 20 Hormone replacement therapy
- 21 Selective estrogen receptor modulators
- 22 Bisphosphonate therapy of osteoporosis
- 23 The action of fluoride on bone
- 24 PTH peptides as anabolic agents in bone
- 25 Vitamin D and vitamin D analogs as therapeutic agents
- Index
Summary
The concept of supplementary food substances made its appearance earlier in this century. It was then clearly established that both fat- and water-soluble substances can prevent deficiency disease (DeLuca, 1981; DeLuca & Schnoes, 1983). A fatsoluble substance with antirachitic activity termed ‘vitamin D’ was identified in cod liver oil. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that ultraviolet light could heal rickets (DeLuca, 1981; DeLuca & Schnoes, 1983) by inducing antirachitic activity in the sterol fraction of food (DeLuca, 1981; DeLuca & Schnoes, 1983). This pioneering work provided the means for the prevention and elimination of rickets as a major medical problem.
It is now recognized that the role of vitamin D is much broader than regulation of calcium metabolism as reflected by its effects on the proliferation and differentiation of a variety of cells, including normal, malignant and immune cells (Holick, 1995).
Classical actions of vitamin D
A deficiency of vitamin D results in one of two diseases: either rickets in children or osteomalacia in the adult. The major target tissues of vitamin D in the regulation of calcium metabolism are the intestine, bone and kidney. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is required for calcium mobilization from bone and for renal conservation of calcium, but vitamin D itself, stimulates intestinal calcium absorption.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- The Osteoporosis Primer , pp. 347 - 363Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2000