Vitamin D is a fat-soluble secosteroid hormone precursor, primarily synthesized in the skin upon exposure to ultraviolet B radiation, and is metabolically activated into the potent steroid hormone calcitriol (1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D). It is fundamentally essential for the maintenance of calcium and phosphate homeostasis, directly supporting optimal bone health and preventing deficiency diseases like osteomalacia. Beyond its classical skeletal function, it operates as a pleiotropic hormone, critically modulating immune function, regulating cellular proliferation, and influencing widespread endocrine signaling throughout the body. Clinically, maintaining adequate serum concentrations is recognized as vital for systemic health and well-being.
Origin
The discovery of Vitamin D occurred in the early 20th century, directly linked to the scientific search for a dietary factor capable of curing rickets, a debilitating bone-deforming disease. The term ‘Vitamin’ was initially applied because its deficiency caused a specific disease, but its modern classification as a ‘secosteroid hormone’ reflects its unique synthesis pathway, metabolic activation, and mechanism of action, which is functionally analogous to classic steroid hormones. The concept has evolved from a simple nutrient to a complex, systemic endocrine regulator.
Mechanism
Vitamin D’s mechanism is fundamentally hormonal, executed through the Vitamin D Receptor (VDR), a specific nuclear receptor expressed in nearly all tissues and cell types throughout the body. Once the active form,
Support bone health on anastrozole with a diet rich in calcium, vitamin D, and magnesium, combined with regular weight-bearing and resistance exercise.
Nutritional interventions provide the essential molecular building blocks and cofactors that support the synthesis, transport, and metabolic balance of hormones.
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