The Importance of Vitamin D in Clinical Practice

VITAMIN D IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF MANY HUMAN PHYSIOLOGIC SYSTEMS. For years, the role of vitamin D in the form of cod-liver oil and sunlight has been known to prevent rickets, and it is widely accepted that vitamin D is a contributing cause to osteoporosis. New research has shown that vitamin D plays a role in nearly all organs and tissues in the body, through various endocrine and autocrine processes. Common disease processes such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, depression, chronic pain, cancers, and autoimmune disorders are affected by an individual’s vitamin D status. It is estimated that more than one billion people worldwide may suffer from vitamin D deficiency. Because so many individuals are deficient in vitamin D, it is important for clinicians to routinely measure serum levels of vitamin D, and replace this important vitamin with dietary supplements when oral intake and sunlight exposure are inadequate.