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Biological Research For Nursing, Vol. 9, No. 2, 117-129 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/1099800407308057
© 2007 SAGE Publications

The Effects of Vitamin D Deficiency and Insufficiency on the Endocrine and Paracrine Systems

Patricia T. Alpert, DrPH, MSN, APRN, BC, FAANP

School of Nursing, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, patricia.alpert{at}unlv.edu

Ulfat Shaikh, MD, MPH, MS

School of Medicine, University of California, Davis

Individuals are capable of producing vitamin D with proper exposure to sunlight. However, several factors can interfere with the effectiveness of this process. Most sunscreens filter out UVB light, thus inhibiting vitamin D production. Individuals with more darkly pigmented skin have greater difficulty producing vitamin D because melanin acts as an effective natural sunscreen, requiring longer sun exposure to produce an adequate daily allotment of vitamin D. Additionally, solely breastfed infants whose mothers suffered from vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency when pregnant have smaller reserves of the nutrient and are at greater risk of developing nutritional rickets. Vitamin D deficiency leads to rickets, osteomalacia, and osteoporosis. Long-term vitamin D insufficiency can lead to paracrine effects such as type 1 diabetes, cancer, and multiple sclerosis. This article reviews the current literature on vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency and their relation to different disease states. Potential areas for research are discussed.

Key Words: vitamin D deficiency • nutritional rickets • osteomalacia • cholecalciferol • ergocalciferol • 25-hydroxyvitamin D • hypovitaminosis D


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