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Diseases

Vitamin D deficiency

OVERVIEW

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DIAGNOSIS

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  • Differential Diagnosis
  • Criteria
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TREATMENT

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  • Emerging Tx
  • Prevention

FOLLOW-UP

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REFERENCES

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PATIENT RESOURCES

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Highlights & Basics

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Key Highlights
  • Vitamin D deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency worldwide. Definitions regarding optimal serum concentrations vary according to the source used. However, there is broad clinical consensus that serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations <20 nanograms/mL are suboptimal for human health. Furthermore, many guidelines and experts recommend maintaining a serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration >30 nanograms/mL, particularly in older adults.

  • Main causes include sun avoidance, increased skin pigmentation, inadequate dietary and supplemental vitamin D intake, malabsorption syndromes, obesity, and use of certain drugs. Acquired and inherited disorders that either reduce or prevent the metabolism of 25-hydroxyvitamin D to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D also present with biochemical and skeletal abnormalities seen with vitamin D deficiency, but in a more severe form. 

  • Most patients are asymptomatic. Severe prolonged vitamin D deficiency causes decreased growth and rickets in children, and osteomalacia, osteopenia, and osteoporosis in adults.

  • In addition to the skeletal effects, it is now increasingly recognized that vitamin D deficiency is associated with an increased risk of many chronic diseases, including cancer, autoimmune diseases, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and hypertension, neurocognitive dysfunction, infectious diseases (including respiratory tract infections, tuberculosis, and COVID-19), and schizophrenia. Vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency has been associated with increased risk for morbidity and mortality associated with COVID-19.

  • Both vitamin D deficiency and vitamin D insufficiency are corrected by giving vitamin D2 or vitamin D3 in treatment doses followed by lifelong maintenance doses. Additional replacement with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D or one of its active analogs is necessary for those with disorders of vitamin D metabolism, including patients with chronic kidney disease.

Chemical structure of vitamin D
Chemical structure of vitamin D
From the collection of M.F. Holick, PhD, MD; used with permission

Quick Reference

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          Definition

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          content by BMJ Group
          Last updated

          Images

          • Production, metabolism, and biologic functions of vitamin D on calcium metabolism and bone health (D

            Production, metabolism, and biologic functions of vitamin D on calcium metabolism and bone health (D represents D2 and D3). Abbreviations: CaBP, calbindin; ECaC, epithelial calcium channel; FGF-23, fibroblast growth factor 23; preD3, previtamin D3; RANKL, receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand; 1,25(OH)2D, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D; 1-OHase, 25-hydroxyvitamin-1-hydroxylase; 7-DHC, 7-dehydrocholesterol; 24-OHase, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-24-hydroxylase; 25-OHase, vitamin D-25-hydroxylase; 25(OH)D, 25-hydroxyvitamin D

          • Chemical structure of vitamin D

            Chemical structure of vitamin D

          • Differential effects of various disorders of calcium, phosphate, bone, and vitamin D metabolism on s

            Differential effects of various disorders of calcium, phosphate, bone, and vitamin D metabolism on serum levels of calcium, phosphate, and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D. Abbreviations: ADHR, autosomal-dominant hypophosphatemic rickets; FGF-23, fibroblast growth factor 23; HRBP, heterologous ribonuclear binding protein; VDR, vitamin D-resistant; XLHR, X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets, TIO, tumor-induced osteomalacia; 1-OHase, 25-hydroxyvitamin-1-hydroxylase

          • Bone biopsy of trabecular bone demonstrating (A) increased osteoclastic activity due to secondary hy

            Bone biopsy of trabecular bone demonstrating (A) increased osteoclastic activity due to secondary hyperparathyroidism; (B) normal; and (C) wide osteoid seams (light-pink area), which are classic for osteomalacia

          • Extrarenal production of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D to modulate immune function, cell growth, and insul

            Extrarenal production of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D to modulate immune function, cell growth, and insulin production. Abbreviations: AB, activated B lymphocyte; AT, activated T lymphocyte; BS, blood sugar; CD, cathelicidin; LPS, lipopolysaccharide; TLR, toll-like receptor; VDR-RXR, vitamin D receptor-retinoid X receptor; 1,25(OH)2D, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D; 1-OHase, 25-hydroxyvitamin-1-hydroxylase; 24-OHase, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-24-hydroxylase; 25(OH)D, 25-hydroxyvitamin D

          • Schematic representation of paracrine and intracrine function of vitamin D and its metabolites and a

            Schematic representation of paracrine and intracrine function of vitamin D and its metabolites and actions of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D on the innate and adaptive immune systems. Abbreviation: 1,25(OH)2D: 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D; 25(OH)D: 25-hydroxyvitamin D, IFN-Ƴ: interferon- Ƴ; IL: interleukin; MHC: membrane histocompatibility complex, TH1: T helper 1; TH2: T helper 2; TH17: T helper 17; Treg: regulatory T cell, TNF-alpha: Tumor necrosis factor- alpha; TLR2: toll-like receptor 2; TLR4: toll-like receptor 4

          • Sources of vitamin D

            Sources of vitamin D

          • Inward or outward bowing of the legs is a typical sign of classic rickets

            Inward or outward bowing of the legs is a typical sign of classic rickets

          • X-rays of a wrist from a child with vitamin D-deficiency rickets before (left panel) and after (righ

            X-rays of a wrist from a child with vitamin D-deficiency rickets before (left panel) and after (right panel) treatment with vitamin D

          • Radiograph of the femoral shaft in a patient with osteomalacia demonstrating a "pseudofracture" (als

            Radiograph of the femoral shaft in a patient with osteomalacia demonstrating a "pseudofracture" (also known as Looser's zone) on the medial aspect of the mid-femoral shaft

          Citations

            Key Articles

            • Demay MB, Pittas AG, Bikle DD, et al. Vitamin D for the prevention of disease: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2024 Jul 12;109(8):1907-47.[Abstract][Full Text]

            • Chanchlani R, Nemer P, Sinha R, et al. An overview of rickets in children. Kidney Int Rep. 2020 Jul;5(7):980-90.[Abstract][Full Text]

            • US Preventive Services Task Force, Krist AH, Davidson KW, et al. Screening for vitamin D deficiency in adults: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. JAMA. 2021 Apr 13;325(14):1436-42.[Abstract][Full Text]

            • Munns CF, Shaw N, Kiely M, et al. Global consensus recommendations on prevention and management of nutritional rickets. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2016 Feb;101(2):394-415.[Abstract][Full Text]

            Referenced Articles

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            • 2. Fuleihan Gel-H, Bouillon R, Clarke B, et al. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels: variability, knowledge gaps, and the concept of a desirable range. J Bone Miner Res. 2015 Jul;30(7):1119-33.[Abstract][Full Text]

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            • 5. Marcinowska-Suchowierska E, Kupisz-Urbańska M, Łukaszkiewicz J, et al. Vitamin D toxicity - a clinical perspective. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2018;9:550.[Abstract][Full Text]

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            • 8. Jan de Beur SM, Minisola S, Xia WB, et al. Global guidance for the recognition, diagnosis, and management of tumor-induced osteomalacia. J Intern Med. 2023 Mar;293(3):309-28.[Abstract][Full Text]

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            • 65. Williamson A, Martineau AR, Sheikh A, et al. Vitamin D for the management of asthma. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2023 Feb 6;2(2):CD011511.[Abstract][Full Text]

            • 66. Xiang F, Lucas R, de Gruijl F, et al. A systematic review of the influence of skin pigmentation on changes in the concentrations of vitamin D and 25-hydroxyvitamin D in plasma/serum following experimental UV irradiation. Photochem Photobiol Sci. 2015 Dec;14(12):2138-46.[Abstract]

            • 67. Giustina A, Bouillon R, Dawson-Hughes B, et al. Vitamin D in the older population: a consensus statement. Endocrine. 2023 Jan;79(1):31-44.[Abstract][Full Text]

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            • 70. Fort P, Salas AA, Nicola T, et al. A comparison of 3 vitamin D dosing regimens in extremely preterm infants: a randomized controlled trial. J Pediatr. 2016 Jul;174:132-8;e1.[Abstract][Full Text]

            • 71. Giustina A, di Filippo L, Allora A, et al. Vitamin D and malabsorptive gastrointestinal conditions: A bidirectional relationship? Rev Endocr Metab Disord. 2023 Apr;24(2):121-38.[Abstract][Full Text]

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            • 75. Ekwaru JP, Zwicker JD, Holick MF, et al. The importance of body weight for the dose response relationship of oral vitamin D supplementation and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D in healthy volunteers. PLoS One. 2014 Nov 5;9(11):e111265.[Abstract][Full Text]

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