Vitamin D: Public Health Status Regional Gulf Region

Abstract

Background: Vitamin D and its metabolites have a vital role to play in human health and disease like cancer, Type 1 Diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, Osteoporosis, Osteomalacia, immune system, and the nervous system. In the nervous system vitamin D could influence the proliferation, differentiation of neurons also it plays an important role in neuro-trophism, neurotransmission and neuroplasticity. Further, in some cases it was reported that vitamin D could provide neuroprotection by reduction of oxidative stress, induction of synaptic structural proteins, and regulation of calcium-mediated neuronal excitotoxicity, neurotrophic factors and deficient neurotransmitters. Generally, there is hype and variations associated with the integrity of evidence on vitamins and their effect on health. Vitamin D deficiency continues to attract a renewed attention and an adequate maintenance of vitamin D levels can prevent and reduce the risk of many diseases as the active form acts at the cell nucleus (gene upregulation) and cell membrane (rapid response) in over 30 tissues and organs targeting over 200 genes. Vitamin D tends to exert endocrine actions on Kidneys, bone and intestine. Paracrine role in tissues which are under cytokine control which are able to locally metabolize vitamin D to its active form to modulate immune functions, cell proliferations and differentiations and hence maintenance of adequate levels of vitamin D has a significant impact for optimal health. Establishing what constitute vitamin D deficiency is currently replete with contradictory information. Objective: The present discourse aim is first to scrutinize and assess the literature on vitamin D function on the central nervous system (CNS). Another related aim of the present review is to highlight current data from countries with high exposure to the sun yet the people living in the region have been documented to have deficit in vitamin D. Results and conclusions: In this review, we provide a Gulf centric view on vitamin D status among all age groups including public health impact and policy recommendations for the region. The role or status of vitamin D in the various disease states, the benefits of vitamin D and how to obtain an adequate daily amount.