Vitamin D Deficiency Research Articles

Vitamin D levels in the pre- and post-COVID-19 pandemic periods in pediatric patients with chronic kidney disease.

Vitamin D (VD) deficiency is common in children with chronic kidney disease (CKD) because of multiple factors. During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, it increased because of medicine shortage and no enough medical service for patients with non-COVID-19 diseases. To analyze the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic-related lockdown on the serum levels and status of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25-[OH]D) in children with CKD. This retrospective study included patients (6-18 years old) who were diagnosed with CKD stage 2-5 and routinely measured for serum VD levels between May 2019 and December 2022. Serum 25-(OH)D levels were measured before, during, and after the pandemic (2019, 2020-2021, and 2022, respectively). The daily dose of cholecalciferol supplementation and the readjustment (if required) were recorded. This study included 171 patients (median age: 12 years). Before the pandemic, the median serum VD level was 25.0 ng/mL (19.3% VD deficiency). Then, VD supplementation was adjusted to 400-1,200 UI daily in 98.8% (n = 169) of patients. During the pandemic, the median VD level decreased to 22.5 ng/mL (43.3% VD deficiency). Hence, the supplementation was readjusted, and after the pandemic, the level was 28.7 ng/mL (18.7% VD deficiency), indicating a statistically significant increase in serum VD levels from the prepandemic period (p = 0.007). Decreased serum VD levels and increased VD deficiency frequency were observed in patients with CKD during the COVID-19 but improved after readjustment of supplementation.

Association of Vitamin-D insufficiency and infertility: A Literature Review

Vitamin D receptors are present in both male and female central neural system and reproductive system hence Vitamin D sufficiency or insufficiency affects fertility. The present review aims to determine a correlation between Vitamin D insufficiency and infertility. Regarding female infertility, it was found that Vitamin D insufficiency is associated with increased issues during conception and higher miscarriage rate. Furthermore, Vitamin D insufficiency is associated with lower FSH levels affecting follicle formation, maturation and ovulation. Regarding male infertility, Vitamin D and its Receptor have been identified in the prostate, seminal vesicles, epididymis, germ cells, spermatogonia, spermatocytes and Sertoli cells. The prevalence of Vitamin D insufficiency is higher among men with lower sperm count and lower motility. However, the relation between Vitamin D and testosterone levels remain unclear. The present review stresses the effects of Vitamin D insufficiency in both male and female infertility.

Seven-Month Vitamin D Deficiency Inhibits Gastric Epithelial Cell Proliferation, Stimulates Acid Secretion, and Differentially Alters Cell Lineages in the Gastric Glands.

Vitamin D (VD) deficiency can result from insufficiency of either light exposure or VD intake. We investigated the biological effects of VD deficiency for 7 months on the mouse gastric glands. Varying degrees of VD deficiency were induced in C57BL/6 mice by keeping them on standard diet with constant-dark conditions (SDD) or VD deficient diet with constant-dark conditions (VDD). Samples of serum, glandular stomach, and gastric contents were collected for LCMS/MS, RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, and acid content measurements. Both SDD and VDD mice had a significant decline in 25OHVD metabolite, gastric epithelial cell proliferation, and mucin 6 gene expression. These effects were enhanced with the severity of VD deficiency from SDD to VDD. Besides and compared to the control group, SDD mice only displayed a significant increase in the number of zymogenic cells (p ≤ 0.0001) and high expression of the adiponectin (p ≤ 0.05), gastrin (p ≤ 0.0001), mucin 5AC (*** p ≤ 0.001) and the Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A (**** p ≤ 0.0001). These phenotypes were unique to SDD gastric samples and not seen in the VDD or control groups. This study suggests that the body reacts differently to diverse VD deficiency sources, light or diet.

Prevalence and predictors of vitamin D deficiency among hospital staff in tertiary care center: a cross sectional study

Background: Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) is prevalent across all age groups in general population not sparing the health care workers. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and risk factors of VDD among the hospital workers of tertiary care center in Kashmir valley. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 216 apparently healthy subjects were screened for VDD from three groups, group A- minimal sunlight exposure (office employees), group B- moderate sunlight exposure (nursing students) and group C- abundant sunlight exposure (gardeners). Serum calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH)D], PTH levels and urine calcium/creatinine was assessed in all subjects. Dietary assessment of vitamin D (VD) and calcium intake was done using three days dietary recall. The percent body surface area (BSA) exposed to sunshine was estimated by applying the Wallace rule of nine. Results: Serum 25(OH)D level was found to be lower in group A (17.29±10.87) as compare to group B (21.78±16.37) and group C (26.40±15.59). Prevalence of VDD was 71.6%, 70.6% and 50% in group A, group B and group C respectively. VDD was more prevalent in females and risk increased with age and BMI, decreased with duration of daily sunlight exposure, percentage BSA and dietary VD intake. Conclusions: Burden of VDD is high among hospital workers despite their direct contact with healthcare. Strategies should be made to screen them regularly and supplementation of VD should be provided to effectively counteract VDD.

Vascular Aging and Telomere Biology: The Role of Vitamin D3 Deficiency

Rationale. The impact of vitamin D3 deficiency on the risk and prognosis of numerous chronic diseases has been actively studied for years. Recent research has demonstrated that vitamin D is not merely involved in the control of calcium-phosphorus metabolism, but can also enhance insulin sensitivity, decrease the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), obesity and autoimmune destruction of pancreatic β-cells. The influence of vitamin D3 on some cardiometabolic risk factors and cardiovascular disease (CVD) was described. Thus studying the role of vitamin D3 in the development of arteries wall changes in T2DM and IR, and their relationship with biology telomere seems to be quite relevant.Aim. To study the relationship between vitamin D3 deficiency and vascular wall condition, telomere biology in patients with varying insulin sensitivity.Materials and methods. The cross-sectional study involved 305 patients (106 men and 199 women) aged 51.5 ± 13.3 y.o. All patients underwent laboratory and instrumental research methods, study of morphofunctional state vascular wall. Telomere length and telomerase activity were determined using polymerase chain reaction.Results. Totally, 18 patients out of 248 (7.2%) were found to have normal vitamin D3 level (more than 30 ng/ml). In 92.8% of those studied Vitamin D3 insufficiency or deficiency was determined. As increase in vitamin D3 deficiency, an increase in fasting glucose was noted, HbA1c and its elevated concentration, HOMA index, glucose disorders up to T2DM, higher vascular stiffness. Telomerase activity in group with vitamin D3 deficiency was significantly lower than in groups with vitamin D3 insufficiency and normal content. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that they are independently associated with vitamin D3 in T2DM (B=1.43; st. OR. 0.106; p=0.0001), vascular stiffness (B=0.075; st. OR. 2.11; p=0.017), fasting glucose (B=0.169; st. OR 1.62; p=0.004), HbA1c level (B=0.062; st. OR. 7.4; p=0.001) and the presence of “short” telomeres (B=0.09; st. OR. 1.154; p=0.001). ROC analysis revealed relationships between BMI (0.634, p=0.001), duration of T2DM (0.651, p=0.022), high intima media thickness (0.614, p=0.004), vascular stiffness (0.605, p<0.001), HbA1c (0.588, p=0.022) and presence of vitamin D3 deficiency.Conclusion. In persons with varying insulin sensitivity — from insulin resistance up T2DM is advisable assess vitamin D3 levels for effective prevention of arterial wall changes in addition to traditional CVD risk factors. Availability Vitamin D3 deficiency requires active prevention metabolic disorders and vascular changes.

1,25(OH)2D3 alleviates oxidative stress and inflammation through up-regulating HMGCS2 in DSS-induced colitis

BackgroundPrevious study found that supplements with active vitamin D3 alleviated experimental colitis. The objective of this study was to investigate the possible role of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA synthase 2 (HMGCS2), a ketone synthase, on vitamin D3 protecting against experimental colitis. MethodsHMGCS2 and vitamin D receptor (VDR) were measured in UC patients. The effects of vitamin D deficiency (VDD) and exogenous 1,25(OH)2D3 supplementation on experimental colitis were investigated in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-treated mice. DSS-induced oxidative stress and inflammation were analyzed in HT-29 cells. HMGCS2 was detected in 1,25(OH)2D3-pretreated HT-29 cells and mouse intestines. HMGCS2 was silenced to investigate the role of HMGCS2 in 1,25(OH)2D3 protecting against experimental colitis. ResultsIntestinal HMGCS2 downregulation was positively correlated with VDR reduction in UC patients. The in vivo experiments showed that VDD exacerbated DSS-induced colitis. By contrast, 1,25(OH)2D3 supplementation ameliorated DSS-induced colon damage, oxidative stress and inflammation. HMGCS2 was up-regulated after 1,25(OH)2D3 supplementation both in vivo and in vitro. Transfection with HMGCS2-siRNA inhibited antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of 1,25(OH)2D3 in DSS-treated HT-29 cells. Conclusion1,25(OH)2D3 supplementation up-regulates HMGCS2, which is responsible for 1,25(OH)2D3-mediated protection against oxidative stress and inflammation in DSS-induced colitis. These findings provide a potential therapeutic strategy for alleviating colitis-associated oxidative stress and inflammation.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms in vitamin D binding protein and 25-hydroxylase genes affect vitamin D levels in adolescents of Arab ethnicity in Kuwait.

Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) is widespread in the Arab world despite ample sunshine throughout the year. In our previous study, lifestyle and socio-demographic factors could explain only 45% of variability in vitamin D levels in Kuwaiti adolescents, suggesting that genetics might contribute to VDD in this region. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the 25-hydroxylase (CYP2R1) and the GC globulin (GC) genes have been reported to affect vitamin D levels in various ethnic groups in adults. In this study, we investigated the association of two SNPs from GC (rs4588 and rs7041) and three SNPs from CYP2R1 (rs10741657, rs11023374 and rs12794714) with vitamin D levels and VDD in a nationally representative sample of adolescents of Arab ethnicity from Kuwait. Multivariable linear regression, corrected for age, sex, parental education, governorate, body mass index, and exposure to sun, demonstrated that each of the 5 study variants showed significant associations with plasma 25(OH)D levels in one or more of the additive, recessive, and dominant genetic models - the rs10741657 under all the three models, rs12794714 under both the additive and recessive models, rs7041 under the recessive model; and rs4588 and rs11023374 under the dominant model. Minor alleles at rs4588 (T), rs7041 (A), rs11023374 (C), and rs12794714 (A) led to a decrease in plasma 25(OH)D levels - rs4588:[β (95%CI) = -4.522 (-8.66,-0.38); p=0.033]; rs7041:[β (95%CI) = -6.139 (-11.12,-1.15); p=0.016]; rs11023374:[β (95%CI) = -4.296 (-8.18,-0.40); p=0.031]; and rs12794714:[β (95%CI) = -3.498 (-6.27,-0.72); p=0.014]. Minor allele A at rs10741657 was associated with higher levels of plasma 25(OH)D levels [β (95%CI) = 4.844 (1.62,8.06); p=0.003)] and lower odds of vitamin D deficiency (OR 0.40; p=0.002). These results suggest that the CYP2R1 and GC SNP variants are partly responsible for the high prevalence of VDD in Kuwait. Genotyping these variants may be considered for the prognosis of VDD in Kuwait.

The Impact of Vitamin D Deficiency on Infants' Health.

Vitamin D is an essential nutrient that plays a vital role in bone health and musculoskeletal development. The aim of this narrative review is to present up-to-date information about the impact of vitamin D deficiency (VDD) on the health status of infants in their first year of life. Vitamin D is indispensable for skeletal growth and bone health, and emerging research suggests that it may also have significant roles in maternal and fetal health. VDD affects a large proportion of infants according to current guidelines. However, its prevalence varies depending on geographic location, skin pigmentation, and the time of year. Based on current guidelines for normal vitamin D levels and recommended daily intake, studies suggest that VDD is a global health issue with potentially significant implications for those at risk, especially infants. Our understanding of the role of vitamin D has improved significantly in the last few decades. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses investigating the effect of vitamin D on preterm birth, low birth weight, anthropometric parameters, and health outcomes such as infectious diseases in infants, have found conflicting or inconsistent results. It is important to encourage further research to fill in these knowledge gaps and develop national or global strategies that ease the burden of VDD, especially in groups at risk.

Association among Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and vitamin D shortage, hemoglobin deficiency, dietary habits, and other variations in children aged 6 to 18 years: cross-sectional investigation at an Iraqi children's hospital

Background: Several studies have shown a correlation between Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) and vitamin D, but considerable disagreement exists. The goal of this study was to see if there was a relationship between vitamin D3 deficiency on the one hand, dietary habits on the other hand, and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in kids patients in a hospital in Iraq. Methods: In 2022, a cross-sectional study was done on 1600 patients in a child hospital in Iraq. A structured questionnaire was used to collect information on socio-demographic and lifestyle variables, and a short food frequency questionnaire was used to determine dietary patterns (FFQ). After a blood sample from the vein was taken, the H. pylori status (positive vs. negative) was identified. The stool and blood samples were all collected and sent to the hematology, chemistry, and parasitology lab for examination. Logistical multivariable to determine the relationship between socio-demographic, lifestyle, nutritional, and other factors, regression used. With H.pylori infection, there are several health-related issues to consider. In this sample, the prevalence of H. pylori infection was 62.8%. The multivariable analysis revealed that the risk of H. pylori infection was higher among those who did not follow healthy eating habits and whose parents were uneducated. The study found that Vit.D3 deficiency increased in girls more than in boys. H. pylori is associated with socio-demographic and clinical factors. More research is needed to determine the impact of diet on H. pylori risk. Keywords: Helicobacter pylori, Iraq, hemoglobin deficiency, dietary habits

Assessment of the Relation Between Asthma Severity and Serum Vitamin D Levels: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction Vitamin D3's importance for bone health in children and its potential role beyond musculocutaneous health is an ongoing area of research. This study assesses vitamin D3 deficiency prevalence in asthmatic children and its correlation with asthma cases and healthy controls. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital in Punjab, India among children between 5 and 15 years of age. Fifty children diagnosed with "bronchial asthma" who were under follow-up in the asthma clinic in outpatient and inpatient patients were enrolled as cases. Age-matched 50 healthy controls who presented for routine check-ups were enrolled in the control group. Demographic details were noted and clinical examination was done in all the cases. 25-(OH) vitamin D levels were estimated and compared in all cases and controls. The study also analyzed the relationship between 25-(OH) vitamin D levels with asthma control and severity. Results The study showed that serum vitamin D3 level was significantly decreased in asthmatic children (24.62 ± 14.95 ng/ml) as compared with the healthy control group (32.08 ± 12.22 ng/ml).Also, serum vitamin D3 level was significantly decreased in children with uncontrolled asthma (12.06 ± 4.68 ng/ml) as compared to children with well-controlled asthma (44.82 ± 10.48 ng/ml). Conclusion The findings showed that low serum levels were observed more in asthmatic children as compared to healthy children. A correlation was also found between vitamin D3 levels and asthma severity, its control, and the number of acute exacerbations in the last year.

The Efficacy of Vitamin D Supplement in the Expression and Protein Levels of Endometrial Decidualization Factors in Women with Recurrent Implantation Failure.

Recurrent implantation failure (RIF) is a challenging situation for infertility specialists, and its treatment is introduced as a difficult case in the field of assisted reproductive technology (ART). Vitamin D (VD) is one of the supplements that have been suggested to improve the implantation process. In the present study, the effect of VD on the expression and protein levels of VD receptor (VDR), progesterone receptor (PR), prolactin (PRL), insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1), and homeobox protein A10 (HOXA10) in the endometrial cells of unknown RIF women with and without VD deficiency were assessed by qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Twelve women with unknown RIF and VD deficiency (≤ 20 ng/ml) and twelve women with unknown RIF without VD deficiency (≥ 30 ng/ml) from 2021 to 2022 were identified. Endometrial specimens were collected in the mid-luteal stage before treatment or pregnancy. In the group with VD deficiency, oral medication of VD 50,000 units was prescribed for 2 to 3 months and their serum levels of VD were re-measured, then an endometrial biopsy at the same stage of the menstrual cycle was performed. The expression and protein levels of VDR, PR, PRL, IGFBP1, and HOXA10 in RIF patients with VD deficiency were lower than the RIF patients without VD deficiency (P value < 0.05). Our findings suggest that VD can play a key role in the pregnancy process, especially during embryo implantation and decidualization of the endometrial cells.IRCT registration number: IRCT20220528055006N1, Registration date: 2022-10-15, Registration timing: retrospective.

Genotype Prevalence of Lactose Deficiency, Vitamin D Deficiency, and the Vitamin D Receptor in a Chilean Inflammatory Bowel Disease Cohort: Insights from an Observational Study.

Lactose intolerance (LI) and vitamin D deficiency (VDD) have been linked to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We conducted an observational study in 192 Chilean IBD patients to investigate the prevalence of a specific gene variant (LCT-13910 CC genotype) associated with LI and the prevalence of VDD/Vitamin D Receptor (VDR) gene variants. Blood samples were analyzed using Illumina's Infinium Global Screening Array. The LCT-13910 CC genotype was found in 61% of IBD patients, similar to Chilean Hispanic controls and lower than Chilean Amerindian controls. The frequency of the LCT-13910-C allele in Chilean IBD patients (0.79) was comparable to the general population and higher than Europeans (0.49). Regarding VDR and VDD variants, in our study, the rs12785878-GG variant was associated with an increased risk of IBD (OR = 2.64, CI = 1.61-4.32; p-value = 0.001). Sixty-one percent of the Chilean IBD cohort have a genetic predisposition to lactose malabsorption, and a significant proportion exhibit genetic variants associated with VDD/VDR. Screening for LI and VDD is crucial in this Latin American IBD population.

Vitamin D deficiency and its associated factors among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis

ObjectiveThe study intended to assess the pooled prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (VDD) and its associated factors among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).DesignThe Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic...

Zinc and vitamin D deficiency and supplementation in hypophosphatasia patients - A retrospective study.

Hypophosphatasia (HPP) is characterized by severe skeletal symptoms including mineralization defects, insufficiency fractures, and delayed facture healing or non-unions. HPP is caused by mutations of the tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase (TNSALP). Zinc is a cofactor of TNSALP and vitamin D an important regulator of bone matrix mineralization. Data from this retrospective study indicates that deficiencies in zinc or vitamin D occur in HPP patients with a similar frequency as in the general population. While guidelines for repletion of these micronutrients have been established for the general population, the transferability of the efficacy and safety of these regiments to HPP patients still needed to be determined. We filtered for variant classification (ACMG 3-5, non-benign) and data completeness from a total cohort of 263 HPP patients. 73.5 % of this sub-cohort were vitamin D deficient while 27.2 % were zinc deficient. We retrospectively evaluated the effect of supplementation according to general guidelines in 10 patients with zinc-deficiency and 38 patients with vitamin d-deficiency. The treatments significantly raised serum zinc or vitamin D levels respectively. All other assessed disease markers (alkaline phosphatase, pyrodoxal-5-phosphate) or bone turnover markers (phosphate, calcium, parathyroid hormone, bone specific alkaline phosphatase, creatinine, desoxypyridinoline) remained unchanged. These results highlight that general guidelines for zinc and vitamin D repletion can be successfully applied to HPP patients in order to prevent deficiency symptoms without exacerbating the disease burden or causing adverse effects due to changes in bone and calcium homeostasis.

Vitamin D: Production, Metabolism, and Impact on Human Health

Background and Objective: Vitamins play an important role in maintaining proper health and wellness of the body. The deficiency of any of them may lead to serious health consequences. In the current scenario, deficiency of vitamin D has become a very prevalent and underdiagnosed health issue throughout the world. The purpose of this review is to briefly describe the importance, present market condition, and role of vitamin D supplements in COVID-19 in India, as well as how this has influenced the current situation. Methods: Literature survey was carried out using various online search engines like Google Scholar, Science Direct, Springer, PubMed, etc. offline libraries were also used for the compilation of the data. Results: It is evident from the study that the deficiency of vitamin D is associated with a lot of health problems, including cancer, diabetes, bone health deterioration, cardiovascular disorders, etc. This deficiency may occur due to an unhealthy lifestyle, mal-absorption, or decreased synthesis in the body. Vitamin D levels in the body can also be correlated with COVID-19 and the immunity of an individual. Conclusion: From this study, the importance of vitamin D levels in the human body can easily be understood. Various evidence of its connection with the COVID-19 pandemic is also available, though many studies in the area are still required. Altogether, increasing instances of vitamin D deficiency is a matter of great concern.

Species identification, antifungal susceptibility patterns, and vitamin D3 level in women with vaginal candidiasis: a case–control study in Iran

ABSTRACT Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a fungal infection that is a global issue of women’s health due to its association with morbidity, infertility, and economic costs. This study aimed to compare the vitamin D3 levels between women with VVC to healthy controls and determine the species distribution and susceptibility pattern of isolates. Species identification was performed using sequencing of the ITS-rDNA regions and amplification of the HWP1 gene. Antifungal susceptibility testing was determined by the disk diffusion method. Moreover, serum vitamin D3 levels were measured using a commercial ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) kit. Our results indicated that vitamin D3 level in women with VVC was lower than those of healthy women (p-value < .001). Candida albicans complex (62.8 percent) was the most common species, and most species were susceptible to fluconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole, and nystatin. In conclusion, our study revealed a potential link between vitamin D3 deficiency and VVC in women. Although our findings showed significantly lower vitamin D3 levels in women with VVC, further research is needed to establish a definitive causative relationship between vitamin D3 deficiency and VVC. Nonetheless, our study highlights the potential importance of maintaining adequate levels of vitamin D3 and the need for further exploration in this area.

BLOOD PLASMA 25-HYDROXYCALCIPHEROL (25(OH)D) CONTENT IN PATIENTS WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS AT DIFFERENT STAGES OF DIABETIC RETINOPATHY

Background. To date, it has become necessary to study the consequences of vitamin D-deficiency conditions on the course of severe complications of diabetes mellitus (DM), in particular diabetic retinopathy (DR), when the pleiotropic metabolic effect of vitamin D is significantly reduced.&#x0D; Aim: to investigate the content of 25-hydroxycalciferol (25(OH)D) in the blood plasma of patients with type 2 diabetes at various stages of diabetic retinopathy.&#x0D; Materials and methods. An open observational single-center one-stage selective study was conducted. The study was approved by the Local Ethics Committee. 90 patients (173 eyes) with T2D and DR (men and women; mean age - 59,4±3,4 years; mean HbA1c - 7,82±0,51 %) were assigned to 3 groups, based on the stage of DR (nonproliferative, preproliferative and proliferative). The inclusion of patients in groups with DR was carried out in accordance with the ETDRS protocol (2019). Statistical analysis was included ANOVA and regression analysis.&#x0D; Results. It was shown that the blood plasma concentration of 25(OH)D in patients with T2D probably decreases at each stage of DR (I stage - 19.8 [18.8-22.6] ng\ml, II stage - 16.9 ng\ml [15.3- 18.8], stage III - 14.3 [12.5-15.8] ng/ml, p&lt;0.001). At the same time, as the stage of DR increases, the frequency of detection of 25(OH)D deficiency (concentration less than 20 ng/ml) probably increases (50.0% - stage I, 86.2% - stage II, 94.3% - stage III, p &lt;0.001). It was shown that the risk of a high degree of DR probably decreases (p&lt;0.001) with an increase in the concentration of 25(OH)D in blood plasma for each ng/ml (OR = 0.64 (0.53 – 0.78)).&#x0D; Conclusion. With an increassng in the stage of DR, the content of 25(OH)D in blood plasma decreases (p&lt;0.001). At the same time, the proportion of patients with 25(OH)D deficiency increases, especially at stage III DR (p&lt;0.001). An analysis of the relationship between the stage of DR and the concentration of 25(OH)D showed a decreasing in the risk of a high degree of DR with an increassng of the 25(OH)D.

Association of the elevated level of prenatal testosterone, maternal stress and vitamin D3 deficiency during pregnancy with the development of ADHD like symptoms in toddlers

Association of the elevated level of prenatal testosterone, maternal stress and vitamin D3 deficiency during pregnancy with the development of ADHD like symptoms in toddlers

Inhalation with Vitamin D3 Metabolites—A Novel Strategy to Restore Vitamin D3 Deficiencies in Lung Tissue

Vitamin D3 deficiency has been recognized as a pandemic with serious health consequences including chronic respiratory diseases. Unfortunately, improvement in this situation by using vitamin D supplementation has failed. The direct delivery of 1,25(OH)2-vitamin D3 and its precursor into the respiratory tract, by nebulization, seemed to be a better option, as verified in the presented study. To induce vitamin D deficiency, mice received a diet with 0.05 IU/g cholecalciferol, while control animals were given feed with 0.5 IU/g cholecalciferol. Vitamin-D-deficient mice were exposed to different doses of calcidiol or calcitriol via nebulization for at least 7 days. At the end of the experiment, whole-body plethysmography was conducted. Pulmonary and serum levels of calcitriol were examined using ELISA. The calcitriol concentrations in mice on standard vs. deficient diet were 30.31/18.20 pg/mg (lungs) and 132.24/98.61 pg/mL (serum), respectively. Restoration of the physiological level of calcitriol in vitamin-D-deficient mice required 1-week exposure to 100 pg/g of calcidiol or 5 pg/g of calcitriol. The inhalations did not cause any side changes in murine respiratory function. The presented study revealed the usefulness and safety of chronic inhalation with a bioactive form of vitamin D3 or its precursor for the restoration of physiological calcitriol levels in animals with vitamin D deficiencies.

A Study of Hepcidin Levels and Other Biochemical Parameters in Women with Osteoarthritis: As a Pharmaceutical Control

Background: Hepcidin, one of the peptide hormones generated from the liver, can be defined as an important regulator regarding systemic iron homeostasis, while its lopsided production plays a role in the pathogenesis of a variety of iron diseases. Osteoarthritis (OA) frequently coexists with a number of diseases, including hemochromatosis, ß-thalassemia, cell disease, sickle cell disease, and hemosiderosis caused by iron overload. Evidence suggests that iron deficiency and iron overload negatively impact the bone, which acts immediately on the bone’s cells. The present work aims to determine whether a direct correlation exists between female patient’s OA and levels of hepcidin, DHVD3, and other indicators. Methods: A total of 60 participants were split into two groups for this work: 30 healthy controls and 30 female OA patients. This work was carried out from Nov. 2021 to the end of June. 2021. The ages ranged from (40 to 55). In Al-Mahmudiya Hospital and in Al-Yarmok Teaching Hospital, an endocrinologist assessed each one of the patients. We measured Hb, BMI, ferritin, hepcidin, DHVD3, iron, Ca, and PO4. Results: Hepcidin levels significantly increased, whereas ferritin, BMI, iron, vitamin D, calcium, and PO4 levels significantly decreased compared with the control group. However, alterations in lipid profile and glycemic profile were not statistically significant. Conclusion: By connecting low levels of iron, ferritin, calcium, vitamin D3, and PO4 with high levels of hepcidin in women with OA, it may be concluded that vitamin D3 insufficiency is associated with hepcidin malfunction as a factor affecting women with OA.