Abstract
Observational studies indicate that low plasma levels of 25-hydroxy-vitamin D (25[OH]D), a widely used marker of vitamin D status, are associated with higher risks of osteoporosis and fractures, in addition to vascular and non-vascular mortality. Recent studies suggest that vitamin D may prevent several chronic diseases in addition to its well-established role in guts resorption of calcium and phosphate and bone metabolism.
These newly detected physiological functions of vitamin D involve regulation of cell differentiation in many cells and tumour cells.