Skip to main content

Advertisement

Springer Nature Link
Log in

Vitamin D Update

  • Photodermatology (B Adler and V DeLeo, Section Editors)
  • Published:
Current Dermatology Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The goal of this review is to provide an update in the field of vitamin D, in particular, the role of vitamin D in non-skeletal health, the complexity of providing patient guidance regarding obtaining sufficient vitamin D, and the possible involvement of vitamin D in morbidity and mortality due to SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19).

Recent Findings

In addition to bone health, vitamin D may play a role in innate immunity, cardiovascular disease, and asthma. Although rickets is often regarded as an historical disease of the early twentieth century, it appears to be making a comeback worldwide, including “first-world” countries. Broad-spectrum sunscreens (with high UVA filters) that prevent erythema are unlikely to compromise vitamin D status in healthy populations.

Summary

New attention is now focused on the role of vitamin D in a variety of diseases, and more individualized patient recommendation schemes are being considered that take into account more realistic and achievable goals for achieving sufficient vitamin D through diet, supplements, and sun behavior.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

  1. DeLuca HF. Overview of general physiologic features and functions of vitamin D. Am J Clin Nutr. 2004;80(6):1689S–96S. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/80.6.1689S. This is a generally helpful primer on the classic functions and understanding of vitamin D.

  2. Jorde R, Grimnes G. Vitamin D and health: the need for more randomized controlled trials. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2015;148:269–74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsbmb.2015.01.021.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Jorde R, Grimnes G. Serum cholecalciferol may be a better marker of vitamin D status than 25-hydroxyvitamin D. Med Hypotheses. 2018;111:61–5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mehy.2017.12.017.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Brustad N, Garland J, Thorsen J, Sevelsted A, Krakauer M, Vinding RK, et al. Effect of high-dose vs standard-dose vitamin D supplementation in pregnancy on bone mineralization in offspring until age 6 years: a prespecified secondary analysis of a double-blinded, Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Pediatr. 2020;174(5):419–27. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2019.6083.

  5. Wheeler BJ, Snoddy AME, Munns C, Simm P, Siafarikas A, Jefferies C. A brief history of nutritional rickets. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2019;10:795. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2019.00795. An important update on current issues in vitamin D status in multiple populations.

  6. Sizar O, Khare S, Goyal A, Bansal P, Givler A. Vitamin D deficiency. StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing Copyright © 2020, StatPearls Publishing LLC.; 2020.

  7. Institute of Medicine Committee to Review Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin D, Calcium. The National Academies Collection: Reports funded by National Institutes of Health. In: Ross AC, Taylor CL, Yaktine AL, Del Valle HB, editors. Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium and Vitamin D. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US) Copyright © 2011, National Academy of Sciences.; 2011. Reference text for clinical vitamin D measurement values.

  8. NIST Releases Vitamin D Standard Reference Material. NIST July 14, 2009. https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2009/07/nist-releases-vitamin-d-standard-reference-material

  9. Sempos CT, Binkley N. 25-Hydroxyvitamin D assay standardisation and vitamin D guidelines paralysis. Public Health Nutr. 2020;23(7):1153–64. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1368980019005251.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  10. Sassi F, Tamone C, D’Amelio P. Vitamin D: nutrient, hormone, and immunomodulator. Nutrients. 2018;10(11). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10111656. Important discussion of vitamin D and immune function.

  11. Scott JF, Das LM, Ahsanuddin S, Qiu Y, Binko AM, Traylor ZP, et al. Oral vitamin D rapidly attenuates inflammation from sunburn: an interventional study. J Investig Dermatol. 2017;137(10):2078–86. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jid.2017.04.040.

  12. Dombrowski Y, Peric M, Koglin S, Ruzicka T, Schauber J. Control of cutaneous antimicrobial peptides by vitamin D3. Arch Dermatol Res. 2010;302(6):401–8. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00403-010-1045-4.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Lucas RM, Norval M, Neale RE, Young AR, de Gruijl FR, Takizawa Y, et al. The consequences for human health of stratospheric ozone depletion in association with other environmental factors. Photochem Photobiol Sci. 2015;14(1):53–87. https://doi.org/10.1039/C4PP90033B. A very thorough review of ultraviolet light effects on multiple physiological endpoints.

  14. Tongkao-On W, Carter S, Reeve VE, Dixon KM, Gordon-Thomson C, Halliday GM, et al. CYP11A1 in skin: an alternative route to photoprotection by vitamin D compounds. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2015;148:72–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsbmb.2014.11.015.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Wei R, Christakos S. Mechanisms underlying the regulation of innate and adaptive immunity by Vitamin D. Nutrients. 2015;7(10):8251–60. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu7105392.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  16. Koivisto O, Hanel A, Carlberg C. Key Vitamin D Target genes with functions in the immune system. Nutrients. 2020;12(4). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12041140.

  17. Comberiati P, Peroni DG. Vitamin D Supplementation in pregnancy does not prevent school-age asthma. Allergy. 2020;75. https://doi.org/10.1111/all.14337.

  18. Manousaki D, Paternoster L, Standl M, Moffatt MF, Farrall M, Bouzigon E, et al. Vitamin D levels and susceptibility to asthma, elevated immunoglobulin E levels, and atopic dermatitis: a Mendelian randomization study. PLoS Med. 2017;14(5):e1002294. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1002294.

  19. Study Questions the Benefits of Vitamin D and Omega 3 Supplements. CardioSmart News American College of Cardiology. Washington, D.C. November 13, 2018. https://www.cardiosmart.org/news/2018/10/study-questions-the-benefits-of-vitamin-d-and-omega-3-supplements

  20. Dawodu A, Salameh KM, Al-Janahi NS, Bener A, Elkum N. The effect of high-dose postpartum maternal vitamin D supplementation alone compared with maternal plus infant vitamin D supplementation in breastfeeding infants in a high-risk population. A Randomized Controlled Trial. Nutrients. 2019;11(7). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11071632.

  21. AAD Position Statement Vitamin D. https://assets.ctfassets.net/1ny4yoiyrqia/2VuIeOfXmKWBV12XTVYpXo/dfff5f47b0dddfb82676270505afd09f/ps-vitamin_d_postition_statement.pdf

  22. Ultraviolet (UV) index. World Health Organization. 16 October 2017. https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/ultraviolet-(uv)-index

  23. Macdonald HM, Mavroeidi A, Fraser WD, Darling AL, Black AJ, Aucott L, et al. Sunlight and dietary contributions to the seasonal vitamin D status of cohorts of healthy postmenopausal women living at northerly latitudes: a major cause for concern? Osteoporos Int. 2011;22(9):2461–72. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-010-1467-z.

  24. Maurya VK, Bashir K, Aggarwal M. Vitamin D microencapsulation and fortification: trends and technologies. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2020;196:105489. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsbmb.2019.105489.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. How to get vitamin D from sunlight. NHS. Reviewed: 31 August 2018. https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/how-to-get-vitamin-d-from-sunlight/.

  26. Passeron T, Bouillon R, Callender V, Cestari T, Diepgen TL, Green AC, et al. Sunscreen photoprotection and vitamin D status. Br J Dermatol. 2019;181(5):916–31. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjd.17992.

  27. Fajuyigbe D, Young AR. The impact of skin colour on human photobiological responses. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res. 2016;29(6):607–18. https://doi.org/10.1111/pcmr.12511. An important discussion of study protocol variables and their influence on policy.

  28. Young AR, Greenaway J, Harrison GI, Lawrence KP, Sarkany R, Douki T, et al. Sub-optimal application of a high SPF sunscreen prevents epidermal DNA damage in vivo. Acta Derm Venereol. 2018;98(9):880–7. https://doi.org/10.2340/00015555-2992. Highly relevant study that examines real life use of sunscreen.

  29. Young AR, Narbutt J, Harrison GI, Lawrence KP, Bell M, O'Connor C, et al. Optimal sunscreen use, during a sun holiday with a very high ultraviolet index, allows vitamin D synthesis without sunburn. Br J Dermatol. 2019;181(5):1052–62. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjd.17888.

  30. Katiyar SK, Matsui MS, Mukhtar H. Kinetics of UV light-induced cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers in human skin in vivo: an immunohistochemical analysis of both epidermis and dermis. Photochem Photobiol. 2000;72(6):788–93.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Narbutt J, Philipsen PA, Lesiak A, Sandberg Liljendahl T, Segerback D, Heydenreich J, et al. Children sustain high levels of skin DNA photodamage, with a modest increase of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3, after a summer holiday in Northern Europe. Br J Dermatol. 2018;179(4):940–50. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjd.16668.

  32. Munns CF, Shaw N, Kiely M, Specker BL, Thacher TD, Ozono K, et al. Global consensus recommendations on prevention and management of nutritional rickets. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2016;101(2):394–415. https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2015-2175.

  33. Dixon KM, Tongkao-On W, Sequeira VB, Carter SE, Song EJ, Rybchyn MS, et al. Vitamin D and death by sunshine. Int J Mol Sci. 2013;14(1):1964–77. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms14011964.

  34. Jagoda SV, Dixon KM. Protective effects of 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 and its analogs on ultraviolet radiation-induced oxidative stress: a review. Redox Rep. 2020;25(1):11–6. https://doi.org/10.1080/13510002.2020.1731261.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  35. Slominski AT, Chaiprasongsuk A, Janjetovic Z, Kim TK, Stefan J, Slominski RM, et al. Photoprotective properties of vitamin D and lumisterol hydroxyderivatives. Cell Biochem Biophys. 2020;78:165–80. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12013-020-00913-6.

  36. Xiang F, Lucas R, de Gruijl F, Norval M. 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;14(12):2138–46. https://doi.org/10.1039/c5pp00168d. A substantial review of skin pigmentation and vitamin D levels..

  37. Marwaha RK, Sreenivas V, Talwar D, Yenamandra VK, Challa A, Lakshmy R, et al. Impact of solar ultraviolet B radiation (290–320 nm) on vitamin D synthesis in children with type IV and V skin. Br J Dermatol. 2015;173(2):604–6. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjd.13887.

  38. Au LE, Harris SS, Dwyer JT, Jacques PF, Sacheck JM. Association of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D with race/ethnicity and constitutive skin color in urban schoolchildren. J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab. 2014;27(11–12):1095–100. https://doi.org/10.1515/jpem-2014-0068.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  39. Young AR, Morgan KA, Ho TW, Ojimba N, Harrison GI, Lawrence KP, et al. Melanin has a small inhibitory effect on cutaneous vitamin D synthesis: a comparison of extreme phenotypes. J Investig Dermatol. 2020;140(7):1418–26.e1. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jid.2019.11.019. A critically important study of melanin, pigmentation levels, skin physiology and vitamin D.

  40. Jung HC, Seo MW, Lee S, Kim SW, Song JK. Vitamin D(3) Supplementation reduces the symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection during winter training in vitamin D-insufficient taekwondo athletes: a randomized controlled trial. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018;15(9). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15092003.

  41. Dancer RC, Parekh D, Lax S, D'Souza V, Zheng S, Bassford CR, et al. Vitamin D deficiency contributes directly to the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Thorax. 2015;70(7):617–24. https://doi.org/10.1136/thoraxjnl-2014-206680.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  42. Martineau AR, Jolliffe DA, Hooper RL, Greenberg L, Aloia JF, Bergman P, et al. Vitamin D supplementation to prevent acute respiratory tract infections: systematic review and meta-analysis of individual participant data. Bmj. 2017;356:i6583. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.i6583.

  43. Grant WB, Lahore H, McDonnell SL, Baggerly CA, French CB, Aliano JL, et al. Evidence that vitamin D supplementation could reduce risk of influenza and COVID-19 infections and deaths. Nutrients. 2020;12(4). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12040988. Of major importance, including the possible relationship between vitamin D levels and COVID-19.

  44. Jakovac H. COVID-19 and vitamin D-is there a link and an opportunity for intervention? Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2020;318(5):E589. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpendo.00138.2020.Of major importance, including the possible relationship between vitamin D levels and COVID-19.

  45. Panarese A, Shahini E. Letter: Covid-19, and vitamin D. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2020;51(10):993–5. https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.15752. Of major importance, including the possible relationship between vitamin D levels and COVID-19.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Teaneck, NJ, USA

    Mary S. Matsui

Authors
  1. Mary S. Matsui
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

Ethics declarations

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

This article is part of the Topical Collection on Photodermatology

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Matsui, M.S. Vitamin D Update. Curr Derm Rep 9, 323–330 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13671-020-00315-0

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13671-020-00315-0

Keywords