Calcifediol (25OH Vitamin D3) Deficiency: A Risk Factor from Early to Old Age

Abstract

Vitamin D deficiency is the main cause of nutritional rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. There is consensus that nutritional access to vitamin D can be estimated by measuring serum concentrations of 25OHD and vitamin D deficiency can thus be considered as calcifediol deficiency. However, the threshold for vitamin D/calcifediol sufficiency remains a matter of debate. Vitamin D/calcifediol deficiency has been associated with musculoskeletal effects but also multiple adverse extra-skeletal consequences. If these consequences improve or if they can be treated with vitamin D supplementation is still unclear. Observational studies suggest a higher infection risk in people with low calcifediol levels. There is also a consistent association between serum calcifediol and cardiovascular events and deaths, but large-scale, long-term intervention studies did not show any benefit on cardiovascular outcomes from supplementation, at least not in subjects without clear vitamin D deficiency. Cancer risk also did not change with vitamin D treatment, although there are some data that higher serum calcifediol is associated with longer survival in cancer patients. In pregnant women, vitamin D supplementation decreases the risk of pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus, and low birth weight. Although preclinical studies showed that the vitamin D endocrine system plays a role in certain neural cells as well as brain structure and function, there is no evidence to support a beneficial effect of vitamin D in neurodegenerative diseases. Vitamin D supplementation may marginally affect overall mortality risk especially in elderly subjects with low serum calcifediol concentrations.

The influence of vitamin D supplementation and strength training on health biomarkers and chromosomal damage in community-dwelling older adults

“…Older adults are often deficient in micronutrients such as folate, vitamin B12, zinc or vitamin D [ [6] , [7] , [8] , [9] ]. Specifically, vitamin D insufficiency has been shown to have detrimental effects on the immune system, inflammatory and healing processes of fractured bones and also cardiovascular health beyond other musculoskeletal effects [ 10 ]. Vitamin D might exert also protective effects against reactive oxygen species that can otherwise trigger DNA damage and chromosomal instabilities [ 7 , 11 , 12 ].…”

Determination of vitamin D3 conjugated metabolites: a complementary view on hydroxylated metabolites

“…Vitamin D status, essentially defined by serum 25(OH)D 3 concentrations, has been frequently associated with the health status and the prevalence of disorders and mortality. 1,36 In fact, calcifediol has been suggested as a potential preventive therapy for severe stages of COVID-19 infections. 2,10,[37][38][39] Nevertheless, it is worth mentioning that vitamin D status is influenced by many factors such as age, gender, geographical location, ethnicity, genes and health status.…”

Vitamin D Endocrine System and COVID-19: Treatment with Calcifediol

“…The upper and lower airway epithelium and the immune and cardiovascular systems, which play a key role in COVID-19 [36], are targets of VDES. The 25OHD/calcifediol deficiency is highly prevalent worldwide [37,38] and has been associated with a number of diseases [39], including immune disorders, pulmonary, infectious, and cardiovascular diseases [40], as well as idiopathic deep vein thrombosis of the lower extremities [41].…”