History of the discovery of vitamin D and its active metabolites

Abstract

Before the twentieth century, it was not possible to describe the essentials of a diet that could support life, growth and reproduction of higher animals. The discovery of vitamin A by McCollum and Davis in 1913 ushered in the era of accessory food substances culminating in the achievement of that goal. It included the discovery of vitamin D and its production in skin caused by ultraviolet light. This was followed by a description of its actions at the physiological level that resulted in a healthy skeleton and beyond. To carry out these functions, vitamin D is converted to a hormone that acts through a nuclear receptor. The findings leading to this concept and their importance to biology and medicine are presented.

Vitamin D status in apparently healthy medication-free Slovaks: Association to blood pressure, body mass index, self-reported smoking status and physical activity

“…Together with other transcription factors such as retinoid X receptor (RXR), the complex of vitamin D, VDR and RXR is formed and bound to vitamin D response elements of multiple genes, regulating directly and/or indirectly their expression (1)(2)(3).…”

1α,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 inhibits the differentiation and bone resorption by osteoclasts generated from Wistar rat bone marrow-derived macrophages

“…Vitamin D was initially identified as being useful for the treatment of rickets. A lack of vitamin D can lead to the onset of rickets in younger animals and chondropathy in adult animals (15). The present study showed that different concentrations of 1α,25-(OH) 2 D 3 may inhibit the formation and activity of OCs, as well as downregulating the expression levels of CA II, CK and MMP-9.…”

Study of serum vitamin D level Among school children in Urban And Rural Areas of Manipur

“…Vitamin D was first discovered by McCollum and Davis in 1913 and in 1932 Askew et al isolated vitamin D 2 from an irradiation mixture of ergosterol and later vitamin D 3 was identified by Windaus and Bock in 1937, which was formed in the skin as a result of UV irradiation of 7-dehydrocholesterol and later on in 1978, actual isolation and identification of vitamin D 3 was proved by Esvelt et al by mass spectrometry. 3 Very few foods naturally contain vitamin D, and foods that are fortified with vitamin D are often inadequate to satisfy either a child's or an adult's vitamin D requirement. Sources of vitamin D is mainly from synthesis of vitamin D (specifically cholecalciferol or vitamin D 3 ) in the skin.…”