Vitamin D regulation of adipogenesis and adipose tissue functions

Abstract

Vitamin D insufficiency is associated with obesity and its related metabolic diseases. Adipose tissues store and metabolize vitamin D and expression levels of vitamin D metabolizing enzymes are known to be altered in obesity. Sequestration of vitamin D in large amount of adipose tissues and low vitamin D metabolism may contribute to the vitamin D inadequacy in obesity. Vitamin D receptor is expressed in adipose tissues and vitamin D regulates multiple aspects of adipose biology including adipogenesis as well as metabolic and endocrine function of adipose tissues that can contribute to the high risk of metabolic diseases in vitamin D insufficiency. We will review current understanding of vitamin D regulation of adipose biology focusing on vitamin D modulation of adiposity and adipose tissue functions as well as the molecular mechanisms through which vitamin D regulates adipose biology. The effects of supplementation or maintenance of vitamin D on obesity and metabolic diseases are also discussed.

Vitamin D Status and Its Influence on the Health of Preschool Children in Hangzhou

“…Does obesity decrease vitamin D levels, does vitamin D deficiency promote obesity, or do they interact? On the one hand, researchers believe vitamin D bioavailability in obese individuals is decreased because of vitamin D deposition in body adipose tissue and altered expression levels of vitamin Dmetabolizing enzymes (2,7,17). Moreover, obese children are less likely to engage in outdoor activities, which results in reduced vitamin D synthesis (21).…”

“…Moreover, obese children are less likely to engage in outdoor activities, which results in reduced vitamin D synthesis (21). On the other hand, studies found that vitamin D regulated multiple aspects of adipose biology, such as adipogenesis and metabolic and endocrine function of adipose tissues (7). This may be the reason for obesity and metabolic diseases caused by vitamin D deficiency.…”

“…Vitamin D deficiency during childhood is known to cause growth retardation and nutritional rickets (2). Recently, an increasing number of studies have indicated that low levels of vitamin D may play an important role in the occurrence and development of extraskeletal diseases because of its immunoregulation and anti-inflammatory effects (3,4), such as allergic diseases (5), respiratory illnesses (6), and obesity in children (7). Although there is no consensus on the association between vitamin D and related health outcomes, most specialists believe that sufficient vitamin D is essential and protective for children's health.…”

Calcitriol Promotes Differentiation of Glioma Stem-Like Cells and Increases their Susceptibility to Temozolomide

“…In fact, it is well-known that calcitriol can also induce non-genomic responses which involve the release of Ca 2+ into the cytosol [13,15,60]. One of the upregulated Ca 2+ -related proteins is RCAN1, whose expression is known to be induced via calmodulin-calcineurin-dependent Ca 2+ -signaling [61,62] and VitD3 has been shown to also involve calmodulin-dependent signaling [63,64]. These data further indicate that at least a part of the calcitriol-effects is mediated via Ca 2+ -signaling.…”

Vitamin D in the Covid-19 era: a review with recommendations from a G.I.O.S.E.G. expert panel

“…Although VITD actions on adipose metabolism are controversial, there are several pieces of evidence that it regulates lipid synthesis, lipolysis and improves insulin signalling pathways. These results suggest that VITD may ameliorate adipose tissue dysfunctions, linking low VITD status to metabolic disease in obesity [ 12 ]. On the other hand, obesity per se seems to involve low circulating levels of VITD, due to low sun exposure, low physical activity, low intake of foods rich in VITD and volumetric dilution and sequestration in the adipose tissue.…”