Vitamin D and chronic diseases: the current state of the art

Arch Toxicol. 2017 Jan;91(1):97-107. doi: 10.1007/s00204-016-1804-x. Epub 2016 Jul 18.

Abstract

The objective was to provide the current state of the art regarding the role of vitamin D in chronic diseases (osteoporosis, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, dementia, autism, type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus, male and female fertility). The document was drawn up by panelists that provided their contribution according to their own scientific expertise. Each scientific expert supplied a first draft manuscript on a specific aspect of the document's topic that was subjected to voting by all experts as "yes" (agreement with the content and/or wording) or "no" (disagreement). The adopted rule was that statements supported by ≥75 % of votes would be immediately accepted, while those with <25 % would be rejected outright. Others would be subjected to further discussion and subsequent voting, where ≥67 % support or, in an eventual third round, a majority of ≥50 % would be needed. This document finds that the current evidence support a role for vitamin D in bone health but not in other health conditions. However, subjects with vitamin D deficiency have been found to be at high risk of developing chronic diseases. Therefore, although at the present time there is not sufficient evidence to recommend vitamin D supplementation as treatment of chronic diseases, the treatment of vitamin D deficiency should be desiderable in order to reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases.

Keywords: Autism; Cancer; Cardiovascular diseases; Dementia; Diabetes mellitus; Endometriosis; Environment; Fertility; Hypogonadism; Lifestyle; Musculoskeletal disorders; PCOS; Vitamin D.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder / epidemiology
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder / etiology
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder / prevention & control
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / epidemiology
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / etiology
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / prevention & control
  • Dementia / epidemiology
  • Dementia / etiology
  • Dementia / prevention & control
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / epidemiology
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / etiology
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / prevention & control
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / epidemiology
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / etiology
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / prevention & control
  • Evidence-Based Medicine*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infertility, Female / epidemiology
  • Infertility, Female / etiology
  • Infertility, Female / prevention & control
  • Infertility, Male / epidemiology
  • Infertility, Male / etiology
  • Infertility, Male / prevention & control
  • Male
  • Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Neoplasms / etiology
  • Neoplasms / prevention & control
  • Osteoporosis / epidemiology
  • Osteoporosis / etiology
  • Osteoporosis / prevention & control*
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Risk
  • Vitamin D / therapeutic use*
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / diet therapy*
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / physiopathology

Substances

  • Vitamin D