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Review
. 2016 Oct 18:4:16041.
doi: 10.1038/boneres.2016.41. eCollection 2016.

Vitamin D, calcium homeostasis and aging

Vaishali Veldurthy  1 , Ran Wei  1 , Leyla Oz  1 , Puneet Dhawan  1 , Yong Heui Jeon  1 , Sylvia Christakos  1
Affiliations
Review

Vitamin D, calcium homeostasis and aging

Vaishali Veldurthy et al. Bone Res. .

Abstract

Osteoporosis is characterized by low bone mass and microarchitecture deterioration of bone tissue, leading to enhanced bone fragility and consequent increase in fracture risk. Evidence is accumulating for an important role of calcium deficiency as the process of aging is associated with disturbed calcium balance. Vitamin D is the principal factor that maintains calcium homeostasis. Increasing evidence indicates that the reason for disturbed calcium balance with age is inadequate vitamin D levels in the elderly. In this article, an overview of our current understanding of vitamin D, its metabolism, and mechanisms involved in vitamin D-mediated maintenance of calcium homeostasis is presented. In addition, mechanisms involved in age-related dysregulation of 1,25(OH)2D3 action, recommended daily doses of vitamin D and calcium, and the use of vitamin D analogs for the treatment of osteoporosis (which remains controversial) are reviewed. Elucidation of the molecular pathways of vitamin D action and modifications that occur with aging will be an active area of future research that has the potential to reveal new therapeutic strategies to maintain calcium balance.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
When serum calcium is low, 1,25(OH)2D3 and parathyroid hormone (PTH) act to maintain calcium homeostasis. 1,25(OH)2D3—the active form of vitamin D and the ligand for the vitamin D receptor (VDR)—acts to increase calcium absorption from the intestine. If normal calcium is unable to be maintained by intestinal calcium absorption, then 1,25(OH)2D3 and PTH, together acting via their receptors, release calcium from the bone stores and increase reabsorption of calcium from the distal tubule of the kidney.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Age-related effects on the vitamin D endocrine system.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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