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Review
. 2020 Dec 3;10(12):496.
doi: 10.3390/metabo10120496.

The Role of Vitamin D in Small Animal Bone Metabolism

Rafael Vessecchi Amorim Zafalon  1 , Bruna Ruberti  2 , Mariana Fragoso Rentas  1 , Andressa Rodrigues Amaral  3 , Thiago Henrique Annibale Vendramini  1 , Fernanda Chicharo Chacar  4 , Marcia Mery Kogika  2 , Marcio Antonio Brunetto  1   3
Affiliations
Review

The Role of Vitamin D in Small Animal Bone Metabolism

Rafael Vessecchi Amorim Zafalon et al. Metabolites. .

Abstract

Dogs and cats have differences in vitamin D metabolism compared to other mammalian species, as they are unable to perform vitamin D cutaneous synthesis through sun exposure. Therefore, they are dependent on the dietary intake of this nutrient. The classic functions of vitamin D are to stimulate intestinal calcium and phosphate absorption, renal calcium and phosphate reabsorption and regulate bone mineral metabolism. Thus, it is an important nutrient for calcium and phosphorus homeostasis. This review highlights the evidence of the direct and indirect actions of vitamin D on bone mineral metabolism, the consequences of nutritional imbalances of this nutrient in small animals, as well as differences in vitamin D metabolism between different size dogs.

Keywords: 1,25(OH)2D3; 25(OH)D; calcium; cat; dog; nutrition; osteomineral homeostasis; phosphate.

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Conflict of interest statement

All authors declare no conflict of interest.

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