Vitamin D: A Review of Epidemiological Features
Vitorino Modesto Dos Santos,
Published on: 2014-09-11
Abstract
Vitamin D disorders have attracted considerable attention in recent decades. This substance plays an important role in human health, including calcium and phosphorous homeostasis, hormone activity, immune responses, protection against tumors, arterial hypertension and type 2 diabetes. Knowledge about physiopathology of the vitamin D serum levels is essential for adequate interpretation of the laboratory data and the clinical investigation findings. This review aims primarily assessing the seasonality of serum vitamin D levels, attributed to the variable intensity of UVB radiation, as well as the general epidemiology of these levels in different geographic regions.
