From this newfound appreciation for Vitamin D, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) increased the Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) for vitamin D to 600 IU/day for individuals less than 70 years of age and 800 IU/day for those over 70 years of age.īut can’t I get enough Vitamin D from sunlight? These benefits should be confirmed in large and well-designed ongoing clinical trials.With summer in full swing and everyone enjoying more outdoor activities, I thought it would be timely to share a complete download on the “sunshine vitamin.”Įveryone knows that Vitamin D helps build and maintain strong bones, but recent research findings suggest that Vitamin D also plays a role in an increasing number of vital bodily functions, including cellular growth, immunity, protein synthesis, nutrient absorption, pregnancy/nursing, and influences the risk and/or progression of medical conditions such as cancer, diabetes, influenza, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, periodontal disease, Parkinson’s Disease, depression, autoimmune disorders, and chronic pain. Furthermore, paricalcitol beneficial effects may be independent of baseline serum parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcium and phosphate levels. These beneficial effects are mediated by different actions such as reduction of oxidative stress, inflammation, downregulation of cardiac and renal renin expression, downregulation of calcifying genes and direct vascular protective effects. Paricalcitol, a selective activator of VDR, has demonstrated in several experimental and clinical studies of diabetic and non-diabetic CKD a favourable profile compared to other VDR activators, alone or as add-on to standard therapy. In chronic kidney disease (CKD) and other chronic disorders, vitamin D deficiency is very common and is associated with adverse outcomes. This is due in part to widespread expression of vitamin D receptor (VDR) on tissues and cells such as heart, kidney, immune cells, brain and muscle. Vitamin D has been recently associated with several renal, cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases, beyond mineral metabolism and bone health.

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