Pharmacological Uses of Vitamin

A number of studies have shown that there is a north-south gradient in the incidence of type I diabetes mellitus tmd that children who are given vittimin 

D supplements are less at risk of developing the disease. It is not known how vittimin D protects agtdnst the development of diabetes, hut it may he hy modulation of the differentiation of lymphocytes involved in the autoimmune destruction of pancreatic /3-islet cells. The protective dose is above current reference intakes and indeed may be above the tolerable upper intake of 25 ixg per day for infants (Hturis, 2002). 

Beckerman P and Silver 1 (1999) Vitamin D and the parathyroid. American Journal of 

BoyanBD, Sylvia VL, Dean DD, and Schwartz Z (2001) 24,25-(OH)(2)D(3) regulates cartilage and hone via autocrine and endocrine mechanisms. Steroids 66,363-74. 

Bronner F and Pansu D (1999) Nutritional aspects of calcium absorption. Journal of Nutrition 129, 9-12. 

Brown AJ (2001) Therapeutic uses of vitamin D analogues. American Journal of Kidney Disease 38, S3-S19. 

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The pharmacological uses of vitamin K are in the treatment of (rare) vitamin K deficiency prophylaxis in newborn infants (Section 5.4.1), and as an antidote to overcome anticoagulant toxicity. Because of its cytoxic effects, menadione has been used in cancer chemotherapy. It also potentiates the analgesic actions of salicylates and opiates, and has been used to enhance pain relief in cancer patients. 

The only pharmacological use of vitamin B12, other than for the treatment of deficiency or for rare children with vitamin dependency diseases affecting the binding of the coenzyme to methylmalonyl CoA mutase (Section 10.8.2), is as an antidote for cyanide poisoning. Supplements of vitamin B12 are available for strict vegetarians who might be at risk of deficiency. There is no evidence of any adverse effects of high intakes of vitamin B12. 

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