Vitamin bone mineral homeostasis

A number of hormones modulate the actions of PTH, FGF23, and vitamin D in regulating bone mineral homeostasis. Compared with that of PTH, FGF23, and vitamin D, the physiologic impact of such secondary regulation on bone mineral homeostasis is minor. However, in pharmacologic amounts, a number of these hormones have actions on the bone mineral homeostatic mechanisms that can be exploited therapeutically. 

Glucocorticoid hormones alter bone mineral homeostasis by antagonizing vitamin D-stimulated intestinal calcium transport, by stimulating renal calcium excretion, and by blocking bone formation. Although these observations underscore... 

PTH works with two other primary hormones— calcitonin and vitamin D—in regulating calcium homeostasis. These three hormones, as well as several other endocrine factors, are all involved in controlling calcium levels for various physiologic needs. How these hormones interact in controlling normal bone formation and resorption is of particular interest to rehabilitation specialists. Regulation of bone mineral homeostasis and the principal hormones involved in this process are presented in the following section. 

Vitamin D. Vitamin D is a steroidlike hormone that can be obtained from dietary sources or synthesized in the skin from cholesterol derivatives in the presence of ultraviolet light. Vitamin D produces several metabolites that are important in bone mineral homeostasis.27,31 In general, vitamin D derivatives such as 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 increase serum calcium and phosphate levels by increasing intestinal calcium and phosphate absorption and by decreasing renal calcium and phosphate excretion.27,46... 

Some mechanisms contributing to bone mineral homeostasis. Calcium and phosphorus concentrations in the serum are controlled principally by two hormones, l,25(OH)2D3(D) and parathyroid hormone (PTH), through their action on absorption from the gut and from bone and on excretion in the urine. Both hormones increase input of calcium and phosphorus from bone into the serum vitamin D also increases absorption from the gut. Vitamin D decreases urinary excretion of both calcium and phosphorus, while PTH reduces calcium but increases phosphorus excretion. Calcitonin (CT) is a less critical hormone for calcium homeostasis, but in pharmacologic concentrations CT can reduce serum calcium and phosphorus by inhibiting bone resorption and stimulating their renal excretion. Feedback effects are not shown. 

Dihydroxyvitamin (283) is the endogenous ligand for the vitamin receptor (VDR). It modulates genomic function in a tissue and developmentaHy specific manner and affects ceU proliferation, differentiation, and mineral homeostasis (74). Vitamin mobilizes calcium from the bone to maintain plasma Ca " levels. Vitamin and VDR are present in the CNS where they may play a role in regulating Ca " homeostasis. Vitamin D has potent immunomodulatory activity in vivo. 

In the treatment of diseases where the metaboUtes are not being deUvered to the system, synthetic metaboUtes or active analogues have been successfully adrninistered. Vitamin metaboUtes have been successfully used for treatment of milk fever ia catde, turkey leg weakness, plaque psoriasis, and osteoporosis and renal osteodystrophy ia humans. Many of these clinical studies are outlined ia References 6, 16, 40, 51, and 141. The vitamin D receptor complex is a member of the gene superfamily of transcriptional activators, and 1,25 dihydroxy vitamin D is thus supportive of selective cell differentiation. In addition to mineral homeostasis mediated ia the iatestiae, kidney, and bone, the metaboUte acts on the immune system, P-ceUs of the pancreas (iasulin secretion), cerebellum, and hypothalamus. 

However, results obtained by Koo et al. (1991) indicate that low to moderate lead exposure (average lifetime PbB level range of 4.9-23.6 pg/dL, geometric mean of 9.8 pg/dL, n=105) in young children with adequate nutritional status, particularly with respect to calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D, has no effect on vitamin D metabolism, calcium and phosphorus homeostasis, or bone mineral content. The authors attribute the difference in results from those other studies to the fact that the children in their study had lower PbB levels (only 5 children had PbB levels >60 pg/dL and all 105 children had average lifetime PbB levels <45 pg/dL at the time of assessment) and had adequate dietary intakes of calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D. They concluded that the effects of lead on vitamin D metabolism observed in previous studies may, therefore, only be apparent in children with chronic nutritional deficiency and chronically elevated PbB levels. Similar conclusions were reached by IPCS (1995) after review of the epidemiological data. 

Vitamin D is really a small family of closely related molecnles that prevent the bone disease rickets in children and osteomalacia in adnlts. In both cases, inadeqnate mineralization of bone results in bone deformation and weakness. Calcinm, Ca +, homeostasis is one goal of vitamin D activity, a goal it shares with parathyroid hormone and calcitonin. Calcium is intimately involved in bone mineralization and distnrbances of calcium levels in the blood can resnlt in inadeqnate bone mineralization or excessive calcification of other tissues. 

Vitamin D hormone is derived from vitamin D (cholecalciferol). Vitamin D can also be produced in the body it is formed in the skin from dehydrocholesterol during irradiation with UV light. When there is lack of solar radiation, dietary intake becomes essential, cod liver oil being a rich source. Metaboli-cally active vitamin D hormone results from two successive hydroxylations in the liver at position 25 ( calcifediol) and in the kidney at position 1 ( calci-triol = vit. D hormone). 1-Hydroxylation depends on the level of calcium homeostasis and is stimulated by parathormone and a fall in plasma levels of Ca or phosphate. Vit D hormone promotes enteral absorption and renal reabsorption of Ca and phosphate. As a result of the increased Ca + and phosphate concentration in blood, there is an increased tendency for these ions to be deposited in bone in the form of hydroxyapatite crystals. In vit D deficiency, bone mineralization is inadequate (rickets, osteomalacia). Therapeutic Liillmann, Color Atlas of Pharmacology... 

Hillman, L.S., Chow, W., Salmons, S.S., Weaver, E., Erickson, M., Hansen, J. 1988. Vitamin D metabolism, mineral homeostasis, and bone mineralization in term infants fed human milk, cow milk-based formula, or soy-based formula. J. Fed. 112, 864-874. 

VDR is a receptor of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (DHD3 31), which is an active form of vitamin D and plays critical roles in a variety of biological activities, including regulation of calcium homeostasis, bone mineralization and control of cellular growth, differentiation, and apoptosis. VDR antagonists can be expected... 

Q7 Calcium is present in both intracellular fluid (ICF) and ECF, but the concentration in the ECF is twice as high as that in the ICF. Calcium is found in both ionized and bound forms, and Ca2+ homeostasis is mainly controlled by parathyroid hormone, which increases absorption of calcium in the intestine and reabsorption in the nephron. Calcitonin also affects ECF calcium concentration by promoting renal excretion when there is an excess of calcium in the body. The normal kidney filters and reabsorbs most of the filtered calcium however, in renal disease this is reduced and blood calcium decreases. Calcium and phosphate imbalance can occur in patients with renal failure, leading to osteomalacia (defective mineralization of bone). Osteomalacia is mainly due to reduced production of 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol, an active form of vitamin D metabolized in the kidney. Deficiency of 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol reduces the absorption of calcium salts by the intestine. 

Osteomalacia is caused by deficiency of vitamin D. Vitamin D regulates calcium homeostasis in the body by facilitating absorption of calcium from the intestine and, together with PTH, by enhancing calcium mobilization from bone and by reducing excretion of calcium by the kidney. Deficiency of vitamin D leads to inadequate absorption of calcium. Low levels of calcium stimulate the release of PTH, which in turn causes release of calcium from bone and failure to mineralize newly formed bone. 

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