Prevention of vitamin D deficiency and osteoporosis

Arctic. 2021. Vol. 74. No. 2. P. 80–97.

Karagodin V., Kozlov A., Nikitin I., Markin A., Summerhill V., Orekhov A.

It is well-known that vitamin D status impacts on the mineralization of the skeleton, bone turnover rate, and the occurrence of fractures. Numerous studies have shown a direct relationship between a low serum level of vitamin D and a low bone mineral density (BMD) and an increased risk of non-vertebral and hip fractures. Importantly, vitamin D status is essential for the generation of maximal bone mass and along with other risk factors can largely contribute the development of osteoporosis and other bone metabolic diseases, such as osteomalacia and rickets in children. Among bone metabolic disorders, osteoporosis is the most common chronic skeletal disease with high morbidity and mortality rates and its healthcare costs impose a significant economic burden. The effective prevention of vitamin D deficiency and osteoporosis can be achieved with the timely identification of individuals with an increased risk and appropriate dietary intervention. In this review, the rationale for identifying those at risk for vitamin D deficiency and subsequent osteoporosis was presented on the basis of evolutionary medicine principles. Moreover, we have highlighted the possibility of using selected plants as natural sources of vitamin D for reducing the incidence of vitamin D deficiency. Several other plant-derived compounds, such as phytoestrogens, flavonoids, and polyphenols, which exhibited protective effects on bone metabolism, were also explored for their potential use for nutritional prevention of osteoporosis.

Keywords: vitamin D, VDR, vitamin D deficiency, osteoporosis, bone metabolism, cholecalciferol

Publication based on the results of: Social inclusion after pandemic of COVID-19: organizational and microsocial contexts (2021)