Vitamin D in Health and Disease (2nd Edition)

<p>Vitamin D (VD) is a lipo-soluble hormone that is well known for its effects on calcium homeostasis and bone metabolism. Recently there has been growing interest in the extra-skeletal effects of VD. In particular recent studies have highlighted how VD plays a fundamental role in immunomodulation processes in the context of both innate and adaptive immunity with consequential anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects in different immune-mediated pathologies such as systemic sclerosis psoriasis atopic dermatitis and rheumatoid arthritis as well as in various pro-inflammatory processes affecting the airways. Recent evidence has shown that VD is also closely related to other components such as the microbiome with which it appears to be interconnected in the pathophysiology of many allergic diseases. In addition to the known immunomodulatory effects of VD several studies have reported that it is also endowed with important anti-proliferative anti-angiogenic and pro-differentiative effects in cancer thanks to its effects on the modulation of the expression of tumor miRNAs through its action at the VD receptor (VDR) level. In view of this it is clear that VD supplementation represents a safe and valid therapeutic strategy that is capable of improving the clinical outcome of many diseases. In this Special Issue the different functions and potential benefits of vitamin D were discussed.</p>