Abstract

SERRANO DIAZ, Norma et al. QUANTIFICATION OF VITAMIN D: FROM RESEARCH TO CLINICAL PRACTICE. Biosalud [online]. 2017, vol.16, n.1, pp.67-79. ISSN 1657-9550.  https://doi.org/10.17151/biosa.2017.16.1.8.

The analysis of the biologically active forms of vitamin D has increased in the last decades, becoming a relevant tool in the clinical practice and investigation. Vitamin D plays an essential role in regulating the metabolism of calcium and phosphorous. In addition, this vitamin is considered a potential preventive factor in a wide range of chronical diseases such as cardiovascular and autoimmune diseases, different kinds of cancer, type 2 diabetes, chronical obstructive pulmonary disease, and pre-eclampsia. Due to the possible role that vitamin D has in these diseases and the few existing comparative studies which have been conducted between these diseases and the vitamin D levels, clinicians and researchers are interested in using reliable and specific techniques to quantify the concentrations of vitamin D in plasma. Nevertheless, in the scientific literature reviewed have not been established which is the best biomarker that indicates the sufficiency and function of vitamin D nor which is the most appropriate technique for adequate quantification. The goal of this review is to briefly describe the metabolism of vitamin D and the current challenges for its proper quantification and use in translational research.

Keywords : vitamin D; clinical research; vitamin D metabolites; ergocalciferol; cholecalciferol.

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