Vitamin D – That Bright thing in the Sky

Gropper, S. S., Smith, J. L., & Carr, T. P. (2016). Advanced Nutrition and Human Metabolism. Cengage Learning.
Explores vitamin D’s roles in calcium metabolism, immune regulation, and gene expression.

Bikle, D. D. (2014). “Vitamin D metabolism, mechanism of action, and clinical applications.” Chemistry & Biology, 21(3), 319–329.
Discusses the molecular mechanisms underlying vitamin D metabolism and activation, emphasising its broad biological roles in human health and disease prevention.

Holick, M. F. (2007). “Vitamin D deficiency.” The New England Journal of Medicine, 357(3), 266–281.
Explores the pathways of vitamin D synthesis from sunlight and dietary sources, highlighting the systemic consequences and clinical implications of vitamin D deficiency.

DeLuca, H. F. (2004). “Overview of general physiologic features and functions of vitamin D.” The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 80(6 Suppl), 1689S–1696S.
Provides an overview of vitamin D metabolism, detailing its critical role in maintaining calcium homeostasis and systemic physiological health.

Jones, G. (2008). “Pharmacokinetics of vitamin D toxicity.” The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 88(2), 582S–586S.
Examines the metabolic processes regulating vitamin D, highlighting the risks and physiological consequences associated with excessive intake and toxicity.

Jablonski, N. G., & Chaplin, G. (2010). “Human skin pigmentation as an adaptation to UV radiation.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 107(Supplement 2), 8962–8968.
Explores the evolutionary relationship between human skin pigmentation and ultraviolet radiation exposure, highlighting its role in regulating vitamin D synthesis.

Eaton, S. B., & Konner, M. (1985). “Paleolithic nutrition: A consideration of its nature and current implications.” The New England Journal of Medicine, 312(5), 283–289.
Examines ancestral dietary and lifestyle patterns, highlighting natural vitamin D acquisition through regular sunlight exposure and contrasting this with modern deficiencies.

Chaplin, G. (2004). “Geographic distribution of environmental factors influencing human skin coloration.” American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 125(3), 292–302.
Examines how geographic variations in UV radiation influenced human skin pigmentation, impacting vitamin D synthesis and shaping evolutionary migration patterns.

Holick, M. F., & Chen, T. C. (2008). “Vitamin D deficiency: A worldwide problem with health consequences.” The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 87(4), 1080S–1086S.
Examines global vitamin D deficiency, highlighting its critical role in bone health, calcium metabolism, and its broader systemic health implications, including rickets and osteoporosis.

Aranow, C. (2011). “Vitamin D and the immune system.” Journal of Investigative Medicine, 59(6), 881–886.
Explores the critical roles of vitamin D in modulating both innate and adaptive immunity, highlighting its systemic impact on immune function and health outcomes.

Bikle, D. D. (2020). “Vitamin D regulation of immune function.” Current Osteoporosis Reports, 18(3), 210–217.
Discusses vitamin D’s role in immune regulation, emphasising its importance in reducing inflammation and the risk of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

Cashman, K. D., Dowling, K. G., Škrabáková, Z., et al. (2016). “Vitamin D deficiency in Europe: pandemic?” The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 103(4), 1033–1044.
Examines the widespread vitamin D deficiency across Europe, highlighting dietary, environmental, and lifestyle factors contributing to inadequate vitamin D synthesis and systemic health impacts.

Holick, M. F. (2004). “Sunlight and vitamin D for bone health and prevention of autoimmune diseases, cancers, and cardiovascular disease.” The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 80(6 Suppl), 1678S–1688S.
Examines sunlight as a primary and natural source of vitamin D, highlighting its critical role in bone health, immune regulation, and protection against chronic diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Lanou, A. J., & Castleman, M. (2009). Building Bone Vitality: A Revolutionary Diet Plan to Prevent Bone Loss and Reverse Osteoporosis—Without Dairy Foods, Calcium, Estrogen, or Drugs. McGraw-Hill Education.
Explores plant-based dietary strategies for obtaining vitamin D, calcium, and other nutrients crucial to bone health, offering effective alternatives to fortified foods and animal-based sources.

Heaney, R. P. (2003). “Long-latency deficiency disease: Insights from calcium and vitamin D.” The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 78(5), 912–919.
Evaluates the long-term consequences of vitamin D deficiency, detailing the systemic importance of maintaining adequate vitamin D levels and calcium balance to prevent chronic diseases.