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Kerstetter JE, O'Brien KO, Insogna KL. Low protein intake: the impact on calcium and bone homeostasis in humans. J Nutr. 2003 Mar;133(3):855S-861S. Review. PMID: 12612169

Vitamin D status and glucose homeostasis in the 1958 British birth cohort: the role of obesity. Hyppönen E, Power C. Diabetes Care. 2006 Oct;29(10):2244-6. PMID: 17003300 doi: 10.2337/dc06-0946 CONCLUSIONS-Body size was a strong determinant for 25(OH)D, with concentrations being suboptimal in most obese participants. Randomized controlled trials [using dosages sufficient to improve 25(OH)D also for the obese] are required to determine whether clinically relevant improvements in glucose metabolism can be obtained by vitamin D supplementation.

The importance of calcium, potassium, and acid-base homeostasis in bone health and osteoporosis prevention. Tylavsky FA, Spence LA, Harkness L. J Nutr. 2008 Jan;138(1):164S-165S. PMID: 18156418 In concert with the acid-base literature, protein intake is considered to be a net acid-producing substance and thus a net negative risk factor for bone dissolution. However, substantial literature supports the beneficial effects on skeletal metabolism when higher protein levels are consumed in concert with adequate calcium, potassium, and other minerals, regardless of the source of protein (24-26). The Dietary Approaches to Stopping Hypertension (DASH) diet (27) is a calcium-rich diet that emphasizes fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products. This diet underscores the importance of consuming a complement of foods from meats, grains, dairy, fruits, and vegetables as prudent for promoting optimal bone health. In the following articles, Rafferty and Lanham-New carefully review the evidence on the interaction of specific diet components that impact bone health and conclude that a balanced diet with recommended servings of dairy products and a variety of fruits and vegetables is prudent for optimal bone health. Additionally, they comment on future research directions for consideration by the scientific community.

Vitamin D, aging, and cancer. Tuohimaa P. Nutr Rev. 2008 Oct;66(10 Suppl 2):S147-52. Review. PMID: 18844842 DOI: 10.1111/j.1753-4887.2008.00095.x Deficiency of the prohormone calcidiol (25OH vitamin D3) seems to be associated with several aging-related chronic diseases including cancer. Our results suggest that calcidiol is mainly responsible for differentiation homeostasis, whereas calcitriol might be more involved in calcium homeostasis. Therefore, an imbalance of calcidiol rather than calcitriol is a risk factor for cancer and chronic diseases. Calcidiol insufficiency, as well as insufficient solar exposure, is associated with increased risk of several solid cancers. Both a vitamin D3 deficiency and a high concentration of calcidiol may increase cancer risk. Similarly, aging phenomena show a U-shaped association with vitamin D bioactivity. Therefore, the chronic diseases and cancers related to aging might be prevented by an optimal concentration of serum calcidiol, which remains to be determined.

A longitudinal study of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and intact parathyroid hormone levels indicate the importance of vitamin D and calcium homeostasis regulation in multiple sclerosis. Soilu-Hänninen M, Laaksonen M, Laitinen I, Erälinna JP, Lilius EM, Mononen I. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2008 Feb;79(2):152-7. Epub 2007 Jun 19. PMID: 17578859 doi:10.1136/jnnp.2006.105320 Conclusions: The endocrine circuitry regulating serum calcium may be altered in MS. There is an inverse relationship between serum vitamin D level and MS clinical activity. The role of vitamin D in MS must be explored further.

Supplementation with oral probiotic bacteria protects human cutaneous immune homeostasis after UV exposure-double blind, randomized, placebo controlled clinical trial. Peguet-Navarro J, Dezutter-Dambuyant C, Buetler T, Leclaire J, Smola H, Blum S, Bastien P, Breton L, Gueniche A. Eur J Dermatol. 2008 Sep-Oct;18(5):504-11. Epub 2008 Aug 8. PMID: 18693151

Novel role of the vitamin D receptor in maintaining the integrity of the intestinal mucosal barrier. Kong J, Zhang Z, Musch MW, Ning G, Sun J, Hart J, Bissonnette M, Li YC. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2008 Jan;294(1):G208-16. Epub 2007 Oct 25. PMID: 17962355 These observations suggest that VDR plays a critical role in mucosal barrier homeostasis by preserving the integrity of junction complexes and the healing capacity of the colonic epithelium. Therefore, vitamin D deficiency may compromise the mucosal barrier, leading to increased susceptibility to mucosal damage and increased risk of IBD.

Vitamin D and living in northern latitudes--an endemic risk area for vitamin D deficiency. Huotari A, Herzig KH. Int J Circumpolar Health. 2008 Jun;67(2-3):164-78. Review. PMID: 18767337 CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D plays a fundamental role in calcium and phosphate homeostasis. A deficiency of vitamin D has been attributed to several diseases. Since its production in the skin depends on exposure to UVB-radiation via the sunlight, the level of vitamin D is of crucial importance for the health of inhabitants who live in the Nordic latitudes where there is diminished exposure to sunlight during the winter season. Therefore, fortification or supplementation of vitamin D is necessary for most of the people living in the northern latitudes during the winter season to maintain adequate levels of circulating 25(OH)D3 to maintain optimal body function and prevent diseases.

Prostacyclin (or PGI2) is a member of the family of lipid molecules known as eicosanoids.\nAs a drug, it is also known as "epoprostenol".[1] The terms are sometimes used interchangeably Prostacyclin (PGI2) chiefly prevents formation of the platelet plug involved in primary hemostasis (a part of blood clot formation). It is also an effective vasodilator. Prostacyclin's interactions in contrast to thromboxane (TXA2), another eicosanoid, strongly suggest a mechanism of cardiovascular homeostasis between the two hormones in relation to vascular damage.

Efficacy of berberine in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Yin J, Xing H, Ye J. Metabolism. 2008 May;57(5):712-7. PMID: 18442638 doi: 10.1016/j.metabol.2008.01.013. Fasting plasma insulin and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index were reduced by 28.1% and 44.7% (P<.001), respectively. Total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were decreased significantly as well. During the trial, 20 (34.5%) patients experienced transient gastrointestinal adverse effects. Functional liver or kidney damages were not observed for all patients. In conclusion, this pilot study indicates that berberine is a potent oral hypoglycemic agent with beneficial effects on lipid metabolism In summary, that berberine is a potent oral hypoglycemic agent with modest effect on lipid metabolism. It is safe and the cost of treatment by berberine is very low. It may serve as a new drug candidate in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. However, this is a pilot study. The efficacy of berberine needs to be tested in a much larger population and characterized as a function of the known duration of the diabetes. Further studies are needed to evaluate the action of berberine on type 2 diabetes in other ethnic groups.

n-3 fatty acids and gene expression. Deckelbaum RJ, Worgall TS, Seo T. Am J Clin Nutr. 2006 Jun;83(6 Suppl):1520S-1525S. Review. Erratum in: Am J Clin Nutr. 2006 Oct;84(4):949. PMID: 16841862 Accumulating evidence in both humans and animal models clearly indicates that a group of very-long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, the n-3 fatty acids (or omega-3), have distinct and important bioactive properties compared with other groups of fatty acids. n-3 Fatty acids are known to reduce many risk factors associated with several diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer. The mechanisms whereby n-3 fatty acids affect gene expression are complex and involve multiple processes. As examples, n-3 fatty acids regulate 2 groups of transcription factors, such as sterol-regulatory-element binding proteins and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors, that are critical for modulating the expression of genes controlling both systemic and tissue-specific lipid homeostasis. Modulation of specific genes by n-3 fatty acids and cross-talk between these genes are responsible for many effects of n-3 fatty acids.

"5' AMP-activated protein kinase or AMPK or 5' adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase is an enzyme that plays a role in cellular energy homeostasis. It consists of three proteins (subunits) that together make a functional enzyme, conserved from yeast to humans. It is expressed in a number of tissues, including the liver, brain, and skeletal muscle. The net effect of AMPK activation is stimulation of hepatic fatty acid oxidation and ketogenesis, inhibition of cholesterol synthesis, lipogenesis, and triglyceride synthesis, inhibition of adipocyte lipolysis and lipogenesis, stimulation of skeletal muscle fatty acid oxidation and muscle glucose uptake, and modulation of insulin secretion by pancreatic beta-cells.[1] It should not be confused with cyclic AMP-activated protein kinase (protein kinase A), which, although being of similar nature, may have opposite effects.[2]"

Dietary cholesterol and the risk of cardiovascular disease in patients: a review of the Harvard Egg Study and other data. Jones PJ. Int J Clin Pract Suppl. 2009 Oct;(163):1-8, 28-36. English, French. PMID: 19751443 For many years, both the medical community and the general public have incorrectly associated eggs with high serum cholesterol and being deleterious to health, even though cholesterol is an essential component of cells and organisms. It is now acknowledged that the original studies purporting to show a linear relation between cholesterol intake and coronary heart disease (CHD) may have contained fundamental study design flaws, including conflated cholesterol and saturated fat consumption rates and inaccurately assessed actual dietary intake of fats by study subjects. Newer and more accurate trials, such as that conducted by Frank B. Hu of the Harvard School of Public Health (1999), have shown that consumption of up to seven eggs per week is harmonious with a healthful diet, except in male patients with diabetes for whom an association in higher egg intake and CHD was shown. The degree to which serum cholesterol is increased by dietary cholesterol depends upon whether the individual's cholesterol synthesis is stimulated or down-regulated by such increased intake, and the extent to which each of these phenomena occurs varies from person to person. Several recent studies have shed additional light on the specific interplay between dietary cholesterol and cardiovascular health risk. It is evident that the dynamics of cholesterol homeostasis, and of development of CHD, are extremely complex and multifactorial. In summary, the earlier purported adverse relationship between dietary cholesterol and heart disease risk was likely largely over-exaggerated.

Dusso AS, Brown AJ, Slatopolsky E. Vitamin D. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. 2005 Jul;289(1):F8-28. Review. PMID: 15951480 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Overview of general physiologic features and functions of vitamin D. DeLuca HF. Am J Clin Nutr. 2004 Dec;80(6 Suppl):1689S-96S. Review. PMID: 15585789