Table of Contents
Ch. I Is calcidiol an active hormone? 1
Ch. II Vitamin D as a neurosteroid hormone : from neurobiological effects to behavior 29
Ch. III Inhibitors of vitamin D hydroxylases : mechanistic tools and therapeutic aspects 67
Ch. IV Vitamin D analogues as anti-cancer therapies 145
Ch. V Paricalcitol : a vitamin D2 analog with anticancer effects with low calcemic activity 169
Ch. VI Vitamin D use among older adults in U.S. : results form national surveys 1997 to 2002 181
Ch VII Vitamin D deficiency in migrants 199
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble steroid hormone precursor that contributes to the maintenance of normal levels of calcium and phosphorus in the bloodstream. Strictly speaking, it is not a vitamin since human skin can manufacture it, but it is referred to as one for historical reasons. It is often known as calciferol. The major biologic function of vitamin D is to maintain normal blood levels of calcium and phosphorus. Vitamin D aids in the absorption of calcium, helping to form and maintain strong bones. It promotes bone mineralisation in concert with a number of other vitamins, minerals and hormones. Without vitamin D, bones can become thin, brittle, soft or misshapen. Vitamin D prevents rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults -- skeletal diseases that result in defects that weaken bones. This book gathers international research on the leading-edge of the scientific front.