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Sex differences in vitamin D metabolism, serum levels and action

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 January 2022

Alicja Wierzbicka Open the ORCID record for Alicja Wierzbicka [Opens in a new window]  and
Maria Oczkowicz Open the ORCID record for Maria Oczkowicz [Opens in a new window]
Alicja Wierzbicka*
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Molecular Biology, National Research Institute of Animal Production, Balice, Krakow, 32-083, Poland
Maria Oczkowicz
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Molecular Biology, National Research Institute of Animal Production, Balice, Krakow, 32-083, Poland
*
*Corresponding author: Dr A. Wierzbicka, email alicja.wierzbicka@iz.edu.pl
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Abstract

The ubiquity of vitamin D metabolising enzymes and vitamin D receptors in mammalian organisms suggests that vitamin D has pleiotropic effects. There are quite a few studies indicating the anticancer, cardioprotective and antidiabetic effects of vitamin D; however, the best-documented actions of vitamin D are the regulation of Ca–phosphate balance and its effect on immune function.

Vitamin D levels in organisms are modulated by many environmental and non-environmental factors. One potential factor that may influence vitamin D levels and effects is the sex of the individuals studied. This review focuses on the scientific evidence indicating different synthesis and metabolism of vitamin D in females and males, mainly from PubMed database sources. The article verifies the sex differences in vitamin D levels reported around the world. Moreover, the different effects of vitamin D on the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, nervous and immune systems, as well as cancer in males and females, were discussed.

Most studies addressing sex differences in vitamin D levels and effects are observational studies with conflicting results. Therefore, carefully designed clinical trials and experiments on animal models should be carried out to determine the role of non-environmental factors that may differentiate vitamin D levels in females and males.

Keywords

Vitamin DSexSex differencesDeficiencyNutrigenomics
Type
Research Article
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 128 , Issue 11 , 14 December 2022 , pp. 2115 - 2130
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Nutrition Society

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