TLDR Mice without active or present vitamin D receptors maintain normal blood sugar control and islet gene expression when calcium levels are normal.
Researchers studied the impact of a transcriptionally inactive or absent vitamin D receptor (VDR) on beta-cell function and glucose homeostasis in mice by comparing VDRΔAF2, VDR knockout (VDR−/−), and wild type (WT) mice. Despite variations in body weight and fat percentage, glucose tolerance and insulin secretion were similar across all groups. Only one gene, phosphodiesterase 10a, was differentially expressed, being upregulated in both VDRΔAF2 and VDR−/− islets. The study concluded that under normocalcemic conditions, the absence of VDR or its ligand-activated transcription did not affect glucose homeostasis or beta-cell function in mice.
25 citations,
August 2014 in “Endocrinology” Researchers created a mouse model of a type of rickets that does not cause hair loss.
1533 citations,
October 2008 in “Endocrine reviews” Mice without the vitamin D receptor have bone issues and other health problems, suggesting vitamin D is important for preventing various diseases in humans.
December 2017 in “Elsevier eBooks” The vitamin D receptor helps maintain hair and bone health even without binding vitamin D.
42 citations,
March 2008 in “Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology” Hormones and neuroendocrine factors control hair growth and color, and more research could lead to new hair treatment options.
245 citations,
January 2018 in “Bone Research” TGF-β is crucial for tissue repair and can cause diseases if not properly regulated.
119 citations,
July 2016 in “Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences” Vitamin D has potential benefits for cancer prevention, heart health, diabetes, obesity, muscle function, skin health, and immune function, but clinical results are mixed and more research is needed.
4 citations,
July 2019 in “Children (Basel)” The review concludes that more research is needed to better improve the health outcomes for people with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.
