TLDR Vitamin D is important for regulating calcium, phosphate, and hair health.
The document "Chapter 28. Vitamin D: Production, Metabolism, Mechanism of Action, and Clinical Requirements" from 2008, authored by Daniel Bikle, John Adams, and Sylvia Christakos, provided a comprehensive overview of Vitamin D's production, metabolism, and mechanism of action. It discussed how Vitamin D is transported in the blood and the internalization of its metabolites. The authors also explored Vitamin D's role in regulating calcium and phosphate metabolism, its effects on classic and nonclassical target tissues, and its immunobiology. Notably, the document highlighted the function of Vitamin D in keratinocyte, cells that produce keratin, in the epidermis and hair follicles, suggesting a potential role in hair health. Lastly, the authors considered the nutritional aspects of Vitamin D.
143 citations
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May 2007 in “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences” The study found that the vitamin D receptor (VDR) was essential for normal keratinocyte stem cell function and hair follicle cycling, which was crucial for preventing alopecia. In VDR-null mice, hair follicle development was normal, but postmorphogenic hair cycling was impaired due to defects in keratinocyte stem cell self-renewal or lineage specification. This impairment led to alopecia, increased sebaceous gland activity, and lipid-laden dermal cysts, similar to impaired Wnt signaling. The study showed that VDR was necessary for proper Wnt signaling, as it formed a complex with β-catenin and Lef1, crucial for gene activation in keratinocytes. Keratinocyte-specific expression of a VDR transgene corrected these defects, underscoring VDR's role in maintaining hair follicle homeostasis and its potential in preventing hair loss.
81 citations
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January 2006 in “Journal of cellular physiology” Mice without the vitamin D receptor gene lose hair due to disrupted hair follicle cycles.
144 citations
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December 2004 in “Molecular Endocrinology” 276 citations
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April 2003 in “Molecular endocrinology” Vitamin D is important for bones, hair, blood pressure, and breast development.
28 citations
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March 2017 in “Endocrinology” Removing vitamin D and calcium receptors in mice skin cells slows down skin wound healing.
15 citations
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August 2022 in “Journal of endocrinological investigation” Vitamin D and calcium are important for quick and effective skin wound healing.
14 citations
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November 2005 in “Life sciences” Vitamin D3 may protect rat hair follicles from radiation damage.
2 citations
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September 2022 in “Bioscientia medicina” Topical vitamin D is effective in treating vitiligo with few side effects.
10 citations
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October 1993 in “Archives of dermatological research” Vitamin D compounds may help treat psoriasis by promoting skin cell differentiation.
