Editor: J. Ruth Wu-Wong

Series Title: Vitamin D and Your Body

Why Does Vitamin D Matter?

Volume 1

eBook: US $44 Special Offer (PDF + Printed Copy): US $110
Printed Copy: US $88
Library License: US $176
ISSN: 2589-3041 (Print)
ISSN: 1879-4475 (Online)
ISBN: 978-1-60805-511-1 (Print)
ISBN: 978-1-60805-083-3 (Online)
Year of Publication: 2012
DOI: 10.2174/97816080508331120101

Introduction

New tests and studies continue to reveal exciting information about the power of vitamin D in maintaining good health and preventing major illnesses. ‘Why Does Vitamin D Matter?’ not only covers vitamin D basics, but also explores the science of the vitamin D receptor (VDR), the protein that binds to the active metabolite of vitamin D to fulfill biochemical functions, it explains how vitamin D analogs directly activate the VDR. Readers will find this e-book informative, not only from the scientific point of view, but also from the potential applications of the knowledge into one’s daily life.

Starting with a brief history of vitamin D and VDR research, followed by a detailed scientific report of how vitamin D and VDR work, this e-book goes on to cover epidemiological studies that investigate the outcome of vitamin D deficiency and the effects of vitamin D supplementation. Issues related to vitamin D supplementation are also addressed from different angles. This e-book continues with a comprehensive report on the numerous vitamin D analogs currently on the market or in development to treat various diseases, followed by exploring the possibility of developing this class of compounds for additional indications.

This e-book is suitable for both general readers and scientists involved in vitamin D research or students who are interested in a career in biochemical/medical/nutritional research, especially in the field of vitamin D and the vitamin D receptor.

Indexed in: Scopus, Book Citation Index, Science Edition, BIOSIS Previews, Chemical Abstracts, EBSCO.

Preface

Many eBooks have been published on the subject of vitamin D. Considering the important role vitamin D plays in human health, perhaps the plan to construct a series of eBooks on the subject of vitamin D is still worth pursuing, although the task is certainly daunting and at the same time exciting. This eBook is the first in the series and it aims to explore why vitamin D matters.

The first chapter offers the readers a brief history of the vitamin D field. It will become obvious to the readers that this is a pretty “ancient” field and many studies have been conducted in the field. The second chapter follows by detailing how vitamin D works, which shall also be accessible to a large class of readers with some scientific background.

Numerous epidemiological studies have been conducted to investigate the outcome of vitamin D deficiency and the effects of vitamin D supplementation. Chapter 3 contains a detailed account of the available data on epidemiology to help the readers understand more about the role of vitamin D in various disease states. After learning about the importance of vitamin D, the readers may wonder how much vitamin D is required to maintain good health and whether they shall increase their vitamin D intake. In Chapter 4, the issue of vitamin D supplementation is addressed from different angles.

It is important to note that vitamin D and its analogs are currently used to treat various diseases. Chapter 5 provides a comprehensive report on various vitamin D analogs currently on the market or in development. Chapter 6 continues by exploring the possibility of developing this class of compounds for additional indications.

Chapter 7 summarizes the topics discussed in the previous chapters and attempts to pin down the unresolved issues in the vitamin D field and also projects what to expect in the future.

We hope the readers will find this eBook informative, not only from the scientific point of view, but also from the potential applications of the knowledge into one’s daily life. It is the authors’ sincere wish that the eBook will arouse interest among young people to consider a career in biochemical/medical research, especially in the field of vitamin D.

We would like to thank Dr. Terry Opgenorth for writing the foreword and Bentham Science Publishers for their support and efforts.

J. Ruth Wu-Wong
University of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago
USA

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