Editorial: The Role of Vitamin D in Gut Health and Disease in Children

Abstract

The metabolism of vitamin D relies predominantly upon the synthesis of cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) in the epidermis following exposure to sunlight (specifically ultraviolet B rays) and the subsequent hydroxylation to active forms in the liver and kidney (1). Vitamin D can also be sourced from natural dietary sources such as fatty fish or from supplemented foods such as bread or cow's milk.

One of the primary roles of vitamin D is the regulation of intestinal absorption of cations such as calcium and magnesium (1, 2). Inadequate vitamin D results in less intestinal absorption and consequent adverse effects on bone health. Vitamin D deficiency may present with rickets in early childhood or osteomalacia at any age (2).

Besides bone health, there is increasing interest in other biological roles of Vitamin D through interaction with the vitamin D receptor expressed in several tissues (3, 4). These include anti-infective and immunoregulatory roles and have led vitamin D status to be linked with the etiology and severity of various chronic health conditions. This Research Topic aimed to draw together reports focusing on aspects of vitamin D relevant to child health overall and also to specific disease states in childhood.