Title: Metabolism of vitamin D and modulation of immune responses

Abstract:

The key functions of vitamin D are to facilitate intestinal absorption of calcium and phosphorus, skeletal mineralization, and control cell growth. Vitamin D also enhances the immune protection and fight against the invading microbes. These actions are mediated through modulation of vitamin D-dependent gene transcriptions. Vitamin D has an immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and anti-proliferative function. The consequences of vitamin D deficiency are bone resorption, increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, T-lymphocytes, increased T-helper-1 functions, and decreased T-helper-2 functions. Beyond its use to prevent osteomalacia and rickets and prevention of falls and fractures, the evidence for other health effects of vitamin D supplementation are increasing, but still inconsistent. Provision of vitamin D supplementation to D-deficient elderly and institutionalized persons, have been unequivocally shown to decrease falls, increases bone mineral density, and decrease fractures. Vitamin D deficiency related diseases are particularly important amidst global changes in lifestyle that result in unhealthy eating, increased sedentary habits, and alcohol, tobacco consumption and environmental pollution. Additional exciting biological and physiological functions of vitamin D are in the horizon. Skin and dietary derived vitamins D needs to be activated. The first vitamin D metabolism step occurs in the liver generating 25(OH)D and its final hydroxylation hormonal form, 1,25(OH)2D (calcitriol) is generated in kidneys. Serum 25(OH)2D levels below 30 ng/mL (75 nmol/L) is considered as insufficient or hypovitaminosis D. More than 50% of world’s population suffer with vitamin D deficiency.

Biography:

Prof. (Dr.) Afrozul Haq, is currently the Founder Vice Chancellor of H.A. University, Imphal, Manipur. Former Dean and Head of the Department of Food Technology, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, India. Prof. Haq is a graduate of Aligarh Muslim University, & INSERM fellow Paris, France. Prof. Haq has more than 35 years of experience as a basic & clinical research scientist working in a number of research labs, and hospitals around the world including Pasteur Institute, Paris, France; McGill University, Montreal, Canada; King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Mafraq Hospital, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, VPS Healthcare, & GDC, Abu Dhabi, UAE. Served as the head of Biochemical Diseases Investigation group from 2001 to 2006 at Mafraq Hospital in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Founding President and Chairman of International Conference on Vitamin D Deficiency, Nutrition and Human Health continuously for the last 10 years. Prof. Haq also served as the Senior Consultant and Advisor to the Oy Verman Ab Pharmaceutical company, Helsinki, Finland.