VDR

The VDR gene encodes the vitamin D receptor [R].

When vitamin D binds to and activates VDR, it helps maintain the balance of minerals like calcium and phosphate in the body. VDR controls the absorption of calcium and phosphate from the gut into the bloodstream. For this reason, VDR is important for the health of bones and teeth [R].

Vitamin D and VDR also support brain health by increasing dopamine production [R].

VDR furthermore contributes to hair growth, but the mechanism of this effect is unknown [R].

Vitamin D deficiency or a defective VDR pathway may contribute to:

• Osteoporosis [R]
• Cancer [R]
• Diabetes [R, R]
• Heart disease [R]
• Neurological diseases [R]
• Autoimmune diseases [R, R, R, R, R]
• Infections [R]
• Asthma [R]
• Sun damage [R]
• Kidney disease [R]
• High Blood Pressure [R]
• Arthritis [R]

The VDR gene provides instructions for making a protein called vitamin D receptor (VDR), which allows the body to respond appropriately to vitamin D. This vitamin can be acquired from foods in the diet or made in the body with help from sunlight. Vitamin D is involved in maintaining the proper balance of several minerals in the body, including calcium and phosphate, which are essential for the normal formation of bones and teeth. One of vitamin D’s major roles is to control the absorption of calcium and phosphate from the intestines into the bloodstream. Vitamin D is also involved in several process unrelated to bone formation.

VDR attaches (binds) to the active form of vitamin D, known as calcitriol. This interaction allows VDR to partner with another protein called retinoid X receptor (RXR). The resulting complex of proteins then binds to particular regions of DNA, known as vitamin D response elements, and regulates the activity of vitamin D-responsive genes. By turning these genes on or off, VDR helps control calcium and phosphate absorption and other processes.

Although the mechanism is not completely understood, VDR is also involved in hair growth. Studies suggest that this process does not require calcitriol binding.

VDR stands for the Vitamin D Receptor. We think of vitamin D3 as causing a bunch of health effects, but vitamin D3 is mainly just the beginning of the process that leads to its health benefits.

Vitamin D3 needs to convert to Calcitriol, the active form. Then, Calcitriol needs to attach to a specific receptor “ the Vitamin D Receptor or VDR.

Some infections of toxins black these receptors.  If this happens, you wont get the health effects of Calcitriol or vitamin D3. After Calcitriol binds to the VDR, for many bodily functions, this complex then needs to go to the nucleus and bind with another protein such as RXR.

After that, there are cell-specific responses to regulate select genes that encode proteins that function in mediating the effects of vitamin D (R). In some cases, various steps can be left out.  For example, in skin cells, the Vitamin D Receptor can have effects without Calcitriol to increase hair growth (via Wnt). (R)

Vitamin Ds Anti-Inflammatory Role

Vitamin D mainly lowers the adaptive immune system.

• Inhibits B cell proliferation. (R)
• Inhibits immunoglobulin (Ig) secretion. (R)
• Inhibits T cell proliferation. (R)
• A shift from Th1 to Th2. (R, R2)
• Inhibits Th17. (R)
• Increases Tregs and IL-10. (R)
• Decreases inflammatory cytokines (IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, TNF, IL-17, IL-21). (R)
• Decreases TGF-beta (R)
• Decreases expression of MHCII and co-stimulatory molecules, which inhibits Dendritic Cell differentiation and maturation. (R)

If a word is hyperlinked, it means I’ve written about these at length and you can read more about it. Vitamin D also boosts the immune system: Vitamin D mainly stimulates the innate immune system.

• Crucial for T-Cell activation. In this sense its an immune booster. (R)
• Increase CD8+ T  Cells, which is important in controlling viral infections.
• Increases Natural Killer T Cells. (R) “ good for preventing an autoimmune disease, but bad for asthma.
• Increases NK cells. (R) ( are associated with)
• Releases Antimicrobials in response to an infection such as cathelicidin and beta-defensin 4. (R)

Other Benefits of the Vitamin D Receptor

The most popular benefits for vitamin D3 is its role in bone health. Low blood levels of vitamin D3 are associated with lower bone density (R). Clinical trials have shown that Calcitriol is helpful for people with lower bone density (R).

VDR activation induces the expression of liver and intestinal phase I detox enzymes (e.g., CYP2C9 and 3A4) that play major roles in metabolizing drugs and toxins (R). The Vitamin D Receptor is important for hair growth and loss of VDR is associated with hair loss in experimental animals (R). The VDR regulates intestinal transport of calcium, Iron and other minerals (R).

Since many infections block the Vitamin D Receptor, our body cant fight them off well.  Researches are using a combination of Calcitriol (active D) and antibiotics with good effects in many conditions.

Its a good idea to gradually eliminate pathogens over several years to minimize immune reactions. (R) Calcitriol/VDR increases dopamine by increasing the enzyme thats the rate limiting step for dopamine production (tyrosine hydroxylase) (R).

Calcitriol/VDR increases tyrosine hydroxylase in the hypothalamus (R), adrenal glands (R), substantia nigra (R) and likely other areas. This means that it increases productions of dopamine, adrenaline and noradrenaline.

Although having more neurotransmitters is a good thing, Tyrosine hydroxylase also increases oxidative stress, so it doesnt provide a free lunch. (R) Calcitriol increases glial derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) (in vitro), which protects dopamine neurons. (R)

Researchers hypothesize that inadequate levels of circulating vitamin D could lead to dysfunction in the substantia nigra, an area of the brain in which the characteristic dopaminergic degeneration occurs in parkinsonian disorders (R).

A high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency has been reported in Parkinsons patients and Parkinsons has been associated with decreased bone mineral density (R). Active D has different effects in cancer.

In breast cancer cells, estrogen (and aromatase) production decreased, while Testosterone/androgens  increased (both GOOD). In adrenal cancer cells, it decreased DHT (GOOD).

In prostate cancer cells, the production of testosterone and DHT increased (BAD). (R) High levels of the enzyme that breaks down active D is found in lung cancer (R) and breast cancer (R).  This would suggest that increasing its levels are good for breast and lung cancer.

FIXES:

• Seafood or Fish oil/DHA
• Curcumin
• Bile