Endocrine Abstracts

Research into the role of vitamin D in human health has significantly increased. Best known for its role in calcium and bone metabolism, it is now also acknowledged to play a role in non-calcaemic processes, including muscle and immune function. For many of these, randomised controlled trials are underway and mechanisms are only partly understood. The plasma concentration of 25-Hydroxy-vitamin D (25OHD) is considered the best marker of vitamin D status. The free fraction of 25...

Sclerostin (SOST) and Dickkopf-related protein 1 (DKK1) are antagonists of Wnt signalling, inhibiting osteoblast activity and indirectly stimulating osteoclast activity. SOST and DKK1 antibody therapy leads to increases in bone mass and bone formation. However, reported associations between plasma SOST and DKK1 concentrations and measures of bone mass and turnover are conflicting. This study in healthy older men and women (n =379; median 74.1 [IQR 71.5-77.0]y) investi...

Low maternal vitamin D (VD) status is associated with adverse fetal development. However gestational changes in VD metabolites and their relationship with cord concentrations are unclear.The plasma concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D3) was measured using UPLC-MS/MS, and free 25(OH)D and vitamin D binding protein (DBP) concentrations were measured by ELISA. Plasma samples were collected longitudinally from women resident i...