Endocrine Abstracts

Vitamin D is one of the major factors involved in calcium and phosphate homeostasis via actions on intestine, kidney, parathyroid gland, and bone. In addition, vitamin D has effects on various cells and tissues not primarily related to calcium, phosphate and bone metabolism, including the immunesystem, brain, and various cancer cells. Vitamin D deficiency is linked to incidence and progress of various diseases. Currently there is an increase in discussion on the question about...

GH levels decline with aging and this is thought to contribute to the age-related decrease in bone mass. However, data on the effects of GH replacement on osteoporosis are contradictory. The potential therapeutic benefits depend on the dose, frequency and duration of treatment. It is for this reason that treatments with GH secretagogues (GHS), which stimulate pulsatile release of GH as occurs in normal physiology, have been postulated to be a more successful therapeutic approa...