Dear Colleagues,

Vitamin D deficiency affects about 40% of the European population, with 13% being severely deficient. The link between vitamin D insufficiency and the development of many chronic diseases in populations from developed countries is well known. In particular, numerous observational studies have highlighted the growing number of cases with vitamin D insufficiency in patients with chronic autoimmune diseases such as type I diabetes mellitus, inflammatory bowel disease, and multiple sclerosis, as well as in patients with various forms of allergies. The role of vitamin D and its receptor (vitamin D receptor, VDR) on the normal functioning of cardiomyocytes also seems to be important in the genesis of cardiovascular diseases such as arterial hypertension, atherosclerosis and heart failure. Furthermore, vitamin D plays a substantial role in the pathogenesis of various neoplasms such as colorectal, breast and prostate cancer. The maintenance of sufficient levels of vitamin D in the serum could be relevant for cancer prevention and treatment. Finally, the fundamental roles of vitamin D in normal musculoskeletal function and in maintaining good bone health are well known. Adequate vitamin D levels prevent the onset of chronic diseases such as osteoporosis, thereby reducing the incidence of falls and the fragility of bone fractures. This special issue will focus on the role of vitamin D in the pathogenesis of major chronic diseases and on strategies for their prevention through supplementation.

Associate Prof.  Giuseppe Murdaca, Prof. Sebastiano Gangemi and Dr. Paladin Francesca

Guest Editors