Crucial Role of Vitamin D in the Musculoskeletal System

1Vitamin D came to the center of attention when it was shown to play a crucial role in many acute and chronic diseases. Based on the ideas of Funk, vitamin D was discovered some 100 years ago and first described by McCollum. In 1952, it was shown that vitamin D affects the serum calcium and is required for neuromuscular function. Experiments with radioactive 3H vitamin D3 in the late 1960s assumed that there is a biologically active form of vitamin D which is quite important for the metabolism of organisms. Following this, it took some more years to isolate and name those active metabolites (e.g., 25(OH)D and 1,25(OH)D).

2According to existing literature, vitamin D deficiency is a global problem with various symptoms and major consequences. It does not only affect the bone quality but also increases the risk of fractures, autoimmune diseases, and cancer. Therefore, a good understanding of the etiology of vitamin D deficiency should be developed to find an appropriate way to treat it.

3Vitamin D is a complex lipophilic molecule whose elemental formula is C27H44O. There are two sources of delivering vitamin D: (1) cutaneous synthesis and (2) diet.

4Most of it is supplied by cutaneous synthesis. 7-Dehydrocholesterol (provitamin D3, 7-DHC), which is synthesized inside the liver from cholesterol, converts to previtamin D3 while absorbing solar energies (ultraviolet B wave length: 290–315 nm). Under the influence of heat, it immediately converts to vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). Although the exposure to direct sunlight, depending on latitude, season and time, makes up the total amount of the vitamin D3 production, excessive exposure can also cause the formation of inactive photoproducts.

5The smaller portion of vitamin D, whereof two forms exist, is ingested from diet together with calcium and phosphates. Ergocalciferol (vitamin D2) is especially found in plants or plant products, while cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) is mainly contained in animal products like fresh and canned salmon, mackerel and tuna as well as cod liver oil. Circulating in the blood, vitamin D and its metabolites are always bound to vitamin D-binding protein (DBP). DBP carries vitamin D to the liver where it is metabolized by the vitamin D-25-hydroxylase enzymes, also known as cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2R1, and CYP27A1. Its product, the biologically inactive form (25-hydroxyvitamin D, 25(OH)D) is recirculated in the blood to be transported to the kidneys for further metabolism. The next step of the vitamin D metabolism is the hydroxylation of 25(OH)D in the kidneys to 1,25(OH)2D (1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, calcitriol) by the enzyme 25-hydroxyvitamin D-1-hydroxylase (1-OHase), also known as CYP27B1. Accumulation of both 25(OH)D and 1,25(OH)2D can act as a negative feedback mechanism for vitamin D3 metabolism, by inhibiting 25-OHase (CYP2R1) and 1–OHase (CYP27B1), respectively. To prevent this, excessive 25(OH)D and 1,25(OH)2D are metabolized by the 25–hydroxyvitamin D3-24-hydroxylase (24-OHase or CYP24A1) in order to facilitate biliary excretion of the products (24,25-hydroxyvitamin D/24,25(OH)D or calcitroic acid). Furthermore, lipophilic vitamin D can be effectively stored in fat tissue. The effect of vitamin D on adipocytes has not yet been deciphered.

6Vitamin D metabolism is self-regulated through negative feedback mechanisms, serum phosphate and calcium, fibroblast growth factors (FGF-23), and parathyroid hormone (PTH) (Figure 1). The overall reduction of 25(OH)D causes an increase in PTH levels by a negative regulation mechanism: By binding to the parathyroid vitamin D receptor, active vitamin D inhibits PTH gene transcription. This, in turn, may increase bone turnover and consequently bone loss by increasing bone FGF-23 gene expression. FGF-23, in turn, might enhance vitamin D inactivation both positively and negatively by 1a-hydroxylase and 24-hydroxylation of 25(OH)D. This probably explains why increased PTH levels are negatively correlated with bone mineral densiy (BMD) in patients with secondary osteoporosis.

7By influencing the PTH concentration, estrogen, glucocorticoids, calcitonin and somatotropin can also affect the calcitriol synthesis. As 1,25(OH)D increases the catabolism of itself by enhancing the expression of the enzyme 24-OHase (CYP24A1), it also directly inhibits the anabolic enzyme 1-OHase (CYP27B1) or indirectly by inhibiting the production of PTH in the parathyroid glands.

8Furthermore, 1,25(OH)D regulates the phosphate and calcium balance by supporting the intestinal absorption via epithelial calcium channels (ECaC) and calcium–binding proteins (CaBP). To obtain its biological activity, 1,25(OH)D needs to be bound to the vitamin D receptor (VDR) whose property it is to form heterodimers with related receptors (e.g., the retinoid X receptor, (RXR)) and bind to vitamin D response elements (VDREs) to initiate intracellular signaling cascades. As one possible response, 1,25(OH)D enhances the expression of the receptor activator of NFKB ligand (RANKL) in osteoblasts. RANKL associates with the receptor activator of NFKB (RANK) on immune cells to induce differentiation into osteoclasts to release calcium and phosphorus from the skeleton into the blood. Nevertheless, active vitamin D compounds have been successfully used as therapeutic treatment for osteoporosis. Paradoxically, in these patients, an increase in bone mineral density is obtained resulting from an inhibition of the osteoclastogenesis.

9It isn’t noteworthy that, the non–classical actions of vitamin D, e.g., regulation of the renin–angiotensin system, may play a relevant role in the mortality and morbidity of patients with secondary osteoporosis. This cascade leads to a sequential activation of angiotensin II, which is likely to have deleterious effects on blood pressure and the vasculature. Thus, decreased 25(OH)D levels are thought to predict hepatic and renal decompensation in these patients.

10Vitamin D deficiency is a widespread and global problem. To determine vitamin D status, 25(OH)D is measured in the blood. Insufficient vitamin D levels are at 20 ng/mL to 29 ng/mL, levels below 20 ng/mL are defined a deficiency. There is recent evidence that 25(OH)D levels underlie a circadian rhythm, therefore, special care has to be taken during blood sampling.

11Between 2001 and 2006, about a third of the US population was clearly affected. A German health interview and examination survey for adults showed that slightly more than 60% of the German population have 25(OH)D levels below 20 ng/mL. Amling and Barvencik reported an investigation showing that in 2012, about 80% of the European inhabitants had a vitamin D serum concentration below 30 ng/mL. The probability of suffering from vitamin D deficiency increases with age.

12Vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency can occur in various ways. Causal to the deficiency can be, among other things, the reduced intake with diet, inadequate sun exposure or a metabolic disorder. Risk factors to developing vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency are: (a) reduced or restricted sun exposure (e.g., homebound persons, people covering their skin for cultural/religious reasons); (b) a reduced cutaneous synthesis (e.g., in elderly); (c) suffering from a malabsorption syndrome (e.g., Crohn’s disease); and/or (d) obesity. There is no generalized recommendation for the time of sun exposure needed to obtain sufficient vitamin D activation as this process is strongly dependent on skin pigmentation, area of exposure and UV strength. Furthermore, vitamin D is fat soluble and gets easily accumulated in fat–tissue. What must not be neglected is the drug-induced decrease of vitamin D (e.g., glucocorticoids).

13Regarding the cultural aspect of vitamin D deficiency, abnormalities in vitamin D metabolism in Muslim women were reported several times. The effect of vitamin D deficiency on bone turnover in Muslim women was described by Diamond et al. in 2002. Using urinary deoxypyridinoline (DPYD) as a non–invasive marker of bone resorption, they could show a 5.5-times greater risk of developing high bone turnover if severe vitamin D deficiency was evident. In this cohort of healthy Muslim women, a severe vitamin D deficiency of 68% and a high bone turnover of 46% were shown. Bone densitometry and fracture risk were not analyzed. Fadoua Allali et al. described the impact of clothing style on bone mineral density among post–menopausal women in Morocco. They showed that a clothing style covering arms, legs and head increased the risk of osteoporosis by 2.2-fold. As described by Metcalfe et al., sunlight is a necessary component of vitamin D synthesis and people exposed less frequently to the sun are at increased risk, including women dressed according to the Shariah law. Therefore, poor exposure to sunlight was stated as an extraskeletal risk factor for hip fractures.

14The optimum setting of 25(OH) blood level is achieved when the serum level is above 30 ng/mL. In 1997, the recommended daily allowance for vitamin D intake to prevent a deficiency was 5 μg (200 IU) from childhood onwards up to late adulthood (50 years of age), 10 μg (400 IU) for people aged 50–70 years, and 15 μg (600 IU) for those over 70 years of age. In presence of an osteomalacia, the weekly intake recommended by current guidelines should be much higher (20,000 to 40,000 IU/week). The necessary daily doses of vitamin D to prevent falls have been reported to be between 700 and 1000 IU. According to the Swiss guidelines “Medizinische Leitlinien für Diagnostik und Therapie”, the needed loading dose in case of vitamin D deficiency is calculated as follows: (75-measured 25(OH)D blood level) × 40 × kg body weight. Afterwards, a daily intake of 1000 IU is recommended. The supplementation regime is pretty similar to the German one, in which a daily dose of 800–1000 IU in patients with a high risk of falls is recommended. However, as reported in recent findings, there is no further benefit of a vitamin D supplementation beyond the compensation of the deficiency. On the contrary, it might even lead to an adverse outcome. The lowest effective and the optimal dose of vitamin D supplementation can vary with the author, the type of patients and the underlying disease. However, more research still needs to be done to clearly define and optimize the recommendations, since there is recent evidence that the success of vitamin D therapy might even be strongly gender dependent, especially regarding adverse effects on the cardiovascular system.

15Vitamin D deficiency is associated with diseases affecting bone health (e.g., rickets, osteomalacia and osteoporosis). Ephesus once wrote about a child whose spine curved while sitting upright and whose thigh bones bent under the weight of its body, but never named a disease. At the end of the 16th century, Reusner described a disease occurring in the general population of Switzerland and Holland with features such as torsioned bones. Half a century later, a disease called “rickets” was first named as a reason for death in England. In the same century, descriptions of rickets and its features were published by Whistler (1645), Boot (1649), Glisson (1650) and Mayow (1668). Until well into the 20th century, symptoms of rickets were common in the population of British and other northern European industrial cities with a high prevalence during the winter months. Symptoms of rickets include changes in bone (e.g., deformities of the leg), a swelling of the wrist with a widened growth gap, a delayed closure of the fontanelles, craniofacial dysmorphy and musculoskeletal pain. Further symptoms like a cardiac arrest, a tetany or seizures might be induced by the resultant hypocalcaemia. Depending on its manifestation, rickets can lead to a hospitalization or even death. As of the early 20th century, rickets and its treatment was more thoroughly understood and the number of affected patients decreased. Hospitalization rates because of rickets have always been rising and falling in England. However, a constant rise of incidences over these past two decades could be observed. Goldacre et al. illustrate that the rate is now at its highest point in the last 50 years.

16Osteomalacia, another metabolic bone disease mainly caused by malfunction of the vitamin D or phosphate metabolism, leads to a reduced bone mineralization in adults. Unlike rickets, osteomalacia is rare in children. Reuss-Borst described an association between histological modifications in bone mineralization and the 25(OH)D serum level and states that there are no typical findings in blood levels over 30 ng/mL. Heath indicates that osteomalacia is clinically apparent and found in patients with serum levels <25 ng/mL. However, there is no specific blood parameter to prove the presence of osteomalacia. Hence, osteomalacia can be diagnosed on the basis of decreased serum calcium or phosphate levels and an elevated alkaline phosphatase. On clinical examination, unspecific symptoms like musculoskeletal pain, usually located in the pelvis, the shoulders or the proximal part of the muscles, can be found. Based on those symptoms, diseases with comparable symptoms such as rheumatic diseases must be excluded with the help of differential diagnosis. Shinchuk, Reuss-Borst and Rader report that pain increased by mild pressure on the sternum or anterior tibial bone are typical or suspected symptoms. In radiographic images showing Looser’s zones, a decrease of bone mineral density and increased uptake in bone scintigraphy are typical.

17In their case report, Lopresti et al. demonstrate how difficult and time consuming the diagnostics of tumor–induced osteomalacia can be. They report a patient presenting diffuse costal and vertebral pain without any trauma over a three–year period. Only after performing a scintigraphy showing the increased tracer uptake in osteomalacia’s predestined regions of the skeleton, could the diagnosis could be made. Furthermore, they stressed that a total surgical removal of the neoplasia is always required.

18Osteoporosis, a skeletal disease, is characterized by a decrease in bone mass and pathological changes of the microarchitecture due to a low serum level of 25(OH)D, leading to an elevated risk of osteoporotic fractures (Figure 2). According to the findings of Shane et al., the existence of two single nucleotide polymorphisms (rs4355801 on chromosome 8 and rs3736228 on chromosome 11) constitutes a genetic predisposition which is associated with low bone mineral density (BMD) and a resulting increased risk of fractures. The evaluation of the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III (NHANES III) showed that calcium intake can also affect BMD depending on the 25(OH)D level. Women with low vitamin D levels (<50 nM 25(OH)D) showed a significant increase in BMD when given calcium. Among men, the positive effect remained absent. Jackson and colleagues came to similar results when analyzing the results from the Women’s Health Initiative. The diagnosis of osteoporosis is confirmed by measuring bone mineral density in the lumbar spine or femoral neck by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). In case of osteopenia, the T-score is between −2.5 and −1. In cases of osteoporosis, the T–score is ≤−2.5. This is exactly where Siris et al. deal out criticism, because having a BMD between ≤−2.5 and ≤−1 and having suffered from a low–energy trauma on a typical osteoporotic fracture site is still classified as having osteopenia. Particularly affected fracture sites include the pelvis, vertebrae, proximal femur/hip, proximal humerus and the forearm.

19The telephone health survey by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) in 2003 revealed that the lifetime prevalence for osteoporosis in women (aged >45) is over 14% and is even rising with increasing age. Wacker and Holick depict a prevalence of about 30% in women aged between 60 and 70 years. Per year, there are approximately 9 million osteoporosis-induced fractures globally (~2 million in the USA), among which fractures of the hip and forearm are most common. The lifetime prevalence of an osteoporotic hip fracture among North American women is about 18%. Johnell outlines a 25% increase in hip fractures between 1990 and 2000. Bischoff-Ferrari and colleagues expect a further increase of 240% (women aged >65 years) or 310% (men aged >65 years) by the year 2050. In addition to strong pain, osteoporosis involves specific risks, including a high morbidity and mortality. A pooled analysis, describing the effect of vitamin D supplementation on fracture reduction, showed that there was a significant reduction in the incidence of hip fractures when given higher doses than 792 IU/day. However, there is no significant decrease of the hip fracture risk among women and men caused by calcium intake as shown in the meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies. A meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials adversely showed a significant effect among postmenopausal women with a significantly increased hip fracture risk. The effect of calcium intake on fracture risk still needs to be more thoroughly investigated.

20Over the past decade, the role of vitamin D in sarcopenia, a reduction in skeletal muscle mass and strength due to degenerative processes, has been increasingly reported. Vitamin D affects muscle strength, muscle size and neuromuscular performance. Evidence suggests that with increasing age, the reduction of muscle mass is clearly associated with decreased circulating vitamin D levels, leading to frailty in the elderly and frequent falls. In order to achieve an effect on the skeletal muscle mediated via the genomic pathway, vitamin D needs to be bound to the VDR receptor. This is in line with Campbell and co-workers who reported that a decline of specific vitamin D receptors on muscle cells are directly associated with increasing age and the loss of muscle mass and function. Fighting a vitamin D deficit with the help of supplementation has been reported to be beneficial in many studies. This is in agreement with the fact that patients with higher 25(OH)D levels have better muscle performances of the lower extremities than patients with lower serum levels. The maximum health benefit with regard to sports is reported to be at a level of 50 ng/mL. Higher serum levels do not lead to further benefit. Furthermore, thanks to vitamin D’s support of muscle strength, patients with higher 25(OH)D levels have an increased postural control and a decreased number of falls. A systematic research, including double-blind randomized controlled studies, in which daily doses of 700 IU vitamin D supplementation were administered, showed that falls in elderly people can be reduced if serum levels are higher than 60 nmol/L. However, others deny a reduced risk of falling with a once–daily supplementation of 600 IU of vitamin D. This conclusion is in line with a more recent finding suggesting that very high doses of vitamin D are indeed effective in compensating a deficit. However, there is no benefit regarding lower extremity function and, against all expectations, very high doses of vitamin D were even linked with increased risk of falls. This apparent contradiction suggests that vitamin D supplementation must be closely monitored and will need further studies to reach a common treatment regimen. This is particularly important in all kinds of rehabilitation settings where vitamin D deficiency is frequently compensated by diet in order to improve bone and muscle strength.

21Nevertheless, several trials also point out that there is an association between the blood serum level of 25(OH)D and musculoskeletal pain as well as non–specific back pain. However, there seem to be logical contradictions in the published literature. With the help of a muscle biopsy in patients with a vitamin D deficiency, Ceglia characterized atrophy in type II muscle fibers as (1) an enlargement of the interfibrillar gaps; (2) a fibrosis of the surrounding tissue; and (3) an infiltration with fat cells and glycogen granules. Heath and Knutsen showed that there is an increase in type IIa fibers (count and diameter) after proper vitamin D supplementation which leads to improved muscle performance.

22Gendelmann et al reported findings in literature that describe a nerval hypersensibility caused by a 25(OH)D deficiency. Moreover, they mention a reported estimated 20% prevalence of widespread pain. A cross-sectional study in Norway, including 572 patients with musculoskeletal pain, headaches or fatigue, concluded that more than half of all participants (58%) showed 25(OH)D levels <50 nmol/L, with patients suffering from headaches having the lowest levels. A general improvement in terms of headaches was described after a daily cholecalciferol treatment of 1000 to 1500 IU. Heath reported an even higher percentage (>90%) of patients with non–specific musculoskeletal pain to be found vitamin D deficient.

23The European Male Aging Study (EMAS) from 2003 to 2005, investigating the association of low vitamin D and chronic widespread pain in men aged 40 to 79 years, revealed that participants with vitamin D levels of <15.6 ng/mL (lowest quintile) had a higher new onset of chronic widespread pain than patients from the upper quintile. In addition, they showed a significantly increased BMI and a clearly higher risk for depression, so that no independent association between chronic pain and the 25(OH)D level in men could be found.

24Considering the classical actions of vitamin D, it is self-evident that decreased 25(OH)D levels constitute a major risk factor for developing systemic bone diseases such as hepatic osteodystrophy or diabetic osteopathy. Table 1 summarizes several studies regarding the effect of chronic diseases on 25(OH)D status and bone mineral density. In patients with chronic liver diseases, 25(OH)D deficiency is associated with decreased gene expression levels of CYP2R1, CYP27A1 and GC (vitamin D-binding protein) as well as increased DHCR7 (7-dehydrocholesterol reductase) gene expression levels in the liver which positively correlates with a decrease in bone mineral density. Furthermore, activation of 25(OH)D to 1,25(OH)D in the kidney is hampered by diseases affecting liver function, e.g., progressed diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney diseases. Interestingly, there is a positive correlation between vitamin D status and diabetes mellitus already at the time of diagnosis.

25Already in children, hepatic osteodystrophy or diabetic osteopathy comprises vitamin D deficiency rickets, low bone mass, and fractures caused by malnutrition and malabsorption. Here, aggressive treatment with ergocalciferol or cholecalciferol is required. Interestingly, while initial studies suggested that parental vitamin D therapy may delay the development of hepatic osteodystrophy and diabetic osteopathy, more recent studies showed no significant improvement of BMD in these patients despite improved 25(OH)D serum levels. Only a combination of oral vitamin D and bisphosphonates improved BMD in liver patients.

26Vitamin D, the sunshine vitamin, has a key role in health and quality of life. While in the past it was insufficiently described as an “unknown ingredient” curing epidemic diseases, it is now acknowledged to be a “hormone” influencing metabolic pathways via its own receptors Vitamin D Substitution.

27Vitamin D is supplied by cutaneous synthesis depending, among other things, on sunlight exposure and dietary intake. Today, our food hardly contains the necessary quantities of essential vitamins, thereby necessitating supplementations. Consequently, vitamin D deficiency is quite common and can lead to severe diseases and even death. Type and severity of the symptoms may differ substantially, depending on the underlying disease. Rickets, occurring already in early childhood, and osteomalacia, a reduced bone mineralization primarily found in adults, can be completely cured if detected correctly and treated appropriately. Osteoporosis is commonly seen in older people and leads to an elevated risk of osteoporotic fractures, which are associated with a high morbidity and mortality.

28It was attempted, with partial success, to show that a vitamin D deficiency can also cause severe musculoskeletal pain. Many patients with a long history of non-specific back pain and multiple clinical investigations without any clear diagnosis had been found vitamin D deficient. An improvement of symptoms could be achieved by vitamin D substitution.

29It is therefore important to take into consideration a potential vitamin D deficiency when treating patients with non-specific musculoskeletal pain, muscle weakness, a reduced postural control as well as fractures after low-energy trauma.

30According to the literature, a 25(OH)D level of >30 ng/mL prevents severe diseases and should be achieved. With daily doses of vitamin D below 600 IU, apparently no positive effect regarding a relief of musculoskeletal pain or prevention of osteoporotic fractures had been found. This clearly implies that further research is still needed to optimize vitamin D supplementation dosings and define recommendation guidelines regarding bone health, muscle functioning in acute situations as well as rehabilitation.