Bile acids instead of vitamin D

Maintaining the balance of calcium in the body is the most well-known function of vitamin D. However, in addition to this, vitamin D regulates many other processes, including the formation of immunity and cell growth, which provides its versatile therapeutic potential.

Vitamin D-based drugs are effective in the treatment of certain types of cancer and infectious diseases, but the risk of an increase in blood calcium levels limits their clinical use.

It is known that bile acids synthesized by the liver, necessary for normal digestion, also bind to vitamin D receptors, but much weaker than the vitamin itself.

Scientists from several Japanese universities, led by Professor Makoto Makishima, have found that derivatives of one of the bile acids – lithocolic acid (LCA) – are very powerful activators of vitamin D receptors, without inducing the expression of calcium channels in various cell types.

Experiments on mice whose diet was injected with vitamin D3 (calcitriol) or derivatives of litocholic acid showed that litocholic acid stimulates the activation of vitamin D receptors without causing an increase in blood calcium levels and weight loss observed with vitamin D intake. These results indicate a pronounced therapeutic potential of bile acid derivatives.

Article by Michiyasu Ishizawa et al. Lithocholic acid derivatives act as selective vitamin D receptor modulators without inducing hypercalcemia is published in the April issue of the Journal of Lipid Research.

Portal "Eternal youth" www.vechnayamolodost.ru based on the materials of ScienceDaily

18.03.2008