Vitamin D and ageing.

Within the past three to four decades a revolution has occurred in our understanding of vitamin D and its effects. Sundry laboratory and epidemiologic studies have revealed that the active metabolite of vitamin D controls and/or ameliorates various pathologies. As presented here, there is substantive evidence that vitamin D may play a positive and important role in the ageing process.This evidence arises from detailed consideration of various biological mechanisms and processes by which vitamin D operates as well as specific examples of its exerting control/amelioration of various human maladies which contribute to ageing. Arguments are advanced that vitamin D appears to play a major positive role in biogerontology by reducing susceptibility in the elderly to chronic degenerative diseases. It is strongly recommended that the positive role of vitamin D in ageing be taken into account by gerontologists and biogerontology researchers.