Vitamin D and metabolic health. Effects on molecular pathways of adipocyte inflammation and insulin resistance

Thesis event information

Date and time of the thesis defence

Place of the thesis defence

https://oulu.zoom.us/j/63288972028

Topic of the dissertation

Vitamin D and metabolic health. Effects on molecular pathways of adipocyte inflammation and insulin resistance

Doctoral candidate

Master of Science Shivaprakash Jagalur Mutt

Faculty and unit

University of Oulu Graduate School, Faculty of Medicine, Research Unit of Biomedicine

Subject of study

Physiology

Opponent

Professor Anastassios G. Pittas, Tufts Medical Center

Custos

Professor Karl-Heinz Herzig, Research Unit of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine

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Vitamin D and metabolic health

Vitamin D is an essential micronutrient, playing a vital role in the regulation of calcium homeostasis and bone metabolism. The pandemic vitamin D deficiency has been associated with an increasing risk for several metabolic diseases.

In this dissertation, we found that vitamin D inhibited the inflammatory signalling pathways in adipose tissue. Vitamin D deficiency status induced the insulin resistance in lean and obese mice and subsequent vitamin D re-supplementation improved the insulin sensitivity and ameliorated the liver inflammation and oxidative stress in vitamin D deficient lean but not obese mice.

The low vitamin D status in elderly subjects born and living at latitude 65° North were associated with a higher incidence of the metabolic syndrome.

In conclusion, vitamin D has an important role in modulating the molecular pathways involved in adipose tissue inflammation and insulin resistance in hepatic tissue. Adequate levels of vitamin D are necessary for the regulation of metabolic pathways to maintain body homeostasis. The generated data provide novel insights into the cellular mechanisms of vitamin D and represent a basis for oral vitamin D supplementation in the prevention of metabolic diseases.
Last updated: 1.3.2023