# Research on vitamin D metabolic regulation in the pathogenesis of related diseases

**Authors:** Yumeng Ji, Ruru Bi, Lin Wang

PMC · DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2026.1762302 · Frontiers in Endocrinology · 2026-03-18

## TL;DR

This paper reviews how vitamin D metabolism is regulated and how its disruption contributes to various diseases, offering insights for personalized treatment.

## Contribution

The paper highlights the potential of the 24,25(OH)2D to 1,25(OH)2D ratio as a novel biomarker for vitamin D metabolic status.

## Key findings

- Dysregulation of vitamin D metabolism is linked to diseases like VDDR-1A, CKD-MBD, and TIO.
- 24,25(OH)2D may have independent biological functions and serve as a biomarker.
- Extrarenal expression of CYP27B1 suggests local regulatory roles of vitamin D.

## Abstract

Vitamin D is a group of fat-soluble vitamins that plays critical roles in calcium-phosphate homeostasis, bone health, and immune regulation. The metabolic pathway of vitamin D involves two key enzymatic steps: hepatic 25-hydroxylation to produce 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and renal 1α-hydroxylation to generate the biologically active form 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)2D]. 25(OH)D serves as the gold standard biomarker for assessing vitamin D status due to its high circulating concentration, long half-life, and stable levels. This metabolic process is precisely regulated by parathyroid hormone (PTH), fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), and negative feedback mechanisms mediated by the vitamin D receptor (VDR). Recent studies have demonstrated that CYP27B1, the gene encoding 1α-hydroxylase, is also widely expressed in extrarenal tissues including prostate, breast, placenta, and macrophages, suggesting important roles for vitamin D in local paracrine and autocrine regulation. Dysregulation of vitamin D metabolism is closely associated with the pathogenesis of various diseases, including vitamin D-dependent rickets type 1A (VDDR-1A), chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD), tumor-induced osteomalacia (TIO), granulomatous diseases, and CYP24A1 deficiency-related hypercalcemia. Notably, 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [24,25(OH)2D], traditionally considered an inactive metabolic end-product, may possess independent biological functions, and its ratio to 1,25(OH)2D can serve as a novel biomarker for assessing vitamin D metabolic status. This review systematically examines the metabolic pathways and regulatory mechanisms of vitamin D, elucidates their associations with disease pathogenesis, and provides theoretical foundation for personalized clinical diagnosis and precision therapy. Future research should establish standardized multi-parameter detection protocols to advance the clinical application of vitamin D metabolomics in precision medicine.

## Linked entities

- **Genes:** CYP27B1 (cytochrome P450 family 27 subfamily B member 1) [NCBI Gene 1594], CYP24A1 (cytochrome P450 family 24 subfamily A member 1) [NCBI Gene 1591]
- **Chemicals:** 25-hydroxyvitamin D (PubChem CID 5353325), 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (PubChem CID 5280453), 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (PubChem CID 6434253)
- **Diseases:** vitamin D-dependent rickets type 1A (MONDO:0020723), tumor-induced osteomalacia (MONDO:0018124)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** VDR (vitamin D receptor) [NCBI Gene 7421] {aka NR1I1, PPP1R163}, PTH (parathyroid hormone) [NCBI Gene 5741] {aka FIH1, PTH1}, FGF23 (fibroblast growth factor 23) [NCBI Gene 8074] {aka ADHR, FGFN, HFTC2, HPDR2, HYPF, PHPTC}, CYP27B1 (cytochrome P450 family 27 subfamily B member 1) [NCBI Gene 1594] {aka CP2B, CYP1, CYP1alpha, CYP27B, P450c1, PDDR}
- **Diseases:** CYP24A1 deficiency (MESH:D007153), TIO (MESH:C537751), granulomatous diseases (MESH:D006105), hypercalcemia (MESH:D006934), VDDR-1A (MESH:C562688), CKD-MBD (MESH:D012080)
- **Chemicals:** 25-hydroxyvitamin D (MESH:C104450), 25(OH)D (-), calcium (MESH:D002118), 24,25(OH)2D (MESH:C000625431), Vitamin D (MESH:D014807), phosphate (MESH:D010710), 1,25(OH)2D (MESH:C097949)

## Full text

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## Figures

3 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC13038531/full.md

## References

54 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC13038531/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC13038531