Vitamin D for Clinical Diseases in Women: An Indispensable Factor in Medicine and Dentistry

Abstract

Vitamin D, commonly known as the “sunshine vitamin”, is a secosteroid hormone. It is recognized for its neuroprotective role in brain development and it has a key role in bone metabolism, muscle function, oral health, and temporomandibular disorders. Vitamin D is involved in a range of important physiological processes, such as promoting cell growth and differentiation, facilitating immunomodulation regulation, neurotransmission, and alleviating anti-inflammatory effects. Vitamin D deficiency is known to be implicated in a range of pathological conditions, particularly in women, including: musculoskeletal disorders; metabolic, autoimmune, and cardiovascular diseases; oral health status; temporomandibular disorders; malignancies; psychiatric conditions; and chronic pain. In this scenario, ongoing research is investigating the role of vitamin D in subcellular, molecular, and chemical processes, with a high interest in physiology, as read in the recent literature on vitamin D deficiency in the female sex. Therefore, in the present Special Issue, we aim to present evidence on the key role that vitamin D might play in the wellbeing of bone health, musculoskeletal status, oral health status, temporomandibular disorders, and pregnancy, in women.