For some time it has been known that calcium and phosphate homeostasis is essential for normal cellular physiology as well as for skeletal integrity. Several recent epidemiological, clinical and experimental studies have provided a very impressive series of information about new and different biological functions concerning vitamin D and the vitamin D receptor, in addition to those traditionally recognized. These functions include the ability to influence cellular growth and differentiation to modulate immune response and to control the activity of other hormonal systems.
As a result, it has been suggested that vitamin D deficiency favors the development of high prevalence cardiometabolic risk factors, such as diabetes, hypertension and associated cardiovascular events.