Vitamin D and Aging: Associations with Mortality, Cognition, Chronic Diseases, and Metabolic Conditions in Elderly Individuals

Vitamin D plays an essential role in several physiological activities, most notably calcium homeostasis, bone metabolism, endocrine functions, and immune regulation. In recent years, its broader significance in aging-related health has increasingly been recognized, highlighting vitamin D deficiency as a prominent public health concern, particularly in older populations. The aging process itself further contributes to vitamin D inadequacy due to physiological alterations affecting its synthesis and metabolism, impaired renal and hepatic conversion pathways, and reduced sun exposure among the elderly. Consequently, deficiency in this crucial micronutrient correlates significantly with increased mortality, cognitive decline, altered metabolic function, and diminished quality of life among older adults. Although recent studies have emphasized associations of low vitamin D levels with frailty, neurodegeneration, altered immunity, insulin resistance, and metabolic disturbances, current knowledge remains incomplete. Clinical interventions with vitamin D supplementation have yielded inconclusive findings, underscoring the need for more rigorous research into the underlying biological mechanisms and potential therapeutic benefits in aging contexts.

This Research Topic aims to comprehensively investigate the multifaceted impact of vitamin D deficiency on mortality risk, cognitive decline, metabolic disorders, and hormonal interactions among aging individuals. It seeks to address critical knowledge gaps concerning how vitamin D contributes to various age-related physiological changes, identify potential biological pathways mediating these effects, and clarify inconsistencies observed in clinical studies assessing supplementation in elderly populations. By gathering robust clinical, epidemiological, and mechanistic investigations, this initiative endeavors to enhance understanding of vitamin D's overall significance in aging, ultimately paving the way for evidence-based recommendations and targeted interventions designed to improve health outcomes among older adults.

To gather further insights into vitamin D deficiency and aging-related health outcomes, we welcome studies addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
o Clinical and epidemiological analyses of vitamin D status and mortality risks in elderly populations.
o Interactions and crosstalk between vitamin D pathways and hormonal regulation, including sex hormones, in the context of aging.
o Impact of vitamin D deficiency on cognitive decline, neurodegeneration, and quality of life among older adults.
o Associations between vitamin D, bone health, and fracture risks, and interplay with bone metabolism hormones relevant to aging processes.
o Mechanistic insights and clinical effects of vitamin D on metabolic health parameters, including glucose tolerance, lipid profiles, insulin sensitivity, and gut microbiota modulation in the elderly.

Note to Authors: Manuscripts reporting bibliometric analyses will not be considered. In addition, manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics analysis of public in silico databases are not considered suitable unless supported by independent experimental verification.