Vitamin D is widely recognized for its role in calcium metabolism and skeletal health, yet growing evidence underscores its broader relevance across multiple physiological systems—especially in women. Beyond its well-established implications in pregnancy and fertility, vitamin D has emerged as a key modulator in endocrine, metabolic, and immune functions that influence women's health throughout life, from adolescence to post-menopause.
This Research Topic aims to explore the multidimensional role of vitamin D in women’s health, integrating biological mechanisms, lifestyle patterns, and clinical outcomes. In addition to its impact on reproductive endocrinology, including hormone regulation, gametogenesis, and pregnancy outcomes, we encourage submissions that investigate vitamin D’s influence on metabolic health, adiposity, inflammation, mental wellbeing, and chronic disease risk among women.
We particularly welcome contributions examining populations often underrepresented in mainstream biomedical research—such as women adhering to religious fasting patterns (e.g., Orthodox Christian fasting), those living in monastic communities, or following specific lifestyle practices that affect vitamin D synthesis, dietary intake, or hormonal profiles. These contexts offer unique insights into how vitamin D status interacts with behavioral, cultural, and environmental factors in shaping women’s endocrine and metabolic health.
In light of the increasing interest in personalized medicine and nutrition, this collection also seeks studies exploring inter-individual variability in vitamin D metabolism—such as differences in free vs. total 25(OH)D, gene polymorphisms (e.g., VDR), and adipokine responses—and how these intersect with sex-specific hormonal dynamics.
We invite original research, reviews, and brief reports that cover a range of themes, methodologies, and disciplines (clinical, translational, public health, molecular biology). By expanding the lens beyond pregnancy alone, this Topic aims to position vitamin D as a central regulator of women’s health across the lifespan, bridging reproductive, endocrine, metabolic, and psychosocial domains.
Key Themes May Include (but are not limited to):
- Vitamin D and endocrine regulation in women (e.g., menstrual cycle, PCOS, menopause)
- Associations between vitamin D, adipokines (e.g., adiponectin, irisin), and metabolic risk
- Impact of fasting, sunlight exposure, and dietary patterns on vitamin D status
- Vitamin D in women with restrictive or unique lifestyle settings (e.g., monastic life)
- The role of vitamin D in mental health, immunity, and chronic disease prevention
- Biomarker-based studies on total, free, and bioavailable vitamin D in female cohorts
- Translational interventions aiming to optimize vitamin D-related outcomes in women
By providing an inclusive and multidisciplinary platform, this Research Topic seeks to stimulate innovative research and promote a deeper understanding of how vitamin D interfaces with women’s health at every stage of life.
Article types and fees
This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:
Clinical Trial
Editorial
FAIR² Data
FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
General Commentary
Hypothesis and Theory
Methods
Mini Review
Opinion
Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.
Article types
This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:
Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
