Description
CalcitriolistheactiveformofvitaminDthatbindstothevitaminDreceptors(VDR),increasingabsorptionofdietaryCa2+.CalcitriolisproducedinthekidneyfromprodrugformsofvitaminDsuchascholecalciferol.Calcitrioliscommerciallyusedindietarysupplementstopreventosteoporosis;itexhibitsanti-osteoporotic,immunomodulatory,anti-inflammatory,anti-diabetic,anticancer,andchemopreventiveactivities.Inbasalcellcarcinomacells,calcitrioldecreaseshedgehog(Hh)signaling,suppressingcancerprogression.Inothermodels,calcitriolstimulatesdifferentiationofskincellsandinhibitsskincancercellproliferationandtumorformation.Additionally,thiscompounddecreasesactivationoftoll-likereceptors(TLRs),protectingagainstthedevelopmentoftypeIdiabetes.