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Publications

Journal Article Review Ahead of print

PubMed: 42275922 DOI: 10.1016/j.archoralbio.2026.106659

Local vitamin D 3 bioactivation in oral tissue, from inactive to influential: A narrative review.

Arch Oral Biol 189:106659

Authors: Oleh Andrukhov, Sandra Hilberath, Marlies Holzmann, Markus Laky, Christian Behm

Affiliations

  • Competence Center for Periodontal Research, University Clinic of Dentistry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna A-1090, Austria.
  • Competence Center for Periodontal Research, University Clinic of Dentistry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna A-1090, Austria.
  • Division of Oral Surgery, University Clinic of Dentistry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna 1090, Austria.
  • Division of Periodontology, University Clinic of Dentistry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna 1090, Austria.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES

Vitamin D 3 status profoundly affects oral health and disease. Over the last decade, evidence has emerged that vitamin D 3 activation can also occur in peripheral tissues. This narrative review was conducted to critically analyze the state of the art about the presence and activity of enzymes involved in the bioactivation of vitamin D 3 in the oral tissues.

DESIGN

A comprehensive literature search was performed in PubMed and Google Scholar. The search included articles published in English without any time limit. Keywords included but not limited to the combinations of: "vitamin D 3", "25(OH)D 3", "1,25(OH) 2D 3", "oral tissues", "megalin", "CYP27B1", "extrarenal", and "antimicrobial peptides". Further studies were identified by screening the reference lists of the relevant publications.

RESULTS

Various vitamin D 3 metabolites influence the inflammatory response and the production of antimicrobial peptides in various oral cells. The enzyme CYP27B1, which is responsible for the conversion of 25(OH)D 3 into 1,25(OH) 2D 3 and its bioactivation, is present in various oral tissues and cells. The existence and physiological significance of local vitamin D 3 activation in oral tissues remain unclear. Most of 25(OH)D 3 is bound to the vitamin D-binding protein (DBP) and must be dissociated for activation. It is unclear whether and how this uncoupling occurs in oral tissue.

CONCLUSION

Currently, there is rather indirect evidence that vitamin D 3 could be bioactivated in oral tissues. Further studies on the local conversion of vitamin D 3 to 25(OH)D 3 and, subsequently, to 1,25(OH) 2D 3 in oral tissue, their regulation, and the role of free and bioavailable vitamin D 3 metabolites are required.

MeSH

Vitamin D, Cells, Vitamins, Dentistry, Enzymes, Tissues, Mouth, Cholecalciferol