Vitamin D deficiency, metabolic syndrome, and prostate adenoma: current epidemiological trends and pathophysiological mechanisms of interaction

This review, based on the results of modern epidemiological and clinical-experimental studies, highlights the important pathophysiological role of vitamin D and the disturbances of its metabolism (deficiency/insufficiency) in the pathogenesis of the metabolic syndrome (MS) in men, which according to available literature, is associated with adenoma of the prostate (AP). General information about the endocrinology of vitamin D and its role in maintaining various aspects of mens health is presented. The authors analyze currently known pathophysiological mechanisms involving vitamin D interacting with each other within the framework of the pathogenesis of MS and AP. At present, there is much evidence that MS and AP have common universal interacting mechanisms of pathogenesis (obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, systemic chronic subclinical inflammation, endothelial dysfunction) that are realized with the direct participation of vitamin D. The authors argue that taking into account a global prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in the modern population, accompanied by an increasing incidence of both MS and AP affecting younger populations, a rational management of vitamin D metabolism in men can be regarded as a promising and effective pathogenetic prevention of MS and BPH.