Rahnuma Ahmad ¹ Bara Sarraj ² Mohammed S. Razzaque ^3*

• ¹ Medical College for Women and Hospital, Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh
• ² Harold Washington College, Chicago, Illinois, United States
• ³ The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, United States

This 'Research Topic' is intended to bring together experts to share their experiences in explaining the roles and regulations of vitamin D and mineral ions in various chronic human diseases. A total of 15 articles by 102 authors have been published in this 'Research Topic' to accomplish the intended objectives. Seven of those published articles detail various functional aspects of vitamin D, two articles explain kidney stone-related complications, another two articles discuss parathyroid pathology, and the remaining articles elaborate mineral ion dysregulation in various disease pathologies. Micronutrients, including mineral ions and trace elements, work together to optimize the biological and biochemical functions of the body. Essential components such as calcium, phosphate, zinc, iron, selenium and magnesium, as well as vitamins, play crucial roles in maintaining metabolic balance within the body. Delicate interactions of these nutrients are vital for the physiological functioning of various systems and organs. Vitamin D has a U-shaped effect on both inflammation and calcium-phosphate metabolism. This was recently demonstrated for 25(OH)D and 1,25(OH)2D in a large cross-sectional study (5). Consequently, it is not surprising that vitamin D supplementation does not benefit everyone. Clear benefits from vitamin D supplementation are observed in patients with vitamin D deficiency (6,7). However, patients who already have adequate vitamin D levels usually do not benefit from additional supplementation. This highlights the need for the status of vitamin D assessment in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients to avoid both under-and over- long-term hypoparathyroidism resulting from thyroidectomy with comorbidities in subjects without hypoparathyroidism following thyroidectomy. Those authors noted that those with hypoparathyroidism have a greater risk of suffering from chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, and nephrolithiasis. However, these patients have a lower risk of incident fractures. Disease of the kidney may be due to hypercalciuria with the formation of calcium phosphate deposits and their deposition in the renal tubules.Hypocalcemia and PTH deficiency at the vascular and cardiac levels may lead to cardiovascular complications (10). On the other hand, hypercalcemia with hypocalciuria may also result in symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, increased risk of coronary heart disease, chronic kidney disease, chondrocalcinosis, pancreatitis, and femoral fractures (11). Magnesium inadequacy can disrupt the regulation of parathyroid hormone (PTH) and vitamin D, which in turn affects the RANK/RANKL/OPG signaling pathway. This dysregulation results in increased osteoclastic activity, contributing to bone loss and the development of osteoporosis (14). Studies indicate that magnesium supplementation can increase bone density and prevent further bone loss; neuroprotective effects of magnesium in cognitive decline is also reported (15). Therefore, magnesium supplementation represents an easy and cost-effective strategy to delay the progression of osteoporosis, particularly in elderly individuals (16). liver disease (NAFLD) and kidney stone formation. Although they reported no significant link between the two, they proposed that mechanisms such as oxidative stress, insulin resistance, lipotoxicity, and inflammation could contribute to kidney stone formation in individuals with NAFLD. Additionally, elevated blood lipid levels may lead to hyperuricemia. Zhiyi et al. reported that adiposity markers are correlated with hyperuricemia. Lipid parameters strongly predict hyperuricemia, especially in women.Elevated triglycerides and lipid metabolism disorders may impair renal function, reducing uric acid excretion and causing hyperuricemia. Knowing the levels of serum vitamin D is crucial for individuals with metabolic, cardiovascular, autoimmune, and bone disorders.Both venous and capillary blood can be used for testing (17) potassium intake, serum potassium levels, and survival in hemodialysis patients, both with and without dietary potassium restrictions. They reported that plant-based foods high in potassium, such as potatoes and melons, also contain significant carbohydrates that can lower plasma potassium levels through insulin release. Animal-based foods are high in potassium but low in carbohydrates, leading to elevated serum potassium levels.In hemodialysis patients, potassium excretion occurs primarily through feces (18). Meat consumption can worsen uremia and cause constipation through the formation of nitridecontaining products, whereas a plant-based diet may help reduce uremic toxins through increased fiber intake (19). The authors concluded that there is little to no direct association between dietary potassium and serum potassium levels in these patients.They recommended that dietary considerations should focus not only on potassium content but also on the type of food and its overall nutrient profile.The articles published in this Research Topic highlighted the significant clinical and biological roles of various minerals and vitamins in maintaining metabolic balance.Minerals and vitamins play crucial roles in maintaining overall health, and proper metabolic balance depends on adequate levels of these nutrients. Additional research into diseases related to mineral ion metabolism is needed to gain a deeper understanding of the conditions associated with vitamin D and mineral ion dysregulation (20)(21)(22)(23)(24).Additionally, identifying populations at risk for nutrient deficiencies and encouraging the consumption of diets rich in minerals and vitamins to potentially delay the onset of associated diseases will open new avenues for preventive medicine. Finally, this research topic provides valuable insights while also highlighting areas where more research is needed to fully understand the complex relationships between nutrients and health.