Effects of the active form of vitamin D (1,25 Dihydroxyvitamin D3) on pre-differentiated and differentiated 3T3-L1 cells: A systematic review

The rising prevalence of obesity worldwide has reached an alarming state, with the latest data from WHO stated that 39% of the world’s population above the age of 18 were overweight. Although obesity doesn’t have a high mortality, it is a major co-morbid factor to cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, and several types of cancer. Research have suggested the possible correlation between vitamin D and obesity. Different studies investigated the level of VD serum concentration between obese and healthy individuals, the impacts of VD supplementation on obese individuals and different molecular mechanisms impacted by VD in adipocytes and adipose tissue. This review examines molecular mechanisms related to adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells, and how different concentrations of calcitriol can impact these mechanisms. Transcriptional factors such as PPAR, FABP4/ap2 and C/EBP were measured, as well as LPL enzyme involved in lipogenesis. Studies included in this review found that adipogenesis were inhibited through various mechanisms, leading to increased cell apoptosis and decreased cell viability in 3T3-L1 cells.