【正文】 l cells, and it has been widely applied clinically. Recently, In China someone treated the keratopathy with vitamin A eye drops and achieved satisfactory therapeutic effect.Vitamin D1. RicketsIt has been reported that the demand of vitamin D would be increased relatively for infants because of their rapid physical growth (Wu Guangchi, 1989。 Li Tong, 1990). The daily intake of 350IU vitamin D may prevent infant rickets in south China, and 550IU in the north China would be needed daily. In 1995, Guillemant et al found that the level of 25 (OH) D3 in children in July ( / L 177。 / L) was significantly higher than that in March ( / L 177。 / L () ), suggesting that the season would cause Vitamin D deficit and the due attention should be paid to the extra supplementation of it. 2. OsteoporosisIt was reported that the level of 25 (OH) D3 in 86% of the aged in Rest Home was below 50mmol/L, and the bone mineral content in 85% of the aged suggested osteoporosis (Komar et al, 1993). It is found that a lack of vitamin D could increase the incidence of hipbone fracture (DawsonHughes et al, 1997). A number of studies have shown that appropriate vitamin D intake (400 ~ 800IU/d) could reduce the loss of bone material and the incidence of bone fracture. 1634 women were supplemented with 800IU vitamin D and 1200mg calcium every day for 18 months。 meanwhile 1636 women in the control group were given placebos (Chapuy et al, 1992). The results showed that bone density in the group supplemented with VD and calcium was increased by %, meanwhile it was reduced by % in the control group (P ). Compared with the control group, the number of cases with hipbone fracture in the group supplemented with VD and calcium was reduced by 43% (P = ), and the total number of cases with nonvertebral fractures was reduced by 32% (P = ).3. OsteomalaciaIt was reported that offering 400IU/d vitamin D to pregnant women could reduce the incidence of maternal osteomalacia, neonatal hypocalcemia and tetany of extremities (Brooke et al, 1981). The investigation results indicated that vitamin D intake for vegetarians was significantly lower than that for omnivorous persons (Alexander et al, 1994). It has been found that in 15 cases of osteomalacia and 13 cases of quasiosteomalacia, most patients were India vegetarians ( Finch et al, 1992). It was believed that vegetarians, though asymptomatic, should also take additional vitamin D (Fonseca et al, 1988).4. CancerA number of studies have showed that vitamin D may contribute to the prevention of breast cancer, colon cancer, pancreatic cancer, and prostate cancer. 5. Polycystic ovary syndromeA preliminary study has implied that calcium agent with vitamin D supplement may be beneficial to the prevention of polycystic ovary syndrome.6. PsoriasisVitamin D may be used to treat psoriasis. Calcipotrol as Vitamin D3 derivative is remended for the treatment of psoriasis in a study in Denmark.7. DiabetesIn recent years, the basic research on vitamin D suggests that there may be vitamin D receptors and calbindinD 28 k in pancreas, that a lack of vitamin D could cause reduction of insulin secretion, and that vitamin D receptor gene polymorphism may be related to Type I Diabetes. Vitamin D acts as an immunosuppressive factor to inhibit lymphocyte proliferation and production of cytokines. British scientists have discovered that the incidence of Type I Diabetes may be related to vitamin D deficiency and the generation of rickets. To some extent, Vitamin D could inhibit the pancreatic βcell autoimmune response. It was also found that highdose of vitamin D may be associated with hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance.8. Coronary heart diseaseA recent study showed that for women over 65 years old who were with coronary heart disease and took Vitamin D, the death risk may be reduced by one third as pared with those who did not take Vitamin D. Early researches suggested that the reduction of serum vitamin D level played a certain role in calcification of atherosclerotic plaque in patients with coronary heart disease. The risk to die of cardiovascular diseases for women with osteoporosis was greater than those without osteoporosis. In fact, the rate of calcium deposition in the wall of blood vessels for women with osteoporosis is greater than those with the normal bone material. The physiological process that leads to bone calcium loss and calcification of atherosclerotic plaque may be the same. Of course, the researchers pointed out simultaneously that there would be still much work to be done before advocating supplementing vitamin D for preventing coronary heart disease.16 /