Abstract
The central role of vitamin D in calcium homeostasis is to increase calcium absorption from the intestine. This article describes the early work that served as the foundation for the initial model of vitamin D mediated calcium absorption. In addition, other research related to the role of vitamin D in the intestine, including those which have challenged the traditional model and the crucial role of specific calcium transport proteins, are reviewed. More recent work identifying novel targets of 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) action in the intestine and highlighting the importance of 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) action across the proximal/distal and crypt/villus axes in the intestine is summarized.