ビタミンDと肥満・糖尿病：生活習慣病の研究開発へ向けた新技術

Lifestyle-related Diseases and Nutrition : An Important Aspect of Calcium/Mineral Management. Vitamin D, obesity, and diabetes：new technology toward drug development against metabolic diseases.

　肥満・糖尿病患者ではビタミンD不足に陥っていることが知られており，ビタミンDが肥満・糖尿病の病態に関与していることが考えられてきた。そして，ビタミンDの治療効果を期待した多くの臨床試験が行われてきた。このように糖尿病に対する新規治療法・治療薬の開発が活発に行われている。最近では病態解明のための様々な実験技術が生み出されており，全く新しい観点からの成果が期待される。

　Obesity and diabetes are rapidly reaching epidemic proportions in many parts of world and are becoming one of the major public health problems. Many studies have been performed to develop treatments for obesity and diabetes. In clinical aspect, for example, vitamin D was assumed to be a causal factor of obesity and diabetes, and the effect of vitamin D supplementation on the patients was assessed. In addition to clinical study, basic researchers have tried to elucidate the mechanisms of obesity and diabetes. Recent studies show novel techniques for finding etiologic factors in obesity and diabetes. These effort will accelerate progress toward total eradication of obesity and diabetes.