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Michael F. Holick

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Michael F. Holick
Born1946 (age 77–78)
CitizenshipAmerican
Alma materUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison
Known forVitamin Dresearch
Scientific career
InstitutionsBoston University Medical Center

Michael F. Holick(/ˈhɒlɪk/HOLL-ik;[1]born 1946) is an Americanadult endocrinologist,specializing invitamin D,such as the identification of bothcalcidiol,the major circulating form of vitamin D, andcalcitriol,the active form of vitamin D. His work has been the basis for diagnostic tests and therapies for vitamin D-related diseases. He is a professor of medicine at theBoston University Medical Centerand editor-in-chief of the journalClinical Laboratory.

Professional activities[edit]

After earning a Ph.D. degree inbiochemistry,a medical degree, and completing a research postdoctoral fellowship at theUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison,Holick completed a residency in medicine at theMassachusetts General Hospitalin Boston.[2]

He is an adultendocrinologistandprofessorof medicine, physiology and biophysics and director of the Bone Health Care Clinic and the Heliotherapy, Light, and Skin Research Center atBoston University Medical Center.[3]It provides extensive evaluation and treatment programs for children and adults with various metabolic bone diseases includingosteoporosis,osteomalacia,stress fracturesin young athletic women and men, and minimum trauma and nontraumatic fractures in infants, children and adults withhypermobility syndromes,Osteogenesis imperfecta,andEhlers Danlos Syndrome.[4]He has been director of the General Clinical Research Unit atBoston Universityfor several years.[2]

Holick serves as chair ofNASA's "Human Health Countermeasures Element" Standing Review Panel,[5]chair of the Endocrine Practice Guidelines Committee for Vitamin D,[6]andeditor-in-chiefof themedical journalClinical Laboratory.[7]

Academic achievements and research[edit]

Holick made discoveries in the field of vitamin D that have led to novel therapies formetabolic bone diseases,hypocalcemic disorders,andpsoriasis.He is author of more than 400 publications about the biochemistry, physiology, metabolism and photobiology of vitamin D and the pathophysiology ofvitamin D deficiency.[8]

His scientific work increased awareness in the pediatric and medical communities regarding vitamin D deficiency,[9]and its role in causing not only metabolic bone disease, and osteoporosis in adults, but increasing risk of children and adults developing common deadly cancers,autoimmune diseases,includingtype 1 diabetes,multiple sclerosisand heart disease,[10]as discussed in his review article.[10]

He has been quoted and his scientific work has been referenced inThe New York Times,[11]Forbes,[12][13]Newsweek,[14]Men's Health,[15]Scientific American[16]andTime.[17] He wrote several books about the importance of vitamin D and its beneficial health effects to the broad public, and discussed the benefits of sensible and the risks of excessivesun exposure.[18][19]


As a graduate student, he identified the major circulating form of vitamin D,25-hydroxyvitamin D3,[20]which is the vitamin D metabolite that is measured by physicians worldwide to determine a patient's vitamin D status.[21]He also identified the active form of vitamin D,1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3,[22]as well as other metabolites including24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3,[23]1,24,25-trihydroxyvitamin D3[24]and 25,26-dihydroxyvitamin D3.[25]

As a fellow, he participated in the first chemical synthesis of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3[26]and 1α-hydroxyvitamin D3[27]to treatrenal osteodystrophy,[28]hypoparathyroidism,[29][30]vitamin D dependentricketstype I,[31]and osteoporosis.[32]Furthermore, he elucidated the pathophysiology of hereditary vitamin D-dependent rickets which involves defective vitamin D metabolism,[33]and the pathophysiological mechanisms ofX-linked hypophosphatemic rickets.[34]

Holick helped develop the first clinical assays for 25-hydroxyvitamin D and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D,[35]determined how vitamin D3 is made in the skin from sun exposure,[36]and established how season,[37]time of day,[38]skin pigmentation,[39]sunscreen use,[40]and latitude[37]influenced this vital cutaneous process. He established that the skin was not only the organ responsible for making vitamin D3[36]but was also a target tissue for its active form, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3.[41]He determined the extremely inhibitory effects of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 onkeratinocyte proliferationand the promoting effects on differentiation,[41]and translated these seminal observations by demonstrating that the topical application of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and several of its analogs were effective for the treatment of psoriasis.[42]

He demonstrated thatmacrophages[43]and prostate cells[44]have the enzymatic machinery to produce 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, and established that the extrarenal production of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 may play a crucial role not only in cancer prevention but also in regulating the immune system.[45]

He developed a vitamin D absorption test[46]and demonstrated that vitamin D was bioavailable in orange juice, leading to fortification of juice products in the United States.[47]He also used the test to demonstrate the major cause of vitamin D deficiency in obesity is sequestration of vitamin D in the fat.[48]

He helped perform dose escalation studies establishing how much vitamin D is required to maintain blood levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in the sufficient range for adults. These studies also demonstrated that up to 10,000IU of vitamin Da day for 5 months did not causetoxicity.[49]

Controversies[edit]

Holick has been involved in several medical controversies. While at Boston University, he was asked to leave the Division of Dermatology because of his promoting the medical benefits of sun exposure. He accepted research funding for this work from a non-profit tanning bed company, considered by many to be an important potential bias. Barbara Gilchrest, then head of the department at Boston University, called Holick's book "shlock science" and Holick "a poster boy for the tanning industry".[50]

Holick received nearly $163,000 from 2013 to 2017 from pharmaceutical companies, according to Medicare’s Open Payments database, which tracks payments from drug and device manufacturers. The companies paying him includedSanofi-Aventis,which markets vitamin D supplements;Shire,which makes drugs for hormonal disorders that are given with vitamin D;Amgen,which makes an osteoporosis treatment; andRoche DiagnosticsandQuidelCorp., which both make vitamin D tests.[51]

Holick has also been criticized by other physicians because of his testimony, defending accused child abusers by asserting thatEhlers–Danlos syndromeis a cause of non-traumatic fractures in infancy (rather than abuse).[52]In one case of a child who had suffered broken bones in which Holick defended the accused parent, the child later went on to suffer severe brain injury, for which the parent, named Robert Marvin Ray, has been indicted.[50][53][54][55]

Since May 2017, Holick has been barred from evaluating or treating children by Boston Medical Center, which subsequently reported him to the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine for "health care facility discipline",[54]but is still allowed to evaluate children who are participating in his research project.[55]Boston University has defended Holick's right to testify in courts, as part of his academic freedom.[55]

Holick has speculated that the dinosaurs may have died of rickets and osteomalacia caused by a lack of vitamin D in reduced sunlight.[56]

A paper on Vitamin D to treat COVID19 has been retracted.[57]

Awards[edit]

Holick has been awarded for his contributions to the field of vitamin D research with prizes,[58]including:

Selected publications[edit]

Books[edit]

  • Holick, MF (2011).The Vitamin D Solution: A 3-Step Strategy to Cure Our Most Common Health Problems.Plume 1st edition.ISBN978-0452296886.
  • Holick, MF; Dawson-Hughes, B (2010) [2004].Nutrition and Bone Health.Humana Press.ISBN978-1617374517.
  • Holick, MF, ed. (2010).Vitamin D: Physiology, Molecular Biology, and Clinical Applications(2nd ed.). Humana Press.ISBN978-1603273008.
  • Holick, MF; Jenkins, Mark (2005).UV Advantage(2nd ed.). IBOOKS.ISBN978-1596879003.

Scientific journal articles[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^"Michael F Holick- Vitamin D Deficiency and Possible Role in Multiple Sclerosis".YouTube.Retrieved23 May2020.
  2. ^abc"med.harvard.edu - Biographical Sketch M.F. Holick"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2010-06-27.
  3. ^"Boston University School of Medicine, Michael F. Holick Ph.D., M.D."Archived fromthe originalon 2012-06-10.
  4. ^"Vitamin D and Bone Metabolism Unit at Boston University".
  5. ^"Human Research Program 2010 Chair Standing Review Panel Meeting"(PDF).
  6. ^Holick, MF; Binkley, NC; Bischoff-Ferrari, HA; Gordon, CM; Hanley, DA; Heaney, RP; Murad, MH; Weaver, CM; et al. (2011)."Evaluation, treatment, and prevention of vitamin D deficiency: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline".J Clin Endocrinol Metab.96(7): 1911–30.doi:10.1210/jc.2011-0385.PMID21646368.
  7. ^"Journal of Clinical Laboratory - Editorial Board - Editor-In-Chief - MF Holick".Archived fromthe originalon 2013-01-19.
  8. ^"Harvard Catalyst Profiles: Michael Holick".
  9. ^Holick, MF; Chen, TC (2008)."Vitamin D deficiency: a worldwide problem with health consequences".Am J Clin Nutr.87(4): 1080S–6S.doi:10.1093/ajcn/87.4.1080s.PMID18400738.
  10. ^abHolick, MF (2007). "Vitamin D deficiency".N Engl J Med.357(3): 266–81.doi:10.1056/NEJMra070553.PMID17634462.S2CID18566028.
  11. ^Solomon, Interview by Deborah (19 March 2010)."Dr. Sunshine".The New York Times.
  12. ^"Update on Fibromyalgia and Vitamin D".Forbes.
  13. ^"Why You Should Be Getting More Sun".Forbes.
  14. ^"The nature of nutrients".The Daily Beast.Archived fromthe originalon 2012-01-25.Retrieved2012-06-06.
  15. ^"Get some sun".Archived fromthe originalon 2013-11-05.
  16. ^"Scientific American - The Vitamin D and sun debate".Scientific American.
  17. ^"Bibliography M.F. Holick".Amazon.
  18. ^"Books - Michael F. Holick".Amazon.
  19. ^Holick, MF (2011).The Vitamin D Solution: A 3-Step Strategy to Cure Our Most Common Health Problems.Plume 1st edition.ISBN978-0452296886.
  20. ^Holick, MF; Deluca, HF; Avioli, LV (1972). "Isolation and identification of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol from human plasma".Archives of Internal Medicine.129(1): 56–61.doi:10.1001/archinte.1972.00320010060005.PMID4332591.
  21. ^Hollis, BW (1996). "Assessment of vitamin D nutritional and hormonal status: what to measure and how to do it".Calcif Tissue Int.58(1): 4–5.doi:10.1007/BF02509538.PMID8825231.S2CID35887181.
  22. ^Holick, MF; Schnoes, HK; Deluca, HF; Suda, T; Cousins, RJ (1971). "Isolation and identification of 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol. A metabolite of vitamin D active in intestine".Biochemistry.10(14): 2799–804.doi:10.1021/bi00790a023.PMID4326883.
  23. ^Holick, MF; Schnoes, HK; Deluca, HF; Gray, RW; Boyle, IT; Suda, T (1972). "Isolation and identification of 24,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol, a metabolite of vitamin D made in the kidney".Biochemistry.11(23): 4251–5.doi:10.1021/bi00773a009.PMID4342902.
  24. ^Holick, MF; Kleiner-Bossaller, A; Schnoes, HK; Kasten, PM; Boyle, IT; Deluca, HF (1973)."1,24,25-Trihydroxyvitamin D3. A metabolite of vitamin D3 effective on intestine".The Journal of Biological Chemistry.248(19): 6691–6.doi:10.1016/S0021-9258(19)43408-X.PMID4355503.
  25. ^Deluca, HF; Suda, T; Schnoes, HK; Tanaka, Y; Holick, MF (1970). "25,26-dihydroxycholecalciferol, a metabolite of vitamin D3 with intestinal calcium transport activity".Biochemistry.9(24): 4776–80.doi:10.1021/bi00826a022.PMID4319987.
  26. ^Holick, MF; Schnoes, HK; DeLuca, HF (April 1971)."Identification of 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol, a form of vitamin D3 metabolically active in the intestine".Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.68(4): 803–4.Bibcode:1971PNAS...68..803H.doi:10.1073/pnas.68.4.803.PMC389047.PMID4323790.
  27. ^Holick, M.; Holick, S.; Tavela, T; Gallagher, B; Schnoes, H.; Deluca, H. (1975). "Synthesis of (6-3H)-1 Alpha -hydroxyvitamin D3 and its metabolism in vivo to (3H)-1 Alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3".Science.190(4214): 576–8.doi:10.1126/science.1188356.PMID1188356.S2CID21530294.
  28. ^Silverberg, DS; Bettcher, KB; Dossetor, JB; Overton, TR; Holick, MF; Deluca, HF (1975)."Effect of I,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol in renal osteodystrophy".Canadian Medical Association Journal.112(2): 190, 193–5.PMC1956416.PMID1111876.
  29. ^Kooh, Sang Whay; Fraser, Donald; Deluca, Hector F.; Holick, Michael F.; Belsey, Richard E.; Clark, Mary B.; Murray, Timothy M. (1975). "Treatment of Hypoparathyroidism and Pseudohypoparathyroidism with Metabolites of Vitamin D: Evidence for Impaired Conversion of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D to 1α,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D".New England Journal of Medicine.293(17): 840–4.doi:10.1056/NEJM197510232931702.PMID170516.
  30. ^Neer, R.M.; Holick, M.F.; Deluca, H.F.; Potts, J.T. (1975). "Effects of 1α-hydroxy-vitamin D3 and 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D3 on calcium and phosphorus metabolism in hypoparathyroidism".Metabolism.24(12): 1403–13.doi:10.1016/0026-0495(75)90055-4.PMID1196134.
  31. ^Balsan, S; Garabedian, M; Sorgniard, R; Holick, MF; Deluca, HF (1975)."1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and 1, Alpha -hydroxyvitamin D3 in children: Biologic and therapeutic effects in nutritional rickets and different types of vitamin D resistance".Pediatric Research.9(7): 586–93.doi:10.1203/00006450-197507000-00007.PMID169507.
  32. ^Holick, MF (2007). "Optimal vitamin D status for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis".Drugs & Aging.24(12): 1017–29.doi:10.2165/00002512-200724120-00005.PMID18020534.S2CID36958840.
  33. ^Fraser, Donald; Kooh, Sang Whay; Kind, H. Peter; Holick, Michael F.; Tanaka, Yoko; Deluca, Hector F. (1973). "Pathogenesis of Hereditary Vitamin-D-Dependent Rickets".New England Journal of Medicine.289(16): 817–22.doi:10.1056/NEJM197310182891601.PMID4357855.
  34. ^Glorieux, FH; Holick, MF; Scriver, CR; Deluca, HF (1973). "X-linked hypophosphataemic rickets: Inadequate therapeutic response to 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol".Lancet.2(7824): 287–9.doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(73)90793-9.PMID4124774.
  35. ^Clemens, TL; Adams, JS; Nolan, JM; Holick, MF (1982). "Measurement of circulating vitamin D in man".Clinica Chimica Acta.121(3): 301–8.doi:10.1016/0009-8981(82)90239-X.PMID6286167.
  36. ^abHolick, MF; MacLaughlin, JA; Clark, MB; Holick, SA; Potts, JT junior; Anderson, RR; Blank, IH; Parrish, JA; et al. (1980). "Photosynthesis of previtamin D3 in human skin and the physiologic consequences".Science.210(4466): 203–205.Bibcode:1980Sci...210..203H.doi:10.1126/science.6251551.PMID6251551.
  37. ^abWebb, AR; Kline, L; Holick, MF; Nielsen, CT; Price, PA; Christiansen, C; Skakkebaek, NE (1988). "Influence of season and latitude on the cutaneous synthesis of vitamin D3: Exposure to winter sunlight in Boston and Edmonton will not promote vitamin D3 synthesis in human skin".J Clin Endocrinol Metab.67(2): 273–8.doi:10.1210/jcem-67-2-373.PMID2839537.
  38. ^Lu, Z; Chen, TC; Holick, MF (1992).Influence of season and time of day on the synthesis of vitamin D3. In: Holick MF, Kligman A, eds. Proceedings of the Biologic Effects of Light Symposium.pp. 53–6.{{cite book}}:|work=ignored (help)
  39. ^Clemens, TL; Adams, JS; Henderson, SL; Holick, MF (1982). "Increased skin pigment reduces the capacity of the skin to synthesize vitamin D".Lancet.1(8263): 74–6.doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(82)90214-8.PMID6119494.S2CID41818974.
  40. ^Matsuoka, LY; Ide, L; Wortsman, J; MacLaughlin, JA; Holick, MF (1987). "Sunscreens suppress cutaneous vitamin D3 synthesis".J Clin Endocrinol Metab.64(6): 1165–8.doi:10.1210/jcem-64-6-1165.PMID3033008.
  41. ^abSmith, EL; Walworth, NC; Holick, MF (1986). "Effect of 1 Alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 on the morphologic and biochemical differentiation of cultured human epidermal keratinocytes grown in serum-free conditions".J. Invest. Dermatol.86(6): 709–14.doi:10.1111/1523-1747.ep12276343.PMID2423618.
  42. ^Pèrez, A; Chen, TC; Turner, A; Raab, R; Bhawan, J; Poche, P; Holick, MF (1996). "Efficacy and safety of topical calcitriol (1,25-dihydroxyvitamin d3) for the treatment of psoriasis".Br J Dermatol.134(2): 238–46.doi:10.1111/j.1365-2133.1996.tb07608.x.PMID8746336.S2CID24213908.
  43. ^Adams, JS; Singer, FR; Dacad, MA; Sharma, OP; Hayes, MJ; Vouros, P; Holick, MF (1985). "Isolation and structural identification of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 produced by cultured alveolar macrophages in sarcoidosis".J Clin Endocrinol Metab.60(5): 960–6.doi:10.1210/jcem-60-5-960.PMID2984238.
  44. ^Schwartz, GG; Whitlatch, LW; Chen, TC; Lokeshwar, BL; Holick, MF (1998). "Human prostate cells synthesize 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 from 25-hydroxyvitamin D3".Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev.7(5): 391–5.PMID9610788.
  45. ^Holick, MF (2004)."Sunlight and vitamin D for bone health and prevention of autoimmune diseases, cancers, and cardiovascular disease".Am J Clin Nutr.80(6): 1678S–88S.doi:10.1093/ajcn/80.6.1678s.PMID15585788.
  46. ^Farraye, FA; Nimitphong, H; Stucchi, A; Dendrinos, K; Boulanger, A; Vijjeswarapu, A; Tanennbaum, A; Biancuzzo, R; et al. (2011). "Use of a novel vitamin D bioavailability test demonstrates that vitamin D absorption is decreased in patients with quiescent Crohn's disease".Inflamm Bowel Dis.17(10): 2116–21.doi:10.1002/ibd.21595.PMID21910173.S2CID4940789.
  47. ^Tangpricha, V; Koutkia, P; Rieke, SM; Chen, TC; Perez, AA; Holick, MF (2003)."Fortification of orange juice with vitamin D: a novel approach for enhancing vitamin D nutritional health".Am J Clin Nutr.77(6): 1478–83.doi:10.1093/ajcn/77.6.1478.PMID12791627.
  48. ^Wortsman, J; Matsuoka, LY; Chen, TC; Lu, Z; Holick, MF (2000)."Decreased bioavailability of vitamin D in obesity".Am J Clin Nutr.72(3): 690–3.doi:10.1093/ajcn/72.3.690.PMID10966885.
  49. ^Heaney, RP; Davies, KM; Chen, TC; Holick, MF; Barger-Lux, MJ (2003)."Human serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol response to extended oral dosing with cholecalciferol".Am J Clin Nutr.77(1): 204–10.doi:10.1093/ajcn/77.1.204.PMID12499343.
  50. ^abDavid Armstrong (September 26, 2018)."The Child-Abuse Contrarian".The New Yorker.Retrieved2018-09-30.
  51. ^Szabo, Liz (2018-08-18)."Vitamin D, the Sunshine Supplement, Has Shadowy Money Behind It".New York Times.Retrieved2018-10-07.
  52. ^Jenifer McKim (March 13, 2015)."Boston University researcher draws fire for claiming some broken bones caused by rare disease, not abuse".The Boston Globe.Retrieved2017-11-25.
  53. ^Shawn Cabbagestalk (January 11, 2018)."Midlands father charged with abusing infant daughter who suffered permanent brain damage".WCBD News 2.Retrieved2018-09-30.
  54. ^ab"Boston Hospital Reports Disciplining of Child Abuse Skeptic".Medscape.Retrieved2019-08-02.
  55. ^abcArmstrong, David (2019-07-24)."Boston Hospital Reports Disciplining of Renowned Child Abuse Skeptic".ProPublica.
  56. ^Szabo, Liz (18 August 2018)."Vitamin D, the Sunshine Supplement, Has Shadowy Money Behind It".The New York Times.
  57. ^https://retractionwatch /2024/06/24/paper-recommending-vitamin-d-for-covid-19-retracted-four-years-after-expression-of-concern/
  58. ^"The UV advantage - biography - awards".Archived fromthe originalon 2011-09-03.
  59. ^"DSM Nutrition Award 2009 presented to Michael Holick and Heike Bischoff-Ferrari".Archived fromthe originalon 2013-03-12.
  60. ^"American Association for Clinical Chemistry - 2010 Van Slyke Award".
  61. ^"2009 Linus Pauling Institute Prize Recipient".Archived fromthe originalon 2012-03-07.
  62. ^"Dr. Holick honored by Endocrine Society".
  63. ^"BUSM professor receives 2011 ACN Communication Media Award".23 November 2011.
  64. ^Institute of functional medicine (2020)."About the Linus Pauling Award".Institute of Functional Medicine.

External links[edit]

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