Vitamin D and autoimmunity: new aetiological and therapeutic considerations

Ann Rheum Dis. 2007 Sep;66(9):1137-42. doi: 10.1136/ard.2007.069831. Epub 2007 Jun 8.

Abstract

Vitamin D is frequently prescribed by rheumatologists to prevent and treat osteoporosis. Several observations have shown that vitamin D inhibits proinflammatory processes by suppressing the enhanced activity of immune cells that take part in the autoimmune reaction. Moreover, recent evidence strongly suggests that vitamin D supplementation may be therapeutically beneficial, particularly for Th1-mediated autoimmune disorders. Some reports imply that vitamin D may even be preventive in certain disorders such as multiple sclerosis and diabetes type 1. It seems that vitamin D has crossed the boundaries of calcium metabolism and has become a significant factor in a number of physiological functions, specifically as a biological inhibitor of inflammatory hyperactivity.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / drug therapy
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / immunology*
  • Autoimmune Diseases / immunology*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / drug therapy
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / immunology
  • Humans
  • Hypersensitivity / etiology
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / drug therapy
  • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / immunology
  • Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Multiple Sclerosis / drug therapy
  • Multiple Sclerosis / immunology
  • Vitamin D / adverse effects
  • Vitamin D / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Vitamin D