Vitamin D prevents infections – Nov 2012

How important is vitamin D in preventing infections?

Osteoporos Int. 2012 Nov 17.
Lang PO, Samaras N, Samaras D, Aspinall R.
Nescens Centre of Preventive Medicine, Clinic of Genolier, Route du Muids, 3, 1272, Genolier, Switzerland, polang at nescens.com.

Interaction with the immune system is one of the most recently established nonclassic effects of vitamin D (VitD). For many years, this was considered to be limited to granulomatous diseases in which synthesis of active 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)(2)D(3)) or calcitriol is known to be increased. However, recent reports have supported a role for 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) in promoting normal function of the innate and adaptive immune systems. Crucially, these effects seem to be mediated not only by the endocrine function of circulating calcitriol but also via paracrine (i.e., refers to effects to adjacent or nearby cells) and/or intracrine activity (i.e., refers to a hormone acting inside a cell) of 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) from its precursor 25(OH)D(3), the main circulating metabolite of VitD. The ability of this vitamin to influence human immune responsiveness seems to be highly dependent on the 25(OH)D(3) status of individuals and may lead to aberrant response to infection or even to autoimmunity in those who are lacking VitD. The potential health significance of this has been underlined by increasing awareness of impaired status in populations across the globe. This review will examine the current understanding of how VitD status may modulate the responsiveness of the human immune system. Furthermore, we discuss how it may play a role in host resistance to common pathogens and how effective is its supplementation for treatment or prevention of infectious diseases in humans.

PMID: 23160915

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Chart from PDF B = prevented infection

A no study end-points met (negative study),
B all study end-points met (positive study),
C some study end-points met (mixed study)

PDF is attached at the bottom of this page
PDF was public domain in Dec 2012

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See also VitaminDWiki

• Vitamin D's potential to reduce the risk of hospital-acquired infections – May 2012
• How to reduce hospital infections with vitamin D – April 2012
• Sepsis associated with low vitamin D - April 2012
• Vitamin D probably can prevent and treat TB and infectious diseases – 2012
• An update on vitamin D and human immunity – March 2012
• Category Immunity and Vitamin D 273 items