Vitamin D and the immune system
Aranow C
Published in Journal of Investigative Medicine, Vol. 59 (6), pp. 881-6
Abstract
Comprehensive review of vitamin D's immunomodulatory effects, including its role in both innate and adaptive immune responses.
Methodology
Narrative review of in vitro, animal and clinical literature on vitamin D and innate/adaptive immunity.
Key Findings
Vitamin D receptors are expressed on monocytes, macrophages, dendritic cells and T and B lymphocytes; calcitriol upregulates antimicrobial peptides such as cathelicidin, dampens Th1/Th17 responses and promotes regulatory T cells. Deficiency is associated with autoimmune disease and infection risk in observational data.
Conclusions
Vitamin D is a genuine immune modulator at the mechanistic level, but translating this into clinical benefit from supplementation has proved inconsistent outside of correcting deficiency.
Limitations
Narrative mechanistic review; human clinical evidence cited is largely observational, and causality between low vitamin D and immune dysfunction remains unresolved.
Supplements Studied
Vitamin D receptors are expressed on monocytes, macrophages, dendritic cells and T and B lymphocytes; calcitriol upregulates antimicrobial peptides such as cathelicidin, dampens Th1/Th17 responses and promotes regulatory T cells. Deficiency is associated with autoimmune disease and infection risk in observational data.
Related Health Concerns
Study Details
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Disclosures
Funding
Supported by US National Institutes of Health grants to the author
This information is for educational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement regimen.