Vitamin D's Effect on Immune Function

• Published in: Nutrients Vol. 12; no. 5; p. 1248
• Main Authors: Martens, Pieter-Jan, Gysemans, Conny, Verstuyf, Annemieke, Mathieu, And Chantal
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI 28.04.2020; MDPI AG
• Subjects: 1,25-(OH)2D3; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - etiology; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - immunology; autoimmune disease; Autoimmune Diseases - etiology; Autoimmune Diseases - immunology; B-Lymphocytes - immunology; Calcitriol; Dendritic Cells - immunology; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - etiology; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - immunology; Humans; immune system; Immune System - immunology; infectious disease; Macrophages - immunology; Macrophages - metabolism; Monocytes - immunology; Monocytes - metabolism; Multiple Sclerosis - etiology; Multiple Sclerosis - immunology; Receptors, Calcitriol - metabolism; Review; T-Lymphocytes - immunology; type 1 diabetes; vitamin D; Vitamin D - metabolism; Vitamin D - pharmacology; Vitamin D Deficiency - etiology; Vitamin D Deficiency - immunology; Vitamin D Deficiency - prevention & control; type 1 diabetes; 1,25-(OH)2D3; Vitamin D; infectious disease; multiple sclerosis; immune system; autoimmune disease; rheumatoid arthritis
• ISSN: 2072-6643; 2072-6643
• DOI: 10.3390/nu12051248

Ever since its discovery by Windhaus, the importance of the active metabolite of vitamin D (1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D ; 1,25-(OH)2D ) has been ever expanding. In this review, the attention is shifted towards the importance of the extra-skeletal effects of vitamin D, with special emphasis on the immune system. The first hint of the significant role of vitamin D on the immune system was made by the discovery of the presence of the vitamin D receptor on almost all cells of the immune system. In vitro, the overwhelming effect of supra-physiological doses of vitamin D on the individual components of the immune system is very clear. Despite these promising pre-clinical results, the translation of the in vitro observations to solid clinical effects has mostly failed. Nevertheless, the evidence of a link between vitamin D deficiency and adverse outcomes is overwhelming and clearly points towards avoidance of vitamin D deficiency especially in early life.