Association between hypovitaminosis D and systemic sclerosis: True or fake?

Abstract

Background: Vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency is considered a major factor triggering and enhancing several autoimmune disorders; hypovitaminosis D has been reported to be common in Systemic Sclerosis (SSc). Previous studies assessing vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency in SSc have been reviewed, and the relation with pathogenesis and clinical features has been examined.

Content: Eligibility criteria were: reporting measurement of Vitamin D serum levels in all participants and evaluating adult onset-SSc individuals as patients group.

Results: The association between clinical features and low hormone levels is controversial. Manifold data have shown vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency to have a potential role in the pathogenesis of disease, providing inconclusive findings.

Summary: Promoting the onset of SSc depends on the interaction between genetics, environment and infections. It remains a sound question whether Vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency is an environment-linked immunological heckler, making infectious agents taking root.

Keywords: Autoimmunity; Hypovitaminosis D; Systemic Sclerosis; Vitamin D.