Vitamin D in Prevention of Autoimmune Diseases

Valeria Dipasquale; Giovanna Lo Presti; Gregorio Paolo Milani; Antonio Corsello; Carlo Agostoni; Claudio Romano

doi:10.31083/j.fbl2710288

Vitamin D in Prevention of Autoimmune Diseases

Front Biosci (Landmark Ed). 2022 Oct 24;27(10):288. doi: 10.31083/j.fbl2710288.

Authors

Valeria Dipasquale¹, Giovanna Lo Presti¹, Gregorio Paolo Milani^{2

3}, Antonio Corsello², Carlo Agostoni^{2

3}, Claudio Romano¹

Affiliations

¹ Pediatric Gastroenterology and Cystic Fibrosis Unit, Department of Human Pathology in Adulthood and Childhood "G. Barresi'', University of Messina, 98124 Messina, Italy.
² Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy.
³ Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Pediatric Unit, 20122 Milan, Italy.

PMID: 36336872
DOI: 10.31083/j.fbl2710288

Abstract

Vitamin D is essential for the regulation of the immune system. In recent years, the role of vitamin D in the control of several autoimmune conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), celiac disease, type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), and others has been investigated. The aim of this review was to define the level of knowledge on vitamin D's role in these disorders, as well as the preventive and therapeutic role of vitamin D supplementation. Relevant studies published over the last 20 years were identified via a PubMed/Medline (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/) search using the keywords: vitamin D, autoimmune disease, and prevention. Vitamin D deficiency or impaired function of the enzymes necessary for its activity has been shown to affect the onset and severity of the autoimmune diseases examined. Vitamin D supplementation appears useful in the support therapy of IBD. Its role in celiac disease, autoimmune hepatitis, T1DM, and autoimmune thyroiditis is unclear. In conclusion, further studies are needed to define whether vitamin D is a cause or a result of the most common autoimmune, extra-skeletal diseases, such as IBD. Vitamin D should be provided to all newborns during their first year of life. Afterwards, the vitamin D supplementation regimen should be tailored to the presence of risk factors for vitamin D deficiency and/or specific disease.

Keywords: autoimmune disease; prevention; prophylaxis; treatment; vitamin D.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Autoimmune Diseases* / drug therapy
Autoimmune Diseases* / etiology
Autoimmune Diseases* / prevention & control
Celiac Disease* / complications
Celiac Disease* / drug therapy
Celiac Disease* / prevention & control
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1* / prevention & control
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases* / drug therapy
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases* / prevention & control
Vitamin D / therapeutic use
Vitamin D Deficiency* / complications
Vitamin D Deficiency* / drug therapy

Substances

Vitamin D