Vitamin d and its role in cancer and immunity: a prescription for sunlight.
Vitamin D has been recognized for more than a century as essential for the normal development and mineralization of a healthy skeleton. More extensive roles for vitamin D were suggested by the discovery of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) in tissues that are not involved in calcium and phosphate metabolism. VDR has been discovered in most tissues and cells in the body and is able to elicit a wide variety of biologic responses. These observations have been the impetus for a reevaluation of the physiologic and pharmacologic actions of vitamin D. Here, we review the role of vitamin D in regulation of the immune system and its possible role in the prevention and treatment of cancer and immune-mediated diseases.
Mullin
Gerard E
GE
Integrative GI Nutrition Services, Capsule Endoscopy, Division of Gastroenterology and Liver Disease, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA. gmullin1@jhmi.edu
Dobs
Adrian
A
D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol / Q000378:metabolism*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000502:physiology*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014815:Vitamins / Q000502:physiology*
D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol; D014815:Vitamins; D014807:Vitamin D