title: Vitamin D and respiratory health.
abstract: Vitamin D is now known to be of physiological importance outside of bone health and calcium homeostasis, and there is mounting evidence that it plays a beneficial role in the prevention and/or treatment of a wide range of diseases. In this brief review the known effects of vitamin D on immune function are described in relation to respiratory health. Vitamin D appears capable of inhibiting pulmonary inflammatory responses while enhancing innate defence mechanisms against respiratory pathogens. Population-based studies showing an association between circulating vitamin D levels and lung function provide strong justification for randomized controlled clinical trials of vitamin D supplementation in patients with respiratory diseases to assess both efficacy and optimal dosage.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Food Research, Norwich Research Park, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK. davidA.hughes@bbsrc.ac.uk
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Norton
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000502:physiology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000502:physiology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D007155:Immunologic Factors; D014807:Vitamin D