title: Viruses and vitamin D in the etiology of type 1 diabetes mellitus and multiple sclerosis.
abstract: Although specific viruses have been associated with autoimmune diseases, none fulfill Koch's criteria of causation. The etiologies of such diseases appear to be complex and multifactorial. For example, one might propose that the etiology of type 1 diabetes mellitus results from a toxic metabolite of nitrosamines during an enteroviral infection. Multiple sclerosis might result from a cascade of events involving several herpes virus infections activated during periods of vitamin D deficiency. We encourage investigators to consider Rotman's sufficient-component causal model when developing hypotheses for testing for the etiology of chronic diseases. Delineating the web of causation may lead to additional strategies for prevention and treatment of several autoimmune diseases.
authors: Division of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors: Christopher
authors: C
authors: Jankosky
authors: Eric
authors: E
authors: Deussing
authors: Roger L
authors: RL
authors: Gibson
authors: Harry W
authors: HW
authors: Haverkos
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000209:etiology*; D004769:Enterovirus Infections / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000209:etiology*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications