title: Vitamin D and its role in allergic disease.
abstract: In Western countries, the incidence of atopy and allergic diseases is high and further rising. While genetic factors certainly play a role, epigenetic or even nutritional factors might also be important in the pathogenesis of allergies. Vitamin D - the 'sunshine hormone' - exerts profound effects on both adaptive and innate immune functions involved in the development and course of allergic diseases. As also the incidence of vitamin D insufficiency is surprisingly high in the general population, clinical and experimental studies have started to investigate if correcting vitamin D levels [measured as serum 25 hydroxy vitamin D -25(OH)D] is beneficial or even protective in patients with allergies or children at risk. This review highlights current data on the effects of vitamin D on the allergy-mediating immune system and the vitamin D status in atopic patients. Furthermore, the benefits and risks of vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy, childhood and in adults with respect to the development and course of allergic disease are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Ludwig-Maximilian University, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reinholz
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ruzicka
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schauber
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D