Translating the role of vitamin D3 in infectious diseases.
Vitamin D(3) affects both the innate as well as adaptive immune responses. Epidemiological studies have established that vitamin D(3) deficiency plays an important role in tuberculosis (TB) and viral influenza prevalence as well as susceptibility to active disease in TB. Vitamin D(3) status has been associated with the clinical course of HIV infection and drug interaction with anti-retroviral therapy. This article reviews the immunomodulatory capacity of vitamin D(3) and examines the impact of vitamin D(3) supplementation as a preventive or therapeutic intervention with the intent to uncover its potential therapeutic application in infectious diseases and to identify novel areas for future research. We present a review of randomized, controlled clinical studies conducted in humans which included assessment of the immune function or clinical outcome as study end points. Current data support vitamin D(3) supplementation as risk-modifying intervention in tuberculosis and viral respiratory tract infection, but the optimal dosage regimen remains to be determined. However, to date the knowledge on its role in fungal infection and sepsis is limited although a potential benefit could be harnessed from its ability to curtail the unrestrained pro-inflammatory response and therefore prevent excessive collateral tissue damage.
Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Laboratory Medical Immunology, Nijmegen, Netherlands.
Ai Leng
AL
Khoo
Louis
L
Chai
Hans
H
Koenen
Irma
I
Joosten
Mihai
M
Netea
André
A
van der Ven
D002762:Cholecalciferol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000379:methods*; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control
D007155:Immunologic Factors; D002762:Cholecalciferol