title: Vitamin D and allergic disease: sunlight at the end of the tunnel?
abstract: A role for vitamin D in the regulation of immune function was first proposed after the identification of Vitamin D receptors in lymphocytes. It has since been recognized that the active form of vitamin D, 1α,25(OH)₂D₃, has direct affects on naïve and activated helper T cells, regulatory T cells, activated B cells and dendritic cells. There is a growing body of literature linking vitamin D (serum 25(OH)D, oral intake and surrogate indicators such as latitude) to various immune-related conditions, including allergy, although the nature of this relationship is still unclear. This review explores the findings of epidemiological, clinical and laboratory research, and the potential role of vitamin D in promoting the inappropriate immune responses which underpin the rise in a broad range of immune diseases.
authors.affiliation: School of Paediatrics and Child health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia 6008, Australia.
authors.forename: Anderson P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Meri K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Tulic
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rueter
authors.forename: Susan L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Prescott
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004485:Eczema / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology*; D007223:Infant; D008168:Lung / Q000502:physiology; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000502:physiology; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011247:Pregnancy; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol / Q000235:genetics; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000276:immunology; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol; D014807:Vitamin D