title: Vitamin D and chronic lung disease: a review of molecular mechanisms and clinical studies.
abstract: Vitamin D is classically recognized for its role in calcium homeostasis and skeletal metabolism. Over the last few decades, vitamin D deficiency has increased in prevalence in adults and children. Potential extraskeletal effects of vitamin D have been under investigation for several diseases. Several cross-sectional studies have associated lower vitamin D status with decreased lung function. This finding has prompted investigators to examine the association of vitamin D deficiency with several chronic lung diseases. One major focus has been the link between maternal vitamin D status and childhood asthma. Vitamin D deficiency has also been associated with increased risk of respiratory infection from influenza A and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Other chronic respiratory diseases associated with vitamin D deficiency include cystic fibrosis, interstitial lung disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This review will examine the current clinical literature and potential mechanisms of vitamin D in various pulmonary diseases.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
authors.forename: James D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Finklea
authors.forename: Ruth E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Grossmann
authors.forename: Vin
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tangpricha
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D009980:Influenza A virus; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology