title: A pilot study of the immunological effects of high-dose vitamin D in healthy volunteers.
abstract: Although vitamin D deficiency is considered an environmental factor in multiple sclerosis (MS), the immunological and clinical effects of vitamin D supplementation remain unclear. We performed a pilot study of the immunomodulatory effects of vitamin D in healthy individuals (n=4), who took 5000-10,000 IU/day of vitamin D over 15 weeks. After 15 weeks of vitamin D supplementation, serum 25(OH) vitamin D levels rose significantly from baseline, with a corresponding increase in IL-10 production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells and a reduced frequency of Th17 cells. These data provide a strong rationale for randomised trials to assess the clinical effects of vitamin D supplementation in MS.
authors.affiliation: School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Aideen C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: Siobhan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: Sharee A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Basdeo
authors.forename: Katie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kinsella
authors.forename: Keith J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Mulready
authors.forename: Kingston H G
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Mills
authors.forename: Niall
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tubridy
authors.forename: Cathal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: Jennifer J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Brady
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hutchinson
authors.forename: Jean M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Fletcher
mesh_terms: D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D014815:Vitamins; D016753:Interleukin-10; D014807:Vitamin D