title: Solar radiation and vitamin D: mitigating environmental factors in autoimmune disease.
abstract: This paper looks at the environmental role of vitamin D and solar radiation as risk reduction factors in autoimmune disease. Five diseases are considered: multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune disease of the thyroid, and inflammatory bowel disease. Clinical relevant studies and factors that may indicate evidence that autoimmune disease is a vitamin D-sensitive disease are presented. Studies that have resulted in prevention or amelioration of some autoimmune disease are discussed. An example of the utility of supplementing vitamin D in an unusual autoimmune disease, idiopathic thrombocytic purpura, is presented.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, University of Alberta, Suite No. 301, 9509-156 Street, Edmonton, AB, Canada. gschwalf@telus.net
authors.forename: Gerry K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Schwalfenberg
mesh_terms: D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D