title: Vitamin D and inflammation.
abstract: Recent studies have provided evidence for an important role of vitamin D deficiency in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the general population, and of an association with markers of inflammation. Vitamin D deficiency, defined by low serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, is especially prevalent in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Chronic low-grade inflammation is a hallmark of CKD and has been disclosed as one important factor contributing to the progression of CKD and a high cardiovascular comorbidity. This review highlights clinical and experimental studies that could potentially explain a link between vitamin D and inflammation. Whether correction of vitamin D deficiency has beneficial effects on markers of inflammation and cardiovascular outcome should be investigated by controlled clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Nephrology, Charité Children's Hospital, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Germany. uwe.querfeld@charite.de
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Querfeld
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism; D015897:Comorbidity; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011379:Prognosis; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D