title: Vitamin D as an anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory therapy for Cystic Fibrosis.
abstract: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is characterized by chronic infection and inflammation in the airways that lead to progressive lung damage and early death. Current anti-inflammatory therapies are limited by extensive adverse effects or insufficient efficacy. There is a large body of studies indicating beneficial anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties of vitamin D. Since most patients with CF present with vitamin D deficiency, and serum vitamin D levels demonstrate a positive correlation with lung function and negative correlation with airway inflammation and infection, correcting vitamin D deficiency may be an attractive therapeutic strategy in CF. The function of vitamin D is intricately tied to its metabolism, which may be impaired at multiple steps in patients with CF, with a potential to limit the efficacy of vitamin D supplementation. It is likely that the aforementioned beneficial properties of vitamin D require supplementation with doses of vitamin D markedly higher than those recommended to maintain proper bone function. This review will illustrate the potential for supplementation with vitamin D or its metabolites to modulate inflammation and improve defence against chronic infection in CF lung, as well as appropriate vitamin D supplementation strategies for improving lung function in CF.
authors: Research Institute of McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Herscovitch
authors: Research Institute of McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Dauletbaev
authors: Research Institute of McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Division of Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Montreal Children's Hospital-McGill University Health Centre. Electronic address: larry.lands@muhc.mcgill.ca.
authors: Larry C
authors: LC
authors: Lands
mesh_terms: D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D
keywords: Anti-inflammatory; Anti-microbial; Cystic fibrosis; Treatment; Vitamin D