title: Early-life vitamin D deficiency and childhood-onset coeliac disease.
abstract: Many studies have investigated the aetiological roles of genetic and environmental factors in coeliac disease (CD) with the long-term goal of developing an effective primary prevention strategy. CD is a condition with dysregulated systemic and intestinal mucosal immune responses to dietary gluten proteins among genetically predisposed individuals. We recently described spring birth as a novel risk factor for CD in children. We believe that the association between season of birth and CD is due to seasonal differences in sunlight exposure and subsequent vitamin D status. Concomitant with global increases in CD prevalence, vitamin D deficiency also is increasingly recognized in children worldwide. Recent studies have shown that vitamin D deficiency can cause improper immune responses, abnormal intestinal mucosal integrity and impaired local defence to pathogenic microbial agents. In conjunction with other potential aetiological factors, we propose a hypothesis model of early-life vitamin D deficiency in the pathogenesis of childhood-onset CD.
authors.affiliation: 1 Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Pornthep
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tanpowpong
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, 326 Cambridge Street, Suite 410, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
authors.forename: Carlos A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Camargo
mesh_terms: D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012621:Seasons; D013472:Sunlight; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D