Panacea Index Logo

Command Palette

Search for a command to run...

Vitamin D levels and potential impact in systemic sclerosis.

Clinical and experimental rheumatology
January 1, 2011
Alessandra Vacca et al. (5 authors)
Journal ArticleReviewHuman StudyMolecular Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to explore the role of vitamin D in autoimmune diseases, particularly systemic sclerosis (SSc), and its potential immunomodulatory effects beyond calcium metabolism.

Results Summary

The study found a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in SSc patients, possibly linked to disease activity or phenotype, but did not establish a definitive therapeutic benefit of supplementation. Novel vitamin D analogs with stronger immune effects and less impact on calcium metabolism are under development.

Population

Patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and other autoimmune diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, type I diabetes, systemic lupus erythematosus).

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

Not specified

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (7)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
vitamin D
increase
immunomodulation
antigen-presenting cells and activated T cells
-
exert other biological activities, including immunomodulation
#1
vitamin D
increase
autoimmune diseases
animal models and human prospective studies of rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, type I diabetes, and systemic lupus erythematosus
-
suggested an important role
#2
-
increase
vitamin D deficiency
systemic sclerosis (SSc)
-
evidenced a high prevalence
#3
-
increase
vitamin D deficiency and disease activity or phenotype characteristics
systemic sclerosis (SSc)
-
some degree of association
#4
vitamin D supplementation
decrease
disease activity or severity
systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients
-
might be sufficient to modulate immunological homeostasis, and possibly reduce disease activity or severity
#5
novel vitamin D analogues
increase
immune modulatory effect
autoimmune disorders
-
with more pronounced immune modulatory effect and lower activity on calcium metabolism
#6
novel vitamin D analogues
decrease
activity on calcium metabolism
autoimmune disorders
-
with more pronounced immune modulatory effect and lower activity on calcium metabolism
#7
Abstract

Vitamin D is essential not only for calcium and bone metabolism, but it also may exert other biological activities, including immunomodulation through the expression of vitamin D receptor in antigen-presenting cells and activated T cells. Evidence from animal models and human prospective studies of rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, type I diabetes, and systemic lupus erythematosus, indeed suggested an important role for vitamin D as a modifiable environmental factor in autoimmune diseases. In systemic sclerosis (SSc), this role has not been completely dissected, although recent studies clearly evidenced a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency. Moreover, some degree of association between vitamin D deficiency and disease activity or phenotype characteristics has also been observed. Vitamin D deficiency in SSc may be related to several factors: insufficient sun exposure due to disability and skin fibrosis, insufficient intake because of gut involvement and malabsorption. Although it is advisable to regularly check vitamin D status in these patients, there is no consensus about which vitamin D supplementation regimen might be sufficient to modulate immunological homeostasis, and possibly reduce disease activity or severity, thus further prospective studies are needed. Moreover, novel vitamin D analogues with more pronounced immune modulatory effect and lower activity on calcium metabolism are in the pipeline, and might represent a great innovative opportunity for the treatment of vitamin D deficiency in such autoimmune disorders.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
AnimalsAutoimmune DiseasesDietary SupplementsDisease Models, AnimalHumansImmunologic FactorsScleroderma, SystemicVitamin DVitamin D Deficiency
Study Links
PubMed ID22011638
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy65/10
Quality75/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations24
Citations/Year1.7
Relative Citation Ratio0.88
NIH Percentile45.4%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.50
Weight Score0.65
Normalized Score0.61
Related Supplements