Vitamin D and systemic lupus erythematosus: an update.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to review the relationship between vitamin D status and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), including its onset, activity, and complications.
Results Summary
The abstract highlights that hypovitaminosis D is prevalent in SLE patients and correlates with disease activity, osteoporosis, fatigue, and cardiovascular risk factors. It summarizes recommendations for vitamin D supplementation but does not specifically address calcium's effects.
Population
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
Glucocorticoids, anticonvulsants, antimalarials, and calcineurin inhibitors alter vitamin D metabolism or downregulate vitamin D receptor functions.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vitamin D | neutral | growth, proliferation, apoptosis and function of the cells of the immune system | - | - | exhibits a plethora of regulatory effects on | #1 |
avoidance of sunshine, photoprotection, renal insufficiency and the use of medications such as glucocorticoids, anticonvulsants, antimalarials and the calcineurin inhibitors | decrease | vitamin D metabolism or vitamin D receptor function | SLE patients | - | alter the metabolism of vitamin D or downregulate the functions of the vitamin D receptor | #2 |
avoidance of sunshine, photoprotection, renal insufficiency and the use of medications such as glucocorticoids, anticonvulsants, antimalarials and the calcineurin inhibitors | increase | Hypovitaminosis D | SLE patients | - | is highly prevalent in SLE | #3 |
Low levels of vitamin D | increase | disease activity | SLE patients | - | correlate with | #4 |
Low levels of vitamin D | increase | osteoporosis | SLE patients | - | is associated with | #5 |
Low levels of vitamin D | increase | fatigue | SLE patients | - | is associated with | #6 |
Low levels of vitamin D | increase | certain cardiovascular risk factors | SLE patients | - | is associated with | #7 |
Vitamin D is a steroid hormone that, in addition to its actions on calcium and bone metabolism, exhibits a plethora of regulatory effects on growth, proliferation, apoptosis and function of the cells of the immune system that are relevant to the pathophysiology of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Hypovitaminosis D is highly prevalent in SLE as a result of avoidance of sunshine, photoprotection, renal insufficiency and the use of medications such as glucocorticoids, anticonvulsants, antimalarials and the calcineurin inhibitors, which alter the metabolism of vitamin D or downregulate the functions of the vitamin D receptor. Low levels of vitamin D correlate with disease activity, and is associated with osteoporosis, fatigue and certain cardiovascular risk factors in SLE patients. This review updates the recent evidence on the relationship between vitamin D status and the onset, activity and complications of SLE, and summarizes the recommendations for vitamin D supplementation.