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Controlling Chronic Diseases and Acute Infections with Vitamin D Sufficiency.

Nutrients
January 1, 1970
Sunil J Wimalawansa
Journal ArticleReviewHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to determine the role of vitamin D in preventing and mitigating chronic diseases and infections, and its broader physiological benefits.

Results Summary

The study found that maintaining vitamin D sufficiency (serum 25(OH)D above 40 ng/mL) improves immune function, reduces chronic disease burden, infections, hospitalizations, and all-cause mortality. It also controls inflammation, oxidative stress, and generates antimicrobial peptides.

Population

Vulnerable communities, including ethnic minorities in temperate countries, older people, those with co-morbidities, night workers, and institutionalized persons.

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

Not specified

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (16)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
proper doses of vitamin D supplementation and/or safe daily sun exposure
decrease
vitamin D deficiency
-
-
can be eliminated
#1
maintaining the population serum 25(OH)D concentration above 40 ng/mL (i.e., sufficiency)
increase
a sound immune system
population
-
ensures
#2
maintaining the population serum 25(OH)D concentration above 40 ng/mL (i.e., sufficiency)
decrease
symptomatic diseases
population
-
minimizing
#3
maintaining the population serum 25(OH)D concentration above 40 ng/mL (i.e., sufficiency)
decrease
infections
population
-
reducing
#4
maintaining the population serum 25(OH)D concentration above 40 ng/mL (i.e., sufficiency)
decrease
the prevalence of chronic diseases
population
-
reducing
#5
maintaining vitamin D sufficiency
decrease
infections
-
-
reduces
#6
maintaining vitamin D sufficiency
decrease
associated complications and deaths
-
-
reduces
#7
maintaining vitamin D sufficiency
decrease
chronic disease burden
-
-
reduces
#8
maintaining vitamin D sufficiency
decrease
illnesses
-
-
reduces
#9
maintaining vitamin D sufficiency
decrease
hospitalizations
-
-
reduces
#10
maintaining vitamin D sufficiency
decrease
all-cause mortality
-
-
reduces
#11
vitamin D and targeted micronutrient supplementation
neutral
-
vulnerable communities, such as ethnic minorities living in temperate countries, older people, those with co-morbidities, routine night workers, and institutionalized persons
-
would significantly benefit
#12
this economical, non-prescription, safe micronutrient
decrease
acute and chronic diseases
-
-
prevent and treat
#13
this approach
decrease
morbidity
-
-
will significantly reduce
#14
this approach
decrease
mortality
-
-
will significantly reduce
#15
this approach
decrease
healthcare costs
-
-
will significantly reduce
#16
Abstract

Apart from developmental disabilities, the prevalence of chronic diseases increases with age especially in those with co-morbidities: vitamin D deficiency plays a major role in it. Whether vitamin D deficiency initiates and/or aggravates chronic diseases or vice versa is unclear. It adversely affects all body systems but can be eliminated using proper doses of vitamin D supplementation and/or safe daily sun exposure. Maintaining the population serum 25(OH)D concentration above 40 ng/mL (i.e., sufficiency) ensures a sound immune system, minimizing symptomatic diseases and reducing infections and the prevalence of chronic diseases. This is the most cost-effective way to keep a population healthy and reduce healthcare costs. Vitamin D facilitates physiological functions, overcoming pathologies such as chronic inflammation and oxidative stress and maintaining broader immune functions. These are vital to overcoming chronic diseases and infections. Therefore, in addition to following essential public health and nutritional guidance, maintaining vitamin D sufficiency should be an integral part of better health, preventing acute and chronic diseases and minimize their complications. Those with severe vitamin D deficiency have the highest burdens of co-morbidities and are more vulnerable to developing complications and untimely deaths. Vitamin D adequacy improves innate and adaptive immune systems. It controls excessive inflammation and oxidative stress, generates antimicrobial peptides, and neutralizes antibodies via immune cells. Consequently, vitamin D sufficiency reduces infections and associated complications and deaths. Maintaining vitamin D sufficiency reduces chronic disease burden, illnesses, hospitalizations, and all-cause mortality. Vulnerable communities, such as ethnic minorities living in temperate countries, older people, those with co-morbidities, routine night workers, and institutionalized persons, have the highest prevalence of vitamin D deficiency-they would significantly benefit from vitamin D and targeted micronutrient supplementation. At least now, health departments, authorities, and health insurance companies should start assessing, prioritizing, and encouraging this economical, non-prescription, safe micronutrient to prevent and treat acute and chronic diseases. This approach will significantly reduce morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs and ensure healthy aging.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
HumansAgedVitamin DVitaminsVitamin D DeficiencyMicronutrientsChronic Disease
Study Links
Quality Scores
Safety85
Efficacy90/10
Quality75/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations18
Citations/Year9.0
Relative Citation Ratio5.55
NIH Percentile94.1%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.75
Weight Score1.66
Normalized Score0.85
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