Abstract |
In recent years, there has been great interest in the role of vitamin D in a number of diverse human diseases including autoimmunity, allergy, infection, cardiovascular disease, chronic lung disease, transplantation and cancer. Vitamin D is best known for its role in calcium metabolism; however it also has potent immunomodulatory effects. Epidemiological studies suggest that vitamin D deficiency may be a significant risk factor for many diseases. Furthermore, there is accumulating evidence from experimental studies that vitamin D has anti-inflammatory effects. Recent studies have indicated that a surprisingly high proportion of people are vitamin D deficient, suggesting that vitamin D supplementation may be of benefit to human health. This review will focus on the role of vitamin D in autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes. We will review the epidemiological and experimental evidence for the protective effects of vitamin D in autoimmunity, as well as the preliminary vitamin D intervention studies and the most recent patented vitamin D analogues.
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Authors | Jean M Fletcher, Sharee A Basdeo, Aideen C Allen, Padraic J Dunne |
Journal | Recent patents on inflammation & allergy drug discovery
(Recent Pat Inflamm Allergy Drug Discov)
Vol. 6
Issue 1
Pg. 22-34
(Jan 2012)
ISSN: 1872-213X [Print] United Arab Emirates |
PMID | 22122009
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)
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Chemical References |
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Topics |
- Animals
- Arthritis, Rheumatoid
(drug therapy, immunology, physiopathology)
- Autoimmune Diseases
(drug therapy, immunology, physiopathology)
- Diabetes Mellitus
(drug therapy, immunology, physiopathology)
- Humans
- Multiple Sclerosis
(drug therapy, immunology, physiopathology)
- Patents as Topic
- Risk Factors
- Vitamin D
(analogs & derivatives, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
- Vitamin D Deficiency
(drug therapy, immunology)
- Vitamins
(pharmacology, therapeutic use)
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