Vitamin D and human immunity - experimental and clinical studies
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Clinical Microbiology, Virology, Karolinska University Hospital,
Huddinge, Stockholm
Webpage at Karolinska University Hospital
Vitamin D regulates calcium balance and bone health. In addition, it has a key role in adaptive and innate immunity. Low serum-levels of vitamin D is associated with an increased risk of respiratory tract infections.
We hypothesized that vitamin D supplementation could reduce the frequency and severity of respiratory tract infections (RTIs). To test this hypothesis we performed a randomised and placebo-controlled trial where 4000 IU vitamin D3 or placebo was given to patients for one year.
The main result was that patients given vitamin D exhibited a reduced infectious burden related to RTIs and a lower antibiotic consumption compared with the placebo-group. Interestingly, in vitro experiments have shown that another compound, phenylbutyrate (PBA), is able to potentiate the effects of vitamin D.
Thus, the combination of Vitamin D and PBA could potentially have even better clinical effects than vitamin D alone. My current research focus is to study the mechanisms involved in Vitamin D/PBA mediated effects on immunity and to perform additional clinical trials.
The main result was that patients given vitamin D exhibited a reduced infectious burden related to RTIs and a lower antibiotic consumption compared with the placebo-group. Interestingly, in vitro experiments have shown that another compound, phenylbutyrate (PBA), is able to potentiate the effects of vitamin D.
Thus, the combination of Vitamin D and PBA could potentially have even better clinical effects than vitamin D alone. My current research focus is to study the mechanisms involved in Vitamin D/PBA mediated effects on immunity and to perform additional clinical trials.
