Vitamin D Deficiency and Autoimmune Diseases
Objective of the Review: To describe the role of vitamin D in the development of autoimmune diseases and its effects on the severity of these conditions. Key Points: The main function of vitamin D is to regulate calcium and phosphorus metabolism. In 2016 the Global Consensus Recommendations on Prevention and Management of Nutritional Rickets were published, which included diagnostic criteria, based on 25OHD concentrations, for vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency, as well as treatment recommendations. The discovery of vitamin D's effects on immune reactions suggested that it might play a role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. Current studies focus on the role of vitamin D in the development and progression of type 1 diabetes mellitus, multiple sclerosis, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus. Conclusion: Studies have shown a relationship between vitamin D levels and the severity of autoimmune disorders, but the effects of vitamin D supplementation on the course of these conditions have not been fully evaluated.