Vitamin D and rheumatoid arthritis

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Vitamin D and rheumatoid arthritis

Journal Title: Postępy Nauk Medycznych - Year 2012, Vol 25, Issue 3

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by chronic pain and impairment of joints as well as progressive disability. RA affects 0,5-1% of adults in developed countries. The disease is three times more frequent in women than in men. Although the pathophysiology of RA is more and more clear the etiology of the disease remains unknown.&lt;br&gt;The awareness of a role of vitamin D in the regulation of immune responses was triggered by the discovery of vitamin D receptors in almost all immune cells, including activated T and B lymphocytes, neutrophils, and antigen-presenting cells: macrophages and dendritic cells.&lt;br&gt;Epidemiological evidence indicates that vitamin D deficiency is accompanied by an increase in incidence of autoimmune disease. Significant vitamin D deficiency, more pronounced than in general population, was found in patients with RA. An inverse relationship between serum level of 25-OH vitamin D and early onset polyarthritis, severity of the disease as well as a degree of disability of the patients with RA were reported.&lt;br&gt;Immunomodulating effects of vitamin D in patients with RA are related to a decrease in the number of Th1 and Th17 lymphocytes, to an increase in the number of Th2 and T-reg cells as well as to diminishing the production of proinflammatory cytokines together with increasing the secretion of antyinflammatory cytokines.&lt;br&gt;Many issues referrng the influence of vitamin D and its metabolites on the incidence and severity of RA remains unclear and needs further examinations.

Authors and Affiliations

Agnieszka Jasik, Marek Tałałaj

Keywords

Vitamin D Immune System rheumatoid arthritis

EP ID EP54411
DOI -
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