Abstract
Viral infections have been a cause of mortality for several centuries and continue to endanger the lives of many, specifically of the younger population. Vitamin D has long been recognized as a crucial element to the skeletal system in the human body. Recent evidence has indicated that vitamin D also plays an essential role in the immune response against viral infections and suggested that vitamin D deficiency increases susceptibility to viral infections as well as the risk of recurrent infections. For instance, low serum vitamin D levels were linked to increased occurrence of high burdens viral diseases such as hepatitis, influenza, Covid-19, and AIDS. As immune cells in infected patients are responsive to the ameliorative effects of vitamin D, the beneficial effects of supplementing vitamin D-deficient individuals with an infectious disease may extend beyond the impact on bone and calcium homeostasis. Even though numerous studies have highlighted the effect of vitamin D on the immune cells, vitamin D’s antiviral mechanism has not been fully established. This paper reviews the recent mechanisms by which vitamin D regulates the immune system, both innate and adaptive systems, and reflects on the link between serum vitamin D levels and viral infections.
Highlights
Viruses are entities that can only replicate within a host cell and can infect a variety of organisms, ranging from single-cell bacteria to mammals
One study conducted on immuno-competent patients with recurrent hepatitis c infection showed that the administration of vitamin D with antiviral therapy increased the likelihood of sustained viral response (SVR) [68]
As vitamin D plays an integral role in regulating the immune system, researchers have been studying the role of vitamin D disease mechanisms (Table 1)
Summary
Viruses are entities that can only replicate within a host cell and can infect a variety of organisms, ranging from single-cell bacteria to mammals. VDR and 1α-hydroxylase, the enzyme necessary for the conversion of vitamin D into its active form, have been found on a variety of immune cells, including circulating mononuclear cells [7,8], indicating that vitamin D serves a significant role in evoking an immune response against the invading pathogen [9]. This discovery has revolutionized the field of vitamin D immunology. We will discuss the immune-modulatory effects of vitamin D in relation to viral infections and will summarize the recent work done on this topic
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