Abstract
Vitamin D exerts several immunological functions in addition to its homeostatic functions on calcium and bone metabolism. Current data show that relative vitamin D deficiency (< 75 nmol/l 25-hydroxyvitamin D) as well as acquired seasonal vitamin D deficiency (< 50 nmol/l) are frequent in Germany. As confirmed by our own data, UV exposure plays a major role for maintenance of vitamin D status, e.g., in patients with UV-triggered diseases, vitamin D deficiency is more frequent, even throughout the year. The beneficial impact of vitamin D on immune functions is highlighted by epidemiologic, genetic, and experimental evidence. In the past years, numerous publications have presented associations between vitamin D deficiency, on the one hand, and severity and prevalence of allergic asthma in children and adults, on the other hand.
Highlights
Vitamin D is a steroid hormone produced by the human body from 7-dehydrocholesterol when exposure to UV radiation is present [20]
Current data show that relative vitamin D deficiency (< 75 nmol/l 25-hydroxyvitamin D) as well as acquired seasonal vitamin D deficiency (< 50 nmol/l) are frequent in Germany
Our own investigation in more than 1,900 patients from Berlin [16] showed that in summer a relative vitamin D deficiency was present in 39.4% of the investigated patients and in winter, where there is only little UV radiation, this rate was as high as 73.4% (Figure 2) [16]
Summary
Allergie-Centrum Charité, Klinik für Dermatologie und Allergologie, Charité Campus Mitte – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany. Current data show that relative vitamin D deficiency (< 75 nmol/l 25-hydroxyvitamin D) as well as acquired seasonal vitamin D deficiency (< 50 nmol/l) are frequent in Germany. As confirmed by our own data, UV exposure plays a major role for maintenance of vitamin D status, e.g., in patients with UV-triggered diseases, vitamin D deficiency is more frequent, even throughout the year. The beneficial impact of vitamin D on immune functions is highlighted by epidemiologic, genetic, and experimental evidence. Numerous publications have presented associations between vitamin D deficiency, on the one hand, and severity and prevalence of allergic asthma in children and adults, on the other hand
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