THE IMMUNOMODULATORY ROLE OF VITAMIN D IN SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS: AN INTEGRATING LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

Vitamin D, conceptually, is a pre-hormone. Many studies have shown that the vitamin D deficiency may be associated to a higher incidence of autoimmune diseases, including Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. So, this work’s purpose is identify what the scientific literature approaches about the vitamin D, highlighting its immunomodulatory role with the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. We used the article survey that ran upon the subject in the Medline, Scielo and Lilacs databases with the descriptors: vitamin D, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and autoimmune disease. The selected articles pointed out higher prevalence in the vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in Lupus patients. In these, the supplementation appeared to improve the disease activity and inflammatory markers and shows a tendency for subsequent clinical improvement. However, there is a lack of adequate intake guidelines. In this way, researches about the best dosage of vitamin D are needed for these patients in order to improve their condition.