Vitamin D and Infectious Diseases: Simple Bystander or Contributing Factor?

ABSTRACT: Vitamin D (VD) is a fat-soluble steroid essential for life in higher animals. It is technically a pro-hormone present in few food types and produced endogenously in the skin by a photochemical reaction. In recent decades, several studies have suggested that VD contributes to diverse processes extending far beyond mineral homeostasis. The machinery for VD production and its receptor have been reported in multiple tissues, where they have a pivotal role in modulating the immune system. Similarly, vitamin D deficiency (VDD) has been in the spotlight as a major global public healthcare burden. VDD is highly prevalent throughout different regions of the world, including tropical and subtropical countries. Moreover, VDD may affect host immunity leading to an increased incidence and severity of s

SUBMITTER: Gois PHF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5537771 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature