TitleThe antibiotic effects of vitamin D.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2014
AuthorsGuo C, Gombart AF
JournalEndocr Metab Immune Disord Drug Targets
Volume14
Issue4
Pagination255-66
Date Published2014
ISSN2212-3873
KeywordsAnti-Bacterial Agents, Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides, Biofilms, Humans, Toll-Like Receptors, Vitamin D
Abstract

The recent discovery that vitamin D regulates expression of the cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide gene has generated renewed interest in using vitamin D to fight infectious diseases. This review describes the historical use of vitamin D or its sources to treat infections, the mechanism of action through which vitamin D mediates its "antibiotic" effects, findings from epidemiological studies associating vitamin D deficiency with increased susceptibility to infection and clinical trials with vitamin D supplementation to treat or prevent infections. Further studies examining an association between vitamin D levels and cathelicidin expression are discussed. The role of cathelcidin throughout the course of infection from the initial encounter of the pathogen to the resolution of tissue damage and inflammation indicates that individuals need to maintain adequate levels of vitamin D for an optimal immune response. In addition, for treating infections, carefully designed randomized, clinical trials that are appropriately powered to detect modest effects, target populations that are severely deficient in vitamin D,and optimized dose, dosing frequency and safety are needed.

Alternate JournalEndocr Metab Immune Disord Drug Targets
PubMed ID25008764
Grant List5R01AI065604 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States