Role of vitamin D in the pathogenesis and treatment of atopic dermatitis

Abstract

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a highly prevalent allergic skin disease that affects children worldwide. Epidemiological, clinical and basic immunological studies have suggested an association between vitamin D (VD) deficiency and the development of AD and other allergic diseases. Low levels of VD, a pleiotropic hormone that has widespread effects on the immune system and skin integrity, appear to be inversely correlated with AD severity, and VD deficiency at birth is associated with higher risk of developing AD. Recent randomized trials have reported inconsistent, but still promising, results on whether VD supplementation may improve AD severity. The apparent differences are likely due to small samples, different regimens and different patient populations. The mechanisms underlying this potential improvement in AD severity remain under investigation.

Keywords::

• allergy
• atopic dermatitis
• cathelicidin
• dendritic cells
• epidermal barrier
• filaggrin
• latitude
• Staphylococcus aureus
• tolerance
• vitamin D

Financial & competing interests disclosure

A Borzutzky is supported by Fondecyt Grant 1130615. CA Camargo is supported by NIH grants R01 AI093723 and U01 AI087881. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.