Award details

Vitamin D status and immune function in healthy young adults

Reference	BBS/E/F/00052309
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Dr David Hughes
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	Quadram Institute Bioscience
Department	Quadram Institute Bioscience Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	2,615
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/02/2006
End date	20/10/2006
Duration	9 months

Abstract

Data from the latest UK Dietary Survey show that young adults (19-24yr) are most vulnerable to vitamin D deficiency, particularly in the winter months. There is increasing evidence that vitamin D is an important immune system regulator and there is an association between low vitamin D status and autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis. However, the level of vitamin D intake required to support optimal immune function is unknown. The current thinking is that the active form of vitamin D, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-OHD), can inhibit the activity of T-helper type 1 lymphocytes (Th1 cells). These cells produce pro-inflammatory cytokines which are associated with the chronic inflammation present in autoimmune diseases. In contrast, it seems that 1,25-OHD can enhance the activity of Th2 cells, which produce anti-inflammatory cytokines associated with suppression of autoimmunity. It would therefore seem advantageous, in terms of reducing the incidence of autoimmune disease, to increase the vitamin D status of the UK population. However, the Th1 response is also important for fighting viral infections and eliminating tumour cells. The relationship between vitamin D status and the effectiveness of the immune response to infectious diseases in humans requires further investigation. A 12-week randomised placebo-controlled study (0 or 10µg vitamin D3/day) will be undertaken in healthy young adults. The interventions will be conducted during the winter months, to avoid any contribution from sunlight to vitamin D status. Outcome measures will include systemic and mucosal humoral immune responses to influenza vaccine, ex vivo T cell proliferative response and cytokine production and Natural Killer cell activity. This study, assessing immune function, an important functional outcome relevant to all age and population groups, will fill gaps in the evidence needed to develop dietary reference values for vitamin D.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Agri-food (AF)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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