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Effect of Vitamin D Deficiency on Liver Cancer Risk: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Yi, Z, Wang, L, Tu, X
Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP. 2021;(4):991-997
Abstract
UNLABELLED Epidemiological studies have showed that vitamin D deficiency can increase the risk of liver cancers. Hence, we conducted a meta-analysis to explore the relationship between 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels and liver cancer risk. METHODS Cochrane Library, Medline, Web of Science, and Embase were searched up to Mar. 2020, and the references of those studies were also searched by hand. A meta-analysis of 11 studies was performed which met the inclusion criteria. Six case-control studies and five cohort studies were included. RESULTS A total of 11 studies (6 case-control and 5 cohort studies) with 12,895 incident cases were included in the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis showed that liver cancer risk was significantly increased for vitamin D deficiency, and the pooled RR and its 95% CIs was 2.16 (1.2, 3.88; P = 0.01). In comparative analyses between 25(OH)D levels in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) and those in the control group individuals, the summary RR of liver cancer was -1.11 (95% CI=-1.96 to -0.25). The subgroup analysis of the different geographical region of the population showed that the risk of liver cancer in Asian subgroup, European subgroup and Egyptian subgroup increased for vitamin D deficiency (RR=1.34,95% CI 0.72 to 2.48, p <0.00001; RR=2.53,95% CI 1.62 to 3.93,p <0.0001;RR=29.5,95% CI 4.14 to 209.93, P=0.88). CONCLUSION The results of this meta-analysis indicate that vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased risk of liver cancer. The 25(OH)D3 levels are lower in HCC patients than those in health controls. Maintenance of sufficient serum vitamin D levels would be beneficial for prevention of liver cancer.
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Features of the 1st trimester of pregnancy course with severe deficiency of 25(OH)D.
Bakleicheva, M, Bespalova, O, Kovaleva, I
Gynecological endocrinology : the official journal of the International Society of Gynecological Endocrinology. 2021;(sup1):49-53
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The course of physiological pregnancy is provided by many complementary factors. Thus, a deficiency in one of the links of the metabolic network contributes to the development of an imbalance in the work of the whole organism, which ensures the growth and development of the embryo from the first days of gestation. It has been demonstrated that vitamin D can act as an immune regulator during implantation, providing a protective effect in the entire period of pregnancy. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to assess the features of the course of pregnancy in patients with different levels of vitamin D in the blood in the first trimester. MATERIALS AND METHODS A prospective multicenter randomized study was conducted in the North-West region of the Russian Federation among 88 pregnant women in the first trimester of gestation (up to 13 weeks). All patients were divided into 3 groups depending on the initial level of vitamin D (group 1-14 women with a 25(OH)D < 10 ng/ml, group 2-62 pregnant women from 10 to 30 ng/ml, group 3-12 pregnant women with a vitamin D content >30 ng/ml). INTERVENTIONS Criteria of inclusion: pregnant women from 20 to 44 years of the first trimester of gestation (up to 13 weeks) with the studied level of vitamin D in the blood serum; singleton pregnancy; BMI ≤30 kg/m2; signing by the patient of informed consent for inclusion in the study group. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES AND RESULTS In group 1, 86% of patients with severe vitamin D deficiency were diagnosed with threatened miscarriage, which is significantly higher than in group 3 (85.7% and 33.3%, χ2 = 7.490, p = .007). At the same time, retrochorial hematoma in group 1 occurred 3.5 times more often than in group 3 (57.1% and 16.67%, respectively, χ2 = 4.473, p = .035). Subsequently, every 4th woman from the group with vitamin D deficiency gave birth earlier than expected, which was not observed among patients from group 3 (25%, 0%, χ2 = 1.231, p = .268). CONCLUSION Prescribing cholecalciferol vitamin replacement therapy as part of complex preserving therapy for threatening miscarriage, followed by monitoring its blood level and deviating from normal parameters, contributing to a favorable course of pregnancy and improving perinatal outcomes.
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Vitamin D and Allergy Susceptibility during Gestation and Early Life.
Briceno Noriega, D, Savelkoul, HFJ
Nutrients. 2021;(3)
Abstract
Worldwide, the prevalence of allergies in young children, but also vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy and in newborns is rising. Vitamin D modulates the development and activity of the immune system and a low vitamin D status during pregnancy and in early life might be associated with an increased risk to develop an allergy during early childhood. This review studies the effects of vitamin D during gestation and early life, on allergy susceptibility in infants. The bioactive form of vitamin D, 1,25(OH)2D, inhibits maturation and results in immature dendritic cells that cause a decreased differentiation of naive T cells into effector T cells. Nevertheless, the development of regulatory T cells and the production of interleukin-10 was increased. Consequently, a more tolerogenic immune response developed against antigens. Secondly, binding of 1,25(OH)2D to epithelial cells induces the expression of tight junction proteins resulting in enhanced epithelial barrier function. Thirdly, 1,25(OH)2D increased the expression of anti-microbial peptides by epithelial cells that also promoted the defense mechanism against pathogens, by preventing an invasive penetration of pathogens. Immune intervention by vitamin D supplementation can mitigate the disease burden from asthma and allergy. In conclusion, our review indicates that a sufficient vitamin D status during gestation and early life can lower the susceptibility to develop an allergy in infants although there remains a need for more causal evidence.
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Potential immunomodulatory effects of vitamin D in the prevention of severe coronavirus disease 2019: An ally for Latin America (Review).
Turrubiates-Hernández, FJ, Sánchez-Zuno, GA, González-Estevez, G, Hernández-Bello, J, Macedo-Ojeda, G, Muñoz-Valle, JF
International journal of molecular medicine. 2021;(4)
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Abstract
Currently, the world is under a pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2), responsible for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‑19). This disease is characterized by a respiratory syndrome that can progress to an acute respiratory distress syndrome. To date, limited effective therapies are available for the prevention or treatment of COVID‑19; therefore, it is necessary to propose novel treatment options with immunomodulatory effects. Vitamin D serves functions in bone health and has been recently reported to exert protective effects against respiratory infections. Observational studies have demonstrated an association between vitamin D deficiency and a poor prognosis of COVID‑19; this is alarming as vitamin D deficiency is a global health problem. In Latin America, the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency is unknown, and currently, this region is in the top 10 according to the number of confirmed COVID‑19 cases. Supplementation with vitamin D may be a useful adjunctive treatment for the prevention of COVID‑19 complications. The present review provides an overview of the current knowledge of the potential immunomodulatory effects of vitamin D in the prevention of COVID‑19 and sets out vitamin D recommendations for the Latin American population.
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The Role of Vitamin D Supplementation in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Narrative Review.
Kittana, M, Ahmadani, A, Stojanovska, L, Attlee, A
Nutrients. 2021;(1)
Abstract
Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) present with persistent deficits in both social communication and interactions, along with the presence of restricted and repetitive behaviors, resulting in significant impairment in significant areas of functioning. Children with ASD consistently reported significantly lower vitamin D levels than typically developing children. Moreover, vitamin D deficiency was found to be strongly correlated with ASD severity. Theoretically, vitamin D can affect neurodevelopment in children with ASD through its anti-inflammatory properties, stimulating the production of neurotrophins, decreasing the risk of seizures, and regulating glutathione and serotonin levels. A Title/Abstract specific search for publications on Vitamin D supplementation trials up to June 2021 was performed using two databases: PubMed and Cochrane Library. Twelve experimental studies were included in the synthesis of this review. Children with ASD reported a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency. In general, it was observed that improved vitamin D status significantly reduced the ASD severity, however, this effect was not consistently different between the treatment and control groups. The variations in vitamin D dose protocols and the presence of concurrent interventions might provide an explanation for the variability of results. The age of the child for introducing vitamin D intervention was identified as a possible factor determining the effectiveness of the treatment. Common limitations included a small number of participants and a short duration of follow-ups in the selected studies. Long-term, well-designed randomized controlled trials are warranted to confirm the effect of vitamin D on severity in children with ASD.
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Unraveling the roles of vitamin D status and melanin during Covid‑19 (Review).
Sidiropoulou, P, Docea, AO, Nikolaou, V, Katsarou, MS, Spandidos, DA, Tsatsakis, A, Calina, D, Drakoulis, N
International journal of molecular medicine. 2021;(1):92-100
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Abstract
As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‑19) continues to spread worldwide, it has become evident that the morbidity and mortality rates clearly vary across nations. Although several factors may account for this disparity, striking differences within and between populations indicate that ethnicity might impact COVID‑19 clinical outcomes, reflecting the 'color of disease'. Therefore, the role of key biological variables that could interplay with viral spreading and severity indices has attracted increasing attention, particularly among non‑Caucasian populations. Although the links between vitamin D status and the incidence and severity of COVID-19 remain elusive, several lines of emerging evidence suggest that vitamin D signaling, targeting several immune‑mediated pathways, may offer potential benefits at different stages of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Given that the vitamin D status is modulated by several intrinsic and extrinsic factors, including skin type (pigmentation), melanin polymers may also play a role in variable COVID‑19 outcomes among diverse population settings. Moreover, apart from the well‑known limiting effects of melanin on the endogenous production of vitamin D, the potential crosstalk between the pigmentary and immune system may also require special attention concerning the current pandemic. The present review article aimed to shed light on a range of mostly overlooked host factors, such as vitamin D status and melanin pigments, that may influence the course and outcome of COVID‑19.
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Vitamin D: Vitamin or Hormone?
Ellison, DL, Moran, HR
The Nursing clinics of North America. 2021;(1):47-57
Abstract
Vitamin D can be obtained from diet, direct sunlight, or supplementation. The most common form is synthesized in the skin after exposure to ultraviolet B radiation. Nevertheless, the thought is that vitamin D is more of a multifunctional hormone or prohormone. This is because vitamin D plays contributes to many processes in the body. Calcitriol has been shown to have enhancing effects on the immune system, the cardiovascular system, the endocrine system, and other metabolic pathways. There is evidence that vitamin D has also a role in depression, pain, and cancer.
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Vitamin D deficiency and lung function decline in healthy individuals: A large longitudinal observation study.
Ahn, KM, Kim, SS, Lee, SY, Lee, SH, Park, HW
Respiratory medicine. 2021;:106395
Abstract
AIM: A reliable evidence from a comprehensive large-scale study supporting associations between serum vitamin D (25-hydroxyvitamin D) level (SVDL) and lung function decline (LFD) in healthy individuals has been unavailable. Using a well-established health screening database, we assessed the associations between SVDL and LFDs, measured as the forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and FEV1/FVC ratio. METHODS Serial SVDL and lung function data were analyzed using linear mixed models, which were performed in smokers and non-smokers, separately. Vitamin D-deficient individuals (VDDs) were defined when their SVDLs were consistently lower than 20 ng/mL at all measurements. RESULTS A total of 1371 individuals were analyzed. The mean FEV1 decline rates of VDDs and vitamin D-normal individuals (VDNs) in smokers were -33.35 mL/year (95% CI: 39.44 to -27.26 mL/year) and -15.61 mL/year (95% CI: 27.29 to -4.21 mL/year) respectively, over a mean of 6.29 years of observation with statistical significance (P < 0.001). However, there was no significant differences observed between decline rates of FEV1 in non-smokers. Similarly, FVC decline rates of VDDs were significantly greater than those of VDNs only in smokers (P < 0.001). However, FEV1/FVC ratio decline rates showed no significant difference between VDDs and VDNs regardless of their smoking status. CONCLUSIONS Consistently low SVDLs predicted more rapid FEV1 and FVC declines in smokers. However, FEV1/FVC decline rate was not associated with SVDL. SVDL may be used to identify healthy smoking individuals at high risk for accelerated LFD.
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The relevance of vitamin D in the oral health of HIV infected patients.
Mumena, CH, Mudhihiri, MH, Sasi, R, Mlawa, M, Nyerembe, S, Akimbekov, NS, Razzaque, MS
The Journal of steroid biochemistry and molecular biology. 2021;:105905
Abstract
HIV infection affects 36.9 million people globally, and vitamin D deficiency is a global public health concern for HIV patients. Approximately 70 %-80 % of HIV-infected patients have vitamin D deficiency. The deficiency is associated with many pathologies such as immune disorders, infectious diseases, chronic inflammation, oral diseases, as well as the fast progression of HIV. The causes of vitamin D deficiency in HIV infections include HIV itself, traditional factors such as less sun exposure, mal-absorption, hypercholesterolemia, seasonal variation, poor nutrition as well as some HAART drugs like efavirenz. Vitamin D has an immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and anti-proliferative function. In the oral cavity, it plays a significant role in preventing oral infections such as periodontal and gum diseases, dental caries, and oral candidiasis. The consequences of vitamin D deficiency are bone resorption, increased productions of pro-inflammatory cytokines, T-lymphocytes, increased T-helper-1 functions, and decreased T-helper-2 functions. Consequently, this leads to increased infections, chronic inflammation, and the occurrence of oral diseases such as oral candidiasis, periodontal and gum diseases, and dental caries. The majority of these oral diseases are encountered in HIV patients. Vitamin D deficiency is significantly found in HIV patients. There is a lack of studies that directly link vitamin D to most oral diseases in HIV patients; however, the role of vitamin D in immunoregulation, prevention of oral diseases, and HIV infection is substantiated.
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Low vitamin D status is associated with coronavirus disease 2019 outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Liu, N, Sun, J, Wang, X, Zhang, T, Zhao, M, Li, H
International journal of infectious diseases : IJID : official publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases. 2021;:58-64
Abstract
BACKGROUND Observational studies suggest that the risk and clinical prognosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are related to low vitamin D status; however, the data are inconsistent. OBJECTIVES We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the association between low vitamin D status and COVID-19. METHODS A systematic search was conducted with PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library from database inception to September 25, 2020. The standardized mean difference (SMD) or odds ratio (OR) and corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) was applied to estimate pooled results. Random - or fixed-effect models based on heterogeneity were used for the meta-analysis. Funnel plots and Egger regression tests were used to assess publication bias. RESULTS A total of ten articles with 361,934 participants were selected for meta-analysis. Overall, the pooled OR in the fixed-effect model showed that vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency was associated with an increased risk of COVID-19 (OR = 1.43, 95% CI 1.00-2.05). In addition, COVID-19-positive individuals had lower vitamin D levels than COVID-19-negative individuals (SMD = -0.37, 95% CI = -0.52 to -0.21). Significant heterogeneity existed in both endpoints. Funnel plots and Egger regression tests revealed significant publication bias. CONCLUSIONS This systematic review and meta-analysis indicated that low vitamin D status might be associated with an increased risk of COVID-19 infection. Further studies are needed to evaluate the impact of vitamin D supplementation on the clinical severity and prognosis in patients with COVID-19. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION PROSPERO registration no: CRD42020216740.